Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-04-17

politics It neither talks business nor
thinks it. The word conveys no more
thau remote and abstract meaning
to its mind Commerce and all its
Janaltics are refreshingly. delightful
ly absent There is serenity. almost
beniguity, in its ordering of the rou-
tine of life. Nobody hustles in Wash
ingtou. 1t is the one city on the CON
tincut where America is really at lei
sure.
THAT indeed is its great attraction.
That. together with the lure and gilt
ter Of the diplomatic corps. is the rea-
son why Washington steadily tends to
become the center of American fash
ion and the haunt of the nOuveaux
riches
Being a city of leisure, Washing
ton must have something to amuse it.
self with Being also the hcadluar-
ters of otlicialdom. the seat of govern
ment and the center of diplomacy, it
is natural that it should amuse itself
with the problems of a Republican
&.
| sometimes doubt whether any capt
tai, even Vienna or Madrid. troubles
itself so much about these questions
rs Washington They are debated
with a heat an ingenUOusness and
bitterness that can hardly be match
ed anywhere.
1T is not, however, all chaos. Ger
tain rules have been evolved and GER
tain customs established which serve
70 guide each successive occupant of
the White House Thus the number
of state dinners and receptions that
, the president las to give is now def
Hitely fixed. Thus, too, it is now pret-
ty Wen understood that an invitation
20 lunch or dinner ut the White House
is the equivalent OF a command Thus
also it is now accepted that the presi-
dent should on all occasions go in first,
that nobody should sit down until he
has taken his place, that he should
always be served first, that he cannot
accept hospitality under Il foreign flag
and that if he has consented to dine
ut the house OF one of his cabinet min
listers a list of the proposed guests
should be submitted to him in advance.
But beyond this narrow region
there is a whole wilderness still to be
surveyed and staked out. Should SEN
ators, for instance be given the pas
over cabinet ministers? Does the adj
miral of the navy rank above the sec
ret0ry of the navy? What is the rea-
tive position of the speaker and Of
the secretary of state? The vice presi-
dent being sort of heir apparent,
ought ambassadors to follow or pre-
ccde him? What is the exact place of
the Judiciary in the scale of preced
ence? Ii two senators were elected
on the same day, which of them should
make the first advance? And what
about the status of the unmarried
daughters Of the great officials?
These and hundred similar conun-
drums are debated in Washington with
more than mOnarchical fervor The
mere fact that they can be propOunded
shows that the American capital is
still in the embryonic stage of social
tSNbltI)Lltl4l' i'Nt liIS I'IttIiHltS VI Siho-
ton devoted to their discussion shows
also that Washington when it finally
evolves a protocol will set an inordi-
nate value upon it. Indeed, wherever
point in the code is definitely estab-
liShed it is adhered to with an almost
comical tenacity, Etiquette for in
stance, prcscribes calls as the first Of
social duties, and calling is indulged
in by the WashingtoniansS Sn a scale
that puts Londoners and Parisians,
who pay their calls not in person, but
by post. hopeessly to shame.
THAT. too, is a sign of Il society that
has not yet found itself, that is at
tempting the impossible and that has
not yet learned to limit ana regulate
its activities. But time and experience
are teaching it order and self restraint.
Just as the tumult of the White
House has been reduced to dignity.
just rs the old type of presidential re-
ccptions at which all were welcome
who chose to come is giving way be-
fore the principle of selection. so Wash
ington in time will abandon its indis-
criminate calling habits and will re-
produce one by one the outward forms
and customs and ways of doing things
that distinguish the mOnarchica and
aristocratc societies of the old world"