Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-10-18
STRICT SOCIAL LAW
ETIQUETTE THAT RULES WASH.
iNGTON SOCIETY.
Established Precedent Adhered to at
All TImes-Why President Does
Not Dine az Foreign
Embassies.


Embassies.
One OF the peculiarities OF life In
Washington ia the existence OF official
rules which arrange every body's place
In spite of an air OF great simplicity.
saws the Rosary Magazine. the most
complicated arrangements 20 smooth
~ because every possible contlngen
cy has been provided for.
This is in no place more evident
than ut the White House Ti.ere Is no
appearance OF ceremonial. and yet ev.
erybodys place is so fixed that nobody
can possibly he embarrassed.
At the state receptions the order of
precedence is regulated by the law
OF presidential succession passed un
der Nh Cleyeland's administration
The president of course. is first After
him comes the vice president. After
this the chief justice ranks all officials
OF the United States
The vice president being heir APP
parent he precedes at social off cial
functions the ambassadors and minis
tiers. On New Years day the diploma.
tic corps is always received first by
the president
There is an opinion anoat that the
chief Justice should rank even an am
bassador. but this does not seem to
be gaining ground though at times
there are hot controversies over It.
The chief justice and the judiciary
rank cabinet officials: but they are moi
expected TO stand i'm line at state re
ceptions at the White House. This Is
the prerogative OF the cabinet.
The newspapers sometimes give the
Impression that all these questions OF
precedence are the affair Of the ladies'
as all matters OF etiquette are In
American cities generally. This is
erroneous. a chief Justice himself. q
general OF the army an admiral OF the
navy would make IL a matter for seri
Gus consideration were his place taken
by another
The governor of state. by the way
comes after a general in the army
or an admiral In the navy.
The diplomatists represent their ma
lions. and by courtesy they precede in
all countries. The precedence OF ar
ambassador or minister is not a per
sunal matter; he considers the digni.
~ of his sovereign or his country. So
careful are the diplomatists-th
heads OF embassies or legations-that
they may without oTense inquire OF
hostess when they accept an invitation
where they are 20 b. placed IL there
IL N hn a r.
country Of the ambassador or minister
he must not have the place OF honor
The right hand OF the hostess unless
he is OF the royal family
When Prince Henry visited Wash
ington he took precedence of Baron
Speck Won Sternburg: bat no matter
now important any visitor from Ger
many not OF royal blood might be tho
ambassador could not meet him at din
ner and take an inferior place. The
british ambassador would rank the
duke OF Norfolk in Washineton
though In his own country he is a com.
moner but not royal duke.
The wives of the ambassadors and
ministers take the rank OF their nus.
bands. And naturally If a woman
widow for should give q
dinner. the ambassadors wife should
be taken in 20 dinner by the most i'm
portant man in rank. The host takes
In the wife OF the ambassador and
the hostess the ambassador.
AT dinners given by diplomatlsts
there Is no record that the vice-presi.
dent and the secretary of state have
been invited al the same time The
reason IS that the secretary Of state
Is constantly in close relations with
the diplomatic corps aud a sentiment
OF delicacy forbids the invitation of
the secretary 10 a dinner where he
would be ranked by the vice president
with whom the diplomatists have
scant relations
The pres ient does not accent in
vtations 10 DINERS or recentions f.,
the houses ct the foreign DIPLOMATS
II he should do so he would-ln. the
Org. though mary OF the diplomats
houses are TO reality owned by Ameri
cans-set In"' nu alien territory
The rule .hich permits no guest ~
move until tac guest of honor rises is
rigidIy enforced in Washington n
there is amy rule more rigid il IS tina,
winch oh,igrs every body 10 rise when
thr prcsid uf Cis.s and to remain
standing willie ho stands.
In WasAu TON one finds. az ru1e
very good manners II Is probahl,
true thai the bows have better man
ners than the sir's as they seem m
have a'uns. ever. acre. The valpe
OF team work iH athletics IT, helping
the bog FOO know bis place. but the
average 30 "e ir' has learned TO be
heve fhN' .. ao' Us on top. where
she sits ..." tte head Of The table
New Oh ch for cs,i,,t