Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-22
wAsHINeTon's CARD CRAZE.
Visitors to That City Are Appalled, by
a Local Social Custom.


Visiting in the afternoon during a
busy season seems to have become al
most a mania with society people in
Washington.
The season of 190G-1907 was a short
one, owing TO Lent arriving In
February, yet in that time the popular
wife of a member of the Cabinet used
5000 Of her husbands visiting cards
and $500 Of her own; and she male
almost all Of these calls in person,
leaving her husbands card with her s.
1t simply goes to prove that being
member Of the official family is not al
ways Il bed of roses.
But even private families have not
escaped the popular calling craze, anu
one attractive lnatron used 500 of her
husbands and sons cards. and about
500 of her own, and that did not m
clude her daughters cards, during last
season.
In Washington" said prominent
New Yorker to some friends in the
Metropolitan Club, recently, you
literally peddle cards from door to
door l find I am even expected TO call
after tea invitation!" and he
shrugged his shoulders in despair.
The wife Of a newly arrived secre-
tary of one of the foreign legations has
solved this calling habit of her friends
and acquaintance, to her own salts
faction, at least. On the day Of her
street she hangs a small box in the
outer vestibule under the bell, and this
box has written on it: Not at home.
Please leave your cards in this box
ToI 4tyy mn
who belongs to the old Washington
resident circle, was making a number
of calls, and late in the afternoon she
told her footman, new servent, to
drive to the home Of one Of her init
mate friends. When the carriage
stopped she wrote on her card: You
wretch. You Villain! Why have you
not been to see me-"
And this card she handed to her
footman, and told him to ask for I'll"
ladies. He returned, and said the
ladies We're not receiving that day, 50
the matron drove to her own home.
The next day she was sitting in her
library when Il card was brought 10
her, on it was the name Of foreign
minister's wife. She had just arrived
in this city and the Washington
woman had never met her. Consider
ably surprised, she went to receive ner
guest, and all during the visit she tried
to puzzle out what could have brought
the minister's wife to call on her,
when it was obviously etiquette for the
American to make the firSt call. AS
the foreigner was leaving, the hostess
intimate friend came into the drawing
room.
After exchanging a warm greeting.
the latter said:
Il rather expected 70 see you yester-
day, as | was looking out Of the
window when your carriage drove up
to the house next door to u.s."
But" exclaimed the matrom, Il did
call on YOU; and James told me that
you AMI your sister were not at home"
ooh, l guess James mistook the
number, for he certainly left your card
at Madame s. mentioning the
foreigners name, door
Great Heavens," gasped the as
tonished matron. "She must think me
quite mad" And then she told her
friend what was written on the card.
Another popular Washington woman
taking advantage of the fine weather
was calling fast and furiously one day
| last week. About half past six she
bearded a Connecticut avenue car, and
sank exhausted into a seat She was
trying to collect her thoughts when The
conductor leaned toward her, and put
out his hand for her fare
Quite mechanically she opened her
card case, took from it her husbands
visiting card, and one of her own, and
then gravely handed both of them to
the conductor. She was gruffly in
formed of her mistake by the irate
conductor, and as she gave him the
regulation car ticket she murmured IN
justification:
Twenty calls today! No wonder |
am 4 creature Of habit."-Washingto
Post.