The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-16

much as saying by your leave to any
body, but If they are ambitious to par
ticipate in any of the four dressy
evening receptions. they must induce a
senator or representative or some other
influential person to ask for an invi-
tation for them. IL seems odd this
system of asking tor invitations TO a
mans house, even II that man does
happen to be thespresident. but II Is
a universe! practice. only small
proportion of the people invited to a
White House reception-merely the
special guests in whose honor it is
given-receive invitations on the pres
ident's initiative. Almost verybody
else on the big invitation list is there
because some influential friend asked
that they be remembered or because.
lacking such a sponsor. they wrote in
person to the secretary To the presi-
dent and requested one. of the coveted
cards.
About 1000 invitations are sent out
for each raception-sometimes as many
as $500 have been distributed-but the
aggregate of more than 10000 invita-
tions for the four receptions is totally
inadequate to supply the demand. and
invariab bly, announcement is made from
the White House weeks in advance Of
each reception, to the effect that the
invitation lists for that particular
event have been closed and that no
further requests can be considered. As
has been said. the chosen guests at one
of these big receptions are numerically
in the minority. For instance. in the
case of the reception To the judiciary.
the guests of honor in the persons of
the member of the United States su-
prene court circle and the federal jur-
lists and their wives proba bly, do not
total 200 persons. In the case of the
diplomatic corps, the proportion Is
about the same. Yet IL is the presence
of these celebrities that make these
RECEPTIONS such magnets for the great
body of free-born Americans Partic-
ularly Is this the case with the recep-
tons for the army and navy officers
and for the foreign amba ssadors and
ministers. Each of these levees bring
out brave show of brass buttons and
gold lace and produce quite the most
gorgeous spectacles known to our dem
ocratic Yankee court.
Now that congress pays the travel
ing expenses of the president when he
journeys up and down the land. Uncle
Sans highest salaried employe finds
that none of what might be termed his
personal expenses as president make
such a hole in his $4,000 annual salary
as do the dinners and receptions of
the official season. A. state dinner for
so or 30 guests viii cost close to $1,000.
The chief magistrate when playing
ia faP ha
sic or the floral and electric light dec
orations. The government also fur
nishes him with china. cut glass and
silverware and even supplies the table
linen and pays for laundering ii. How
ever, the president must pay out of his
own pocket for the food that is served
and must hire extra walters and help
ers in the kitchen. \ reception is not
SO expensive. but a small army of sub
ordinates must be recruited To assist
the regular White House servants,
ushers and secret service guards. For
instance. more than a score of colored
men and women are required to care
for the hats and wraps of the guests
in the eastern wing of the White
House. which is. for the time being.
converted into gigantic check room.
ne " llllE House 10
the social merry go-round during the
opening part of the year are. of course,
the most spectacular of the entertain
ments. but they by no means eonstl-
tute the sum total of such activities.
Indeed. in her social responsibilities
the mistress of the White House has
it easy compared to the wives of the
cabinet members. Each Of these cab
met women must not only assist in
receiving the guests at each of the big
White House receptions, but she must
also hold each week what is in effect
public reception in her own home.
The wives of many senators and repre-
sentatives follow this same plan of
keeping open house one day a week
during the season.
What a whirlwind of calling this
stampede of teas and receptions be-
gets-not real visiting. mind you. but
simply the how-do- you'd nd hurry
away sort of thing-is evidenced by
the fact that the wife of any promi-
ment official in Washington who meets
her social obligations conscientiously
will use not less than 1000 calling
cards in Il single season. In order to
prevent hopeless confusion. there is
an apportionment or distribution. of
the entertainment along the lines by
which the official world r. divided.
For instance, all the ladies of the cab
met receive on one stated afternoon
each week: the wives of senators and
representatives are aliowd 10 monop-
oliz another day: a third is set aside
for the wives of army and navy Off
Gers. and so on through the list OF
branches in the official community.
Of course. there are all sorts Of ex-
ira events each winter as for Instance,
. the musicals and dances al the White