New-York tribune., 1912-03-10
Washington Impressions
Copyright, 1912, by George w. smalley)

I
women sure of their position and Of
themselves take such errors to heart. It
IS only the dwellers in the suburbs Of
society," the climbers. or perhaps the
newly arrived, who think themselves
| aggrieved. or are anxious to assert their
CLAIMS. There's story always thougot
perfect example Of the distinction he
tween the old and the new. At oer-
tain dinner, not in the highest circles.
were two ladies of title-one the wife
Of freshly created knight, the other
the daughter of an Earl. When tho
ladies left the dining room the wife Of
| the freshly created knight marched out
before the Earls daughter-then ha,ted
and said to the other:
Il beg your pardon, but I am 50 rncb
in the habit of going first"
| oh, never mind; l usually go last"
The difference in the COMPANY thav
frequented could not have been mora
neatly indicated.
l hope these two anecdotes NAV serve
to show that if mistakes are made in
Washington they are also made in COM
munities much older than Washington.
People here have long since settled down
in their rightful places, and do not com
monty go astray. But Washington is
| tuid, and, like the Potomac, sometimes
| overflows its uncertain banks. There
seems to be no universally recognized
arbiter. Ambassadors and Supreme
| Court Judges. Cabinet Ministers and
Senator's Generals and Admirals, con-
tend with each other. In no other capt.
| tai Of the civilized world is the rightful
/ precedence of Ambassadors disputed. In
Washington, even in such great official
| ceremonies as those of the inauguration
of President ii remains in allegiance
The Ambassadors demonstrate. but sub
NIT. l knew Of a case where an Am
| bassador referred the matter to his gov
ernment. The answer was:
Your claim is. of course, a just one
but in personal questions arising be-
| tween our representatives abroad ard
the courts or governments TO which they
are accredited we invariably decide
against our representatives We think
| il better they should yield to an en-
croachment on their prerogatives than
maintain their rights by controversy"
1 do not criticise l only relate. I
was brought up TO think, and / still
think, the Supreme Court the most au-
gust tribunal in the world; and great
enough to waive claims the surrender Of
which would be an act Of international
courtesy.
No Court or Capital has authority be-
yond it's own limits, but it may be con-
venient to know what is done elsewhere.
| In England the table of precedence be ,
gins thus:
The Sovereign.
The Prince Of Wales.
The sovereign's younger sons grand
sons. brothers, uncles, nephews.
Ambassadors.
After the ambassadors come the
Archbishop Of Canterbury, the Lord
High Chancellor the Archbishop OF
York. the Prime Minister. Except the
Lord High Chancellor. whose office is
not wholly judicial no place is found
| IOT Ine JuQSeS dS SUN III oANCi 'iiN 80
age. the Bishops, the Secretaries Of
State. the Speaker Of the House OF Com
mons, the great officers Of the Royal
Household, Privy Councillors, Chancellor
of the Exchequer and Chancellor Of the
Duchy Of Lancaster. defined by Lord
Dufferin as Maid Of All Work TO the
Cabinet. Next after this last comes
the Lord Chief Justice of England, who
corresponds as nearly as may be TO the
! Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States.
| Nor is It only on official occasions that
the Judges Of the Supreme Court assert
| their precedence. They expect II 10 be
I recognized in private. l knew, and knew
well, a Judge long filling great place
on this great bench who had way OF
his own in indicating his social claims.
He used to go early to dinner, look over
the guest cards, and IL he found he was
not to take in his hostess he went away.
He did not have 20 do this often. "
became known everything becomes
known with lightning speed in Washing
ton. II, therefore, hostess was not pre-
pared TO recognize this judges claim she
did not ask him TO dine. @. w. \.
|