The Washington herald., 1907-01-06


administration. and Mrs Cleveland came +
In for her share of such communications, (
all Of which We're promptly answered. and /
the desired scraps incIosed. though il must 1
have taken yards of stuff 10 supply all 4
the emands, and il would be best not TO /
inquire too closely whether the samples /
were really cut from the dresses of the /
senders, or bought al a bargain counter /
Ihey served their purpose, which was /
the main point, and increased the popu- /
larity of Mrs. Cleveland. If that was pos +
sible' and the women Of her husbands /
Cabinet
The duties of the Cabinet ladies' are
well defined At the beginning Of the So /
cial season the wife OF the President con- 4
suits with them regarding the social pro /
gramme for the winter. and a general +
plan is mapped out. There are, Of course. /
frequent consultations subsequent to this.
and all the arrangements for the official
entertaining are so carefully thought out 4
that it is rare that anything occurs To /
mar the harmony or affect the social /
prestige Of this circle. The wife of the /
Secretary of State is the dean Of the Cab-l
met women. and il is she who brings the
standard. and is appealed to for the set
Ting OF puzzling questions. At all the /
social functions at the White House at
which the wife of the Vice President and
the Cabinet women are expected TO as
sist she stands at the right of the Vice \
Presidents wife, her colleagues being
placed after her in the line according TO
their relative rank, and at all social func-
uons takes precedence of the wives Of
the Secretaries of other departments.
Besides taking part in the receptions at
the White House the Cabinet women are
expected 10 receive once every week.
Wednesday being the day observed, from
the beginning Of the season at New Year
until Lent puts an end to it, There is
no attempt at exclusiveness ct these pub
lie receptions. Whoever is inclined.
through duty. pleasure or curiosity. TO
cal! az the Cabinet houses are welcomed.
and the privilege has been rarely abused
Indeed, il is passing strange that il has
not been oftener misused. for formerly
there would be hundreds of callers in an
afternoon OF every class and station. In
later years the character Of these. recep-
lions have been more or less changed. and J.
fewer people avail themselves Of the
privilege of calling on ladies' whom thew
do not know. and to whom they are not
known. and with whom they have Moth
ing in common.
That the adjustment of serving eIab- \,
crate refreshments had something to do
with the dimnuton in the number Of
visitors at public receptions is not 10 De
Iuncheons. with punch. champagne. or
sherry. were offered, and. though the adj
mission is humilatiug. this attracted
many people-so many that the serving
Of any refreshments. save the slight ones
suitable for a tea table, were discou-
unued. Many stories are told of those
prodigal days, when champagne flowed
in rivers and the tables groaned with /,
substantial deiicacies. Many Of them are
probably exaggerated but some Of them
must be believed. II is said that impe-
cunious but socially ambitious young
clerks would take lodgings in the smart
quarter Of town. buy a few rolls az
bakers, and make their coffee over an
alcohol lamp for breakfast. and depend :
upon the spreads at official houses and
invitations out for luncheon and dinner.
Mrs. Whitney, who viii be remembered
as the most notable and ACCOMPLISHED
Hostess of her period. had old-fashioned
ideas of hospitality, and used TO spread
"a banquet at her Wednesday afternoons.
but she had the capacity for SO arraug-
ing things that undesirable people rarely
found their way into her drawing-room.
though there was one dear Old lady. for
years a hanger-on 70 the outskirts OF
society. who frankly avowed to others.
as wei as to Mrs. Whitney herself. that
she went regularly TO the. receptions at
the house Of the Secretary Of the Navy
for the feast she was sure to find there. 4
for used TO better days, boarding Is
house fare paIled upon her educated
palate. This frank character was always
warmly welcomed by Mrs. Whitney and
she generally went home with a box Of
goodies under her coat
Happily. the former custom of returning
In person the hundreds Of calls made on
them at their weekly receptions has been
done away with by the Cabinet, and. as
heretofore noted in this column. an visits.
except those Of officials and intimate
friends. are acknowledged by card sent by
3 footman or through the mail. This sen
sihle custom gives the Cabinet more time S
and strength for other and quite as imp0r- {
.ant duties. It has long been a custom {
with the Cabinet for each of its members q
10 entertain the President and his wife at
dinner once during the season. the Secrc-
tary Of State taking the initiative. being
followed by his colleagues as nearly as
possible in the order Of their rank.
A Cabinet officer is invariably addressed S
by his title. as sir. Secretary Mr.. Attor- +
1ey General The wives do not share the q
official titles Of their husbands though I
formerly the women in official circles were q
frequently given such titles. as Mrs Sec q
rotary Fish. Mrs. Secretary Delano. Mrs /
Senator Morton, and this custom, follow c
ng the German usage has much 10 rec
lmmend it. as its utterance Immediately
places the woman where she belongs and
sometimes prevents embarrassing mis-
axes.
l. Question: At a dinner or a luncheon should any e
me rFecCde the most distinguished guest present +
aking leave: If 50. should the other guests follow
n the crfsr Of precedence in making their de-
rarmre:
Answer: This question is evidently incor-
-ectly put. What the questioner evidently }
desires to ask is, IF one must await the {
of the most distinguished guest {
IN taking leave should those remaining Y
continue 10 follow the order Of precedence q
IN eoing?" At small gatherings it is in
.ariably good form to wait until the most
distinguished person present gives the sig (
lal for leaving This, II she is versed in =
The ways of society, she win do promptly a
eavng the room the instant she has said @
yocd-by and not lingering for that uncom- d
'ortable-for others, at least-last word
Those remaining generally rise at the