The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1907-09-07
STRICT SOCIAL LAW
ETIQUETTE THAT RULES WASH
lNGT0N SOCIETY.
Established Precedent Adhered to at
Al Times-Why President Does
Not Dine at Foreign
Embassies,

=
Embassies:
One Of the peculiariues of life In
Washington is the existence Of official
rules which arrange everybedy's place.
In spite of an air Of great simplicity,
says the Rosary Magazine, the most
complicated arrangements go smooth
lys because every possible contingen-
cy has been provided for.
This is in no place more evident
than at the White House. There is no
appearance of ceremonial, and yet ev-
erybody's place is so fixed that nobody
can possibly be embarrassed.
At the state receptions the order of
precedence is regulated by the law
OF presidential succession passed IN
der Mr.. Cleveland'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 ap-
parent" he .precedes at social official
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 afloat 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 not
expected to stand in 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,
general of the army an admiral of the
navy would make it a matter for seri-
GUS consideration were his place taken
by another.
The governor of state, by the way,
comes after general in the army
or an admiral in the navy.
The diplomatists represent their ma
ions, and by courtesy they precede in
all countries. The precedence of an
ambassador or minister is not a per-
sonal matter; he considers the digni-
ty OF his sovereign or his country. So
careful are the diplomatists-the
heads of embassies or legations-that
they may without offense inquire Of a
hostess when they accept an invitation
where they are to be placed. If there
Is to be "a guest of honor from the
country of the ambassador or minister.
he must not have the place of honor
the right hand Of the hostess unless
be is of the royal family. .
When Prince Henry visited Wash
lngton he took precedence of Baron
speck Won Sternburg; but no matter
how important any visitor from Ger
many not of royal blood might be the
ambassador could not meet him at din
ner and take an inferior place. The
British ambassador would rank the
duke of Norfolk ). In Washington.
though in his own country he is com
moner, but not royal duke.
The wives of the ambassadors and
ministers take the rank of their hus-
bands. And naturally if woman
4 widow, for instance should give a
dinner, the ambassadors wife should
be taken IN to 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 diplomiatists
there Is no record that the vice-presi-
dent and the secretary of state have
been invited at the same time. The
reason is that the secretary Of state
Is constantly in close relations with
The diplomatic corps, and a sentiment
of delicacy forbids the invitation of
The secretary to a dinner where he
would be ranked by the vice president.
With whom the diplomatists have
scant relations.
Inc president does not accept in
71tations to dinners, or receptions in
he houses of the foreign diplomats.
t he should do SO he would-in the
Dry. though many of the diplomats
louses are in reality owned by Ameri-
:ans-set foot on alien territory.
The rule which permits no guest to
move until the guest of honor rises is
1gidly enforced in Washington. II
here is any rule more rigid it is that
which oblges everybody to rise when
he president enters and to remain
tanding while he stands.
In Washington one finds. az a rn,a
cry coed manners It is probably
rue that the boys have better man
ers than the girlsas they seem to
ave almost everywhere. The value
I team work In athletics is helnfnp
be boy to know his place; but the
verage young girl has learned to he.
EVE that her place is on top: where
he sits there is the head Of the table
New Church for Capital.
The Methodist Episcopal Chnrch
louth has undertaken to build q
Washington asnational church which
hall b BE-, IN effect q cathedral Of tha
similar IN lie ..h.-.