The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-01

until Lent will contribute new chap
tiers TO tho social history Of our re-
publican court, are as ofttimcs the
scenes of these social feuds as the
White House levecs. We have spoken
OF the friction between the Chief
Justice and the ambassador, but one
OF a much longer standing has been
IN ,he running between Chief Justices
and ce-Presidents. SO cautious hosts
Will refrain this winter from placin,.
the knees of MIR. Sherman and of the
new Chief Justice beneath their ma
hoSany at one time.
indeed. the poor justices have been
sailing upon doubtful social waters
Tor 10 these many years, and because
me cabinet used 10 dispute the social
rank of these members of the highest
Judicial tribunal old-time hosts at tho
Capital will not invote both Cabinet
officers and members Of the supreme
Court 10 the same board
Once Cabinet members had such
doubtful rank in the scale OF notablcs
that they. like the Vice President, had
to be invited into the Blue Room be-
| fore the door opened, there to stand
and receive with the President-as
they still do-instead OF venturing into
the adjacent parlor to cause trouble
while the master of ceremonies lined
up the courtiers. For there came to
dispute the Cabinets rank not only
| the Mcssrs. Justice. but the Senate,
which body has given Presidents more
reXation over precedence than anv
other body of home officials Many
still conspicuous In the capital draw
sng rooms remember an exciting oc-
casion when prominent Senator's
wife made a loud uproar because her
! host escorted the wife of foreign
minister instead of herself to the
ldlnlnS-room and thereby designated
her as the occupant of the honor seat
a; table. upon his right
| ~ fcud between the Cabinet and
diplomatic corps arose as early as the
administration of Jackson. one of
whose portfolio bearers outraged the
delicate sensiblities of Count Serrurier.
the French minister. by disputing his
place In state dinner procession.
And the upshot of 1t all was that the
! count stayed without and sulloed In his
/ tent while "Old Hickory's" vlands were
being enjoyed by the less elect
| A Tale of Two Hostcsses.
So the newcomer in Washington So
ciety has to burn the midnight oil long
| over an etiquette guide before vent,.r-
in gto act as host or hostess. A dis
| tinguished American, who lately went
abroad as envoy to foreign sovereign.
! has told this story. illustrating the
perils of the uninitiated:
= new officials wife arranged a din
ner. which was to include the Vice
| President the Secretary Of State, the
| French ambassador, an Italian cardi-
nal, the bishop of her church, and an
! old marquis with a famed hatred of the
French republic.
| who's to sit at your right?" she
was asked by a friend. experienced So
| cially.
"N,ny my old bishop. of course
was her unhesitating reply. And his
wife Will SO In with the cardinal"
The friend. appalled, on discovering
these breakers ahead, advised her to
submit the list OF guests to tho Vice
President, and she declined with
warmth
But, my dear" the vice-President
must always have precedence over All
others and the marquis hates the
French ambassador to his finger tips!'
Il don't care; shall consult no one
! about my own affairs"
But other friends who found her in
calmer mood pointed out the only
possible channel, and she at last agreed
to he plotted Three dinners she gaze
--one to the VicePresident, one Il
the Secretary of State and one to her
bishop. the one she had wished to espe-
ciallN honor.
Nise hostesSeS VINO ina themselves
confronted with such social puzzles
go up to the State Department and lay
them before Assistant Secretary Alvey
a. Adee. who for many years has been
the social mentor OF all state functions
at the White House.
The social snarl that lie cannot un.
tanslc Is bad one indeed. but he had
to surrender some time ago. wher
called into the secretary's onife To hclr
place the dinner guests of society
woman who had arranged an elaborate
function. She had already sent inyi.
tations to about all OF the pairs Of high