Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-04-22

OF the Supreme Court and the Cabinet
though ranking officially above the
Senate. must therefore make the first
call upon the members of that body.
This is much mooted question, the
discussion Of which is useless; suffice
it that the Senate has been able to
maintain its position for more than a
century, and will probably continue
to do so.
The Diplomatic Corps is governed
by laws OF its own. The ambassadors
make no first calls except at the White
House, but they are charmed to re-
ceive all officials whose rank entities
them to call at the embassies and all
private persons who have been proper
ly introduced to them. Indiscrimi-
nate calling upon members of the Dip
lomatic Corps is not encouraged and
not advisable. 1t must be remembered
that they are not American officials
whose duty it is to keep the latch
string out. but the representatives Of
foreign powers. who, outside of the
official circle. are privileged to select
their own friends; privilege, how
ever. they must frequently deny them
selves, since the social duties pertain
ing to their official position are exact
ing and onerous. A stranger in town
may call at any or all of the official
houses and be assured of warm well
come; she is not at liberty to call
upon private persons unless she has
been previously invited to do so.
But social duties do not end with
calling; calls must be received, and
everyone who is in, or aspires to be
in society should have day at home.
This is absolutely necessary in a place
like Washington, where visiting is
serious business and every moment
counts. At some houses the weekly
reception is a pleasant and enjoyable
affair. The guests are limited to
small number Of the best and most
brilliant from every circle, and steam
ing tea. with toast and cakes, are en-
joyed, while the latest book. the
present political situation. or affairs
abroad. are animatedly discussed.
There is no hurry at these gatherings
no feeling that the caller has come
simply to leave cards and is anxious
to start off on her rounds again; but
there is repose, dignity, culture, and
the visits at such houses are oases in
the social desert. The other extreme
is the smsddening mass OF humanity
one finds at some of the official houses
where the hostess aims to be pop
ular" to satisfy her own or her hus-
bands ambition. The rooms are
packed, overheated. reeking with the
various perfumes affected by the
guests, all of whom talk inanities in
falsetto voices. Such reception is
like congress of parrots. where there
is much screeching and very little
else. but the tired hostess counts her
cards when it is all over with an ex-
ultant feeling at their number and the
names they bear.
Calls made and day at home
established, the next number on the
social program is to entertain. Now,
a person who entertains well and dis
criminatingly is acceptable anywhere
London, Paris, Berlin. Rome.
Petersburg-all welcome the social
hostess of unlimited wealth, and
Washington is. perhaps, keener after
such one than any of the capitals
named. But the entertaining must be
of superior order, not half hearted
effort with obvious attempts at
economy.
The functions should be smart, the
lists of guests carefully selected. and
while there should be no vulgar dis
play of wealth, it behooves the host
ess to see that nothing is lacking
which wealth can buy that will add
variety and flavor to her entertaining.
Her dinners should be simple but ele-
CANT, the viands delicious and rare,
the wines OF old vintage and delicate
bouquet. but there should be no osten-
tation in the floral decorations, and
the giving of dinner favors cannot be
too heartily condemned. Ne dinner
is perfect unless the guests are con-
genial. and to this important point
the accomplished hostess devotes her
best energies. These simple rules
should govern all entertainments
where the guests are seated at table. |
For a ball or evening reception the
order is quite different. The keynote |
for such affairs should be gaiety and |
should be left undone that |
might contribute to their brilliancy.
The hostess should invite everyone
ON her visiting list, since for large oc-
casions one cannot pick and choose
among her several hundred friends and
besides invitations to