The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-01-12

Washington, Jan. 11.-Capital socie-
~ is now in full swing with dinners,
dances. receptions, lHpcheons; teas
and theatre parties galore every day
and every night. There are two kinds
OF society here-real society and Off
cial society. If you are member of
tlp first it means you are in society
whether YOU have an Official position
or not, unless YOU happen to be a mem
her Of the presidents family, or are
IN the supreme bench of the United
states, or are a member of the cabi-
mi. or member of. the diplomatic
CORDS If you are any OF these You
ere member of real society here and.
for that matter. a member of real So
ciety anywhere. 80
If YOU are a member of Official so
cie1v only, it means that your posi-
ton and not yourself, is a member of
society in Washington. This does nat
pYtitle you to expect any social consid-
Grafton in any other city. If you are
no. in real society, but are a senator,
-,ou will nevertheless be given great
social recognition here on account of
the position YOU fill. You will hardly
know the difference in Washington.
But if YOU go TO other large cities
YOU win have it made plain to you
and your eyes viii be widely opened
Members of the suprel-4v court are
always looked upon here and every
where else as members of society. So
are members of the diplomatic circles.
II is generally assumed that if you are
good enough to have been given a
diplomatic appointment YOU possess
good claims to social recognition. So
ciety doesn't go behind the diplomats
returns.
a PtfaIl for the Unwary-
These are the features that make
society in Washington such pitfall
for the unwary. Its complex forma-
ton renders necessary complex Ell
quette. Many of the social entertain
ments are cosmopolitan in the extreme
and it is no unusual sight to see men
and women guests whom you would
never have thought to find in drawing
rooms, rubbing elbows with the great
and the near-great.
Some members of congress and their
families from rural districts, whose
chief social diversions in the past
were social bees" and husking par
ties, are apt to be at a loss for
small tall" at large social affairs and
formal state dinners, where they meet
distinguished Americans and foreign
ers- They are there only because
Of their official position.
How She Cut the Knot
At one large state dinner given a
YEAR ago the hostess was in doubt as
to the order in which her guests
should go out to dinner and, as mem
bers of the diplomatic corps, Justices
of the supreme court ana senator's
were present, a very pretty wrangle
followed Suddenly the pretty wife
of naval officer turned TO the chief
Justice and said:
Let Us go out together and leave
hem to settle the fine points of this
question
And smilingly, she took his arm
and walked osl, leaving her hostess and
he other guests Stupefied with
amazement at her lawless cutting of
,hs gordian knot.
Some years before this country be-
came a world power the diplomts re-
siding in Washington at that time
complained bitterly of the rudeness
they said they met with at receptions
and other entertainments.
What kind of a country is Amer
!ca?" asked a young diplomat who
had just aTaived in Washington of one
Of the foreign ministers who had often
criticised the lack of manners in
society
1T is country where everyone who