The Washington times., 1914-09-06
MRS. FLETCHER SANFORD TILTON.

1
closely as possible, to look after those
short of funds, and generally prevent
suffering. and II seems they had their
hands full. and did a great work At
the time of writing Miss Grandy and her
sister Miss Ada Grandy, were hoping to
gel passage home ere long, so at the
time Of reading they may be en- route
or even in this country. They are Iowa
folk. and will probably make their way
West shortly after landing.
Marion Parker has been in town for
a few days. but has fitted of once
more, this time to jamestown. r. J., for
Clochette Masruder's wedding. Every
body calls her Clochette, though she
was christened Isabel. Marion says she
is the last of her group of friends still
enjoying single blessedness, but after
knowing that popular young woman for
some time | have a pretty good idea
whose fault il is. Marion expects to re-
main in jamestown indefinitely; indeed
Washington has seen very little of her
this summer You recall she spent sew
eral months early in the season with
Mrs. Perry Lippitt in Porto Rico. going
from there to Blue Ridge Summit to
stay with Mrs. Morrell Chamberlain in
her cottage there. Priscilla Nicholson,
for she is still that to US all, and Marion
are old school friends. There is a little
Washington crowd that play round to-
Cether a great deal, Mrs. Charlie
Wheeler. Mrs. Willie Du Bose, Mrs.
Billy Reynolds and the rest, and they
have ali made Blue Ridge their head
quarters this summer and had the best
sort of time.
Speaking of Mrs. Perry Lippitt-you' Il
probably remember her as Helen Wilson
i must tell you that she is to have
a Washington home as well as the place
in Forto Rico They have bought the
Greble house, on the corner of Hopkins
place and o street, and are having II
remodeled. Meanwhile Helen, who. like
all of US. loves TO spend money on pret
ty things, is having a beautiful time
furnishing the house, and hopes TO have
il complete and ready for occupancy
when Mr. Lppitt gets home this month.
+
No, Susan. no one knows exactly
what Miss Wilson will do. She has
definitely given up her literary and
musical work, / believe. and will stay
at the White House to make a home
for her father and act as ChAtelain",
but whether she will he official hostess
or not remains to be seen, and of
course any entertaining that is "one
this winter will he Of a strictly official
nature. if, indeed. the President does
not break another precedent and cancel
even the state leVecs.
Miss Harriet Lam, niece of President
Buchanan. is the only unmarried
woman who has been First Lady Of the
Land for any very extended rcr.od. She
was mistress Of the White House for
the entire four years of his admjnistra-
tiCn, and hostess for the nation nlling
her position wiki such InCOmpa rable
grace that she ranks among the great
ladies of the mansion, and made hcr
regime one of special DrillianCy.
But times have radically changed
since then, Official etiquette has become
more rigid, or at least we OH this side
are defcr:ing more to The ideas II
etiquette current across the water. Md
some Of til. best informed authorities
on things official and social contend
that in event "f tEe death or absence
Cf the Presidents wife, her plac'. IN
tho receiving line at any official enter
tainmcnt Dc!Ongs To tie wife Of IL"
Vice President, afte.' h.sr to the wife Of
TIE Secretary "f stat. and 50 On
through tf'- lit OF the ladies .: the
Cabinet according 10 tie accepted iGcH
II prCc'"l"nCc Certain IL is that dilrIng
tn illness Of Mr.. Taft. Helen Taft
hover attempted 10 take her mothers
pace, but instead Mrs sherman or
Mrs EnpE stood It III. heal Of the It--
C"illng Inc; and last winter after Ms
Wilson's accident. Miss Wilson invited
Mrs Marshall 10 stand beside her
faJher at The last Of the official reCcp-
tions, whilo she hcrs'lf oc, upicd her
usual pls"- in The Blu. Room.
There - an unWTitten law that the
President entertain the Diplomatic Corps
a. an evening levee and a banquet: but.
should hc comply with this law. II is
doubtful if even here. though Miss WI
son would stand with her father To re-
C"iVe his guests. she would be regarded
as the First Lady Of th~ Land, when
the guests were seated at the board.
Rather 1h' wife Of the dean the
Diplomatic Corps would rank Il un-
married daughter Of th' President.
Some years ago, when precedence
came near being the rock on which
" ashington society split. the Stat" De-
Iartment. with tho Courteous scholarly,
ard widely experienced John Hay AT the
helm. d"Creed that no unmarried wom-
an could rank 4 married one. and that
no woman other than his wife, could
claim the rank and pr"rogatives Of an
Official merely because she presided
over his home
So great is the sympathy for Miss Will
sOR in her loss that there is small
chance of feuds over riVialities or
matters of precedent being revived but
to break established rules would make
foI confusion. So it seems more than
probable that during the official funC-
I ons ~at least Mrs. Marshall will lead
the receiving line. while at any per
Conal or scmi-informal events Miss Will
son will be hostess.
Mrs. Marshall confesses that she
really knows little of precedent and
precedence under the circumstances,
and is by no means sure what part. il