The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-12-24
SOCIETY IN WASHING
TON IS COSMOPOLITAN
Mrs. IOhn A. Logan Treats Entertain
ing of Social Life in the Capital.
BY Mrs, john A. LOGAN.

which has been dwelt upon by per
SONS in all conditions of life. There
seems to be an impression abroad
that Washington sets the pace for
all social relations in this country.
Apparently no one remembers that
the capital is unavoidably one Of
the most cosmopolitan cities Of the
Union, and that beyond the few
regulations established by Jefer-
son as to official etiquette, there
are no laws governing social inter
course except those which are sug-
gested by civilization and proper
decorum. Though one hears much
about what they are pleased to call
fashionable society,"" or rather
exclusive society, it mean only
that little Coterie of wealthy idle
born people who are wont to make
pretentions to leadership, or at
least membership in the society Of
their particular set. OF themselves
they contribute nothing to the adj
vanCement of civilization or the
edifcation of intelligent people,
but they affect to be patrons Of art,
literature and science, and are of
ten useful in raising fund for the
education, mental or artistic train
ing of some one who has been born
with more talents, brains and am
bition than money. They origin.
ate nothing and as their aspirations
do not carry them beyond the con-
fines of the set in which they claim
membership they are really harm
less. They enjoy winning, dining
and entertaining each other.
In Washington they endeavor to
cultivate official and diplomatic
society, and are industrious in
having their attentions to promi-
nent personages noticed in the
daily press, and if the recipients
of these attentions in any way re-
cognize them, they hasten to have
the fact announced in the society
columns. These structures apply
to those so much in print. The
real representatives of the best of
what, for want Of a better term, is
called society at the nation 5 capt.
tai, IS composed of people who
have done something in the world.
persons who have travelled much,
who have made good use of the
wealth they have inherited or aC-
Cumulated by their own efforts; of
persons who are educated and re-
fined III every sense of the words;
persons who have retired but who
are active in philanthopic, educa-
tional or religious movements for
the advancement of civilization.
Social functions given by these
people-and they give many-are
dignifed, hospitable and delight
full They extend courtesies to
persons entitled to consideration
and if they are financially so stu
ated that they cannot return the
compliment they need feel no en-
barrassment, as their hosts expect
nothing but the pleasure they give
by their presence and what they
contribute intellectually to the
company they have been invited
to meet.
As at all capitals, Washing ton
has what is known as official and
Diplomatic society, for which there
are accepted regulations fixing the
status of each individual according
to rank. The president, the lady
of the White House, the vice
president, the speaker of the house,
the cabinet, the supreme court,
senators, representatives in con
gress, the army the navy and
heads of bureaus in each depart
nent of the government know ex-
actly what is expected of them
from social standpoint. With
the natural tendency to hospitali-
ty very few are remiss in the dis
charge of their duties in this re-
spect.
The diplomats are great sticklers
for rank, and some emusing Incl
dents have followed mistakes made
nv hosts in seating these renreSen-