Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-12-31
SOCIETY Is STRICT
RULES FOR WOMEN IN OFFICIAL
LIFE AT WASHINGTON.
They Are Governed by Precedence and
Conditions, and Must Yield ODE
dience in Every Instance.

The quickest way for the wife of an
official in Washington to establish an un-
favorable social standing is to violate
the unwritten code on calling. The rules
which govern this phase of social inter-
course among women are extremely
strict, and any deviation, whether
through a misund erstanding or inadver-
tence or for some good cause, unless
Immediately explained, makes the often
der a marked woman for the remainder
of her career. She promptly is set down
by her equals i'll social rank as fresh
or as harboring an ambition for her own
or her husbands social welfare which
needs checking 1nstanter. The women
of Washington are quick to suspect such
an ambition, for IiiosI of them are en-
gagged at all times in guarding jealousy
the prospects of their own or their nus
bands advancement in a similar direc-
ton.
To begin with, the women of the Off
cial set limit their calls to the wives
and daughters of officials and to personal
friends. Any departure from this rule,
particularly when it savors of exploita-
ton of an unexpected hero or heroine
outside or the set, is tabooed. Thus at
the outset it benooves the wife of an
official to conform with this general regu-
latiOn.
of a President shall return official calls
As a matter of fact, the calling list of
the first lady of the land is limited to in
innate and personal friends and excep-
ton is made only in the case of visiting
royalty. In this event the Presidents
wife is expected to make the first call.
Naturally, under such circumstances, a
call from the wife of the President is
the most highly priced social honor which
70 lie RI hn lpf Of tha -,
ington. 1t indicates an intimate social
relation with the white house, which is
of more consequence than all the per-
functory official honors that can be be-
slowed.
The wives of the members of the cabi-
net are expected to make the first call
upon the wives of foreign ambassadors,
while, on the other hand, the wives of
foreign ministers and charges d'affaires
make the first cali upon the wife of the
vice president and the ladies of the cab
met. This is occasioned by the fact that
ambassadors come as the personal repre-
sentatiyes of the rulers, who send them
and, while they represent the countries
from which they came as well, neverthe-
less. they are to be treated, according
TO international etiquette as though they
were the rulers in person. On the other
hand, ministers and charges d'affaires
are only the representatives 81 the coun-
tries which send them. As matter of
fact, they obey the mandates of their
rulers, as do the ambassadors, but in
stead of being privileged to deal directly
with the President of the United States.
as an ambassador may do, they present
their representations to the secretary of
state.
Coming now, to the women of the
second coordinate branch of the govern
ment, the judiciary it is the social Gus
tom for wives of members of the su-
preme court of the United States to
make the first call upon the wife of the !
vice president, the wives of foreign am |
baSsadors, the ladies of the cabinet and |
wives of ENJOYS extraordinary, ministers |
plenipotentiary and charges d'affaires. In |
like manner the wives of United States |
senator's make the initial call upon all of |
the above list, including the wives of /
members of the supreme court. and they |
also are expected to pay the first call /
upon the wife of a newly elected sen /
ator.
In the rural districts. where CON |
gresham Is looked upon as the supreme /
essence of all that is good, whether in /
politics, society or business. il will he l
Il shock TO learn that their congressman I
comes last in the social calendar. There
is some consolation to be gained from tie
fact that he is included in it at all. Ii