The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10

,cnd formal functions at the homes of
foreign diplomats and neither he nor
mis- wife returns calls. save those or
foreign executives visiting America
An invitation from him or his wife
taxes precedence even of earlier invi-
tations and cancels all other sociaJ
obligations. Thus n Senator who has
already issued formal invitations far
dinner party next Wednesday muut
countermand his ordcrs to the caterer
ana must withdraw his invitations II
the President elects TO honor him with
an invitation for the same evening.
Rut this preroSatlvc does not extend
10 the Presidents daughters. Several
years back considerable ridcule was
heaped upon a wealthy hostess WIN OK
cused her daughter from the latters
own debutante dinner. on the ground
that an itation from Miss Roose-
welt, coming few hours before, had to
nc regarded as command"
Another rule prescribes that tho
president must be the last parsonage
TO enter any public assemhlage or cere-
monlal TO which he Is Invited. The
vi"lation of this rule during the Nc
klnley memorial exercises In the House
OF Representatives necessitated Prest-
dent Roosevclts rising with the other
guests to do homage to the Supreme
Court, which. by an overnight, was Civ.
en- the honor of entering the hall last
The incident was at once seized upon
by the social critics, and cohsidera bio
newspaper space was devoted to COM
nent on the incident"
learning Uue of TItles.
Another social rule concerning the
President which debutantes and older
newcomers in official society must be
taught is that defining the mode Of adj
dressing him. Never as MIR. Taft
! or Judge" but always as Mr.. Presi-
! the same rule his Interiors arc ad-
dressed "Mr. Vice-President," mir.
Justice" Mr.. Secretary" or Mir.
Speaker members of the upper body
OF Congress as SENATOR those Of the
/ lower body as "Mr."--never as "Cou-
sressman" or Representatives" am
bassadors as "Excellency' and minis
| ters as Mr."
Many are the embarrassmente which
the social tyro ut Washington has
suffered because of Ignorance of these
| little points. For months she may
harbor resentment at the Vice Prcsi-
dents wife because the latter has not
returned her call. Then, by accident.
she learns that that lady never re-
turns calls, except those Of Senator'S
7 wives, and the little rent in her heart
heals up.
And unless She has carefully studied
the little blue diplomatic list" she may
make the faux pas Of calling at an
embassy or legation, where there Ia
| no hostess, the ambassador or minister
being bachelor or daughtorless
| widower
The diplomatic corps, indeed causes
her more anxiety than any other body
of officials residing at the capital, for
, 1t is made up for the most part of men
! who have received social training at
courts of proud and punctillious mon
, archs.
Why Ambassadors stayed Away.
A charming hostess who g as high
Is connected as che Is wealthy, and
who Is the chatelaine Of. one Of the
SHOW houses" of the capital. suffered
cruel embarrassment. some seasons
back, simply because she had not mas
tered ono little technicality Of the code
governing ofHcialdom's dealings with
thie pampered coterle, Of foreigners.
At an exquisite musical che invited a
list of ambassadors ito meet"--as tho
Invitations read--a functionary high In
the esteem of society. But all OF the
ambassadors stayed away because
their code forbids their accepting all
invitation "to meet" any American ex-
cept the President or his wife.
Another fact to be learned about tho
ambassadors is that their wives make
Z first calls only at the White House and
the home Of the Vice President For
4 some time this prerogattyeswas ,digput-