The Washington herald., 1908-01-26

IS necessary 10 make MS performance
creditable one.
Il is not "a pleasant thing to discuss the
attitude Of a Washington audience at mU-
steal affairs for the people at the Capi-
tal are distinctly uumusCal. their time is
too much occupied with social matters of
more frivolous order Again and again
it has been attempted to maintain q real
ly fine orchestra here but these efforts
have met with small encouragement
among those from whom one would ex-
pect support. Such a movement must be
made fashionable TO succeed. and sine
true musicians have never learned 10 bow
the knee to either fashion or money,
nothing worthy of note has been accom-
pliShed in this direction The abandon
ment Of Washington by the Kneisel Quar-
tet cannot be too deeply regretted. Their
concerts We're always anticipated with de
light by music lovers and their perform
dnces were uuf8ilingly uplifting and in-
spring. To be sure, the Boston Sym
phony is a great success here. but this
organization owes its crowded houses 10
/ the mandate Of fashion. 1t is the cor
rect thing 20 so TO the symphony. and
| the fashiOnables go whether they are
bored OF not But the conduct OF the
audiences at these recitals leaves much
10 be desired. Not infrequently people
come in late missing by their tardiness
/ the first number on the programme. A
young woman who had this experience
explained that she was very sorry. but
he was having her nails mauicured, and
/ the woman took so long,
/ Qurstiou-ls it correct to speak 10 persons at
"a dinner. luncheon. tCa-at any entertainment ~ q
I TflH mot been. rfr.
dGc,4s l ind 10 very embarrassing in Washing
/ tom. Tor dt most n the houses go tD no utrldac
+ fans are made. Now 40 home "a I've ia ID small
'oWH Ne consider DO very uCiVl not 90 introduce
/ AN husband ls an Official. and / am told that 30
| is HIt af my duty b. call on the women of the
[ official srt bIt it is the most uncomfortable duty
That has ever been required Of me f1T the hostess
has u' time to talk 20 son herself SJ mauy people
| are coming and co3ng. and very few that ! have
nlai have ile courtesy 90 see thst y1u are Oused
after and entertained. 80 o cali here consists iu
uaIa-itiug F0ur card iu the tray held by butler az
/ tH9 door. rlltl1ug Il cold haudsh8ke and an iry
,niie from Che hostess. standing abur gazing
/ l4lofIgllF around. feeling much like g eat Do a
strange g8rr-5 and dry0uth Wishing sou were home
| Win cordial h1-pliahle people who bold IN the
tradition that. when person does yau the honor t0
call upon sou. Enu responsible f1r his or her en-
/ tsrtaiUm,ut. don't want IN appear grumpy ~
f0 h- 600 sweeping ln mas statements f1r there are
i1r Ot nice. genial people. even here The wives
NJ the army and navy officers are. as a rule charm
/ luc ] returned some calls az the uByy yard the
| other day and was delighted with the cxrrrieure
/ The houses were SD attractive and honey the
h1-tssses 30 cordial introducing every one uh0 came
/ lu, and the tea. which was offered a. every house
SD refreshing. T. IS most pleasant A. the legations
and embassies. Too. for while iutJ0duciaus are not
/ actually made. the women of the diplomatic circle
n their tact aU1 c1rlIailfg soon rIf sou iu touch
with those ahaHt gog. and che chat b general and
/ so interesting thar sou are apt 10 oyer-fay your
/ time. But good Lord deliver me from some Il the
/ women m official life whom 7 have met here. from
/ their duh. cartrIess II elegant homes and their
/ s'ando.tsl manner ! am tempted 10 speak thus
frankly tp yog. Mr. Arhiter. for son don't seem ta
mind saving anything that is needed to be said
/ NUT tully gGIi-.
TIE HoNIEsICK WIFE or An NJ. e.
/ Answer-Tou are not the first 10
/ criticise the receptions az official houses.
! and 10 must Doe admitted that the standard
( Of to-day regarding these functions leaves
/ much 90 be desired. There is a certain
/ class In America that imports ready made
/ its rules for social conduct from England.
/ the rules mind. but they cannot import
1 the environment. the social conditions,
and the traditions that make those rules
wise and necessary. why do YOU never
introduce your guests2' asked an init
mate friend of n washington hostess.
/ You sent me down 20 dinner the other
. night with a man / had never seen be
/ fore In my life. and, because we had
never been introduced. / suppose. ne de-
voted himself 10 his neighbor on the other
side whom ne did know. and ! did not
succeed in getting anything but mono4yl-
lables from him during the whole dinner. q"
/ why my dear child" replied the
/ hostess, don't You know that they never
/ introduce people in London? And I think
1 10 is quite proper not 70 do so. How can
/ I know whether il would be agreeable
for this person 10 meet that person. and
so on?" Now, as a matter Of fact, this
I Anglomaniac had never been I'm England.
and an she knew Of English society was
. what she had learned out of English
. books on etiquette and cleaned from sec
. ond-rate novels. Tt is quite true that in
/ Productions are rarely made IN London
dr8wiHE-r0oms. but every one who meets
under the roof Of a friend feels AZ liberty
TO address his falIoW-gue7te, and he does
/ address them. enters into racy conversa-
/ ton with them. automatically discovers
! who they are and as automatically drops
| Information about himself. Lasting friend
/ ships are often made I'm this manner and as
/ often one never again encounters the peO-
/ PIE who amused him or whom he amused.
This custom Of speaking without being
| introduced is not followed I'm America
. save among "A limited number of citizens
If the world, who feel themselves at home
/ everywhere and are so lacking in self
. consciousness so self-respecting that they
cannot conceive Of their advances not
/ being cordially met; but, since this Gus
tom does not prevail here. introductions
should be made. tt is unkind 10 admit
| people 20 ones house and assume no re-
sponsibiltv for their entertainment, but
allow them to stand about the room like
/ a lot Of simples in an imbeCile asylum un-
/ til they can beat a welcome retreat. There
/ are certain obligations that society inn
/ poses on hostess whether she is in Off
Cial or private life and II she does not
/ wish 10 carry out those obligations she
should retire. The chief obligation Is
/ that she should look after the comfort
and happiness Of her guests, and the
handspring Of society should be kindness,
for the kind thing is invariably the cor
rect thing. The official hostess may count
! it a great privilege for people 10 wander
/ about her cherries rooms. but it is not.
and those who attend those functions
/ generally Go so from a sense of duty.
! woman holding a high official posi-
tion in former administration. who was
noted for her arrogance NEEDLESS TO
| say she was of low origin, as arrogance
is bred I'm common SOLD, turned her back
/ upon a group Of ladies when she had
| greeted them. and addressing the British
Minister. said: What in the world do
you suppose those women are calling
upon me for? I don't know them, and |
don't believe there is a single person in
the room who does know them" II
called upon you, madame" said one OF
the insulted ladies, facing her insolent
hostess, because my husband asked me
TO- Ny husband Is Mr. Brown, of Blank
] County I believe your husband deneods