Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-03-01
Tie Social Burden

SOcialOficial Washington is to be relieved of q
heavy burden, If present plans carry. The business
OF making formal calls, imposed as: o tduty upon the
women whose husbands hold important positions lin
the government has become a serious. handicap on
health and something must be done to, effect q rem.
yttedy.s Those who are strangers to %Washinton's mid.
winter social life have no conceptton.of tho grave
problem that this has become and cannot appreciate
the gratitude that is already felt by the ~"oficial'
,matrons in the mere prospect Of release from the
t~hralldonl Of duty calls. y Mrs. Secretary and Mrs.
Senator must do their part to keep acquainted and
to prevent Mrs. Commissioner and Mrs. Justice and
Mrs. Representative from feeling sighted. Mrs. Am.
bassadors calls are part OF her husbands diplomatic
business and she doubtless, regards. them as part Of
the career of an enjoys wife; still she is affected by
the, cvelopment Of the calling custom into q complex
and formidable system, requiring the guidance Of
advisers in the puctilio Of precedence and the con-
y%entions Of cards and the schedule Of days
As Q means Of promoting acquaintance the ex-
change. of formal calls is not particularly effective.
The average. cali lasts not much more than ten min
utes, and in that time neither tue caller. nor the
hostess Gun gain more than q superficial impression
Of individuality. There is no more visiting such
as the women Of earlier days could do, taking, per-
haps. their handiwork along TO keep occupied while
talking. Those long, intimate discussions over house.
mold ana1fSi anu ule Gncaltl OIL the CNn0Fen anu tie
matrinlonial prospects of mutual friends have gone,
perhaps forever, from the upper social circles. Con
~versation turns on politics and sociological issues,
and lin the case of persons OF direct or reflected im-
portanco it must be- painstakingly safeguarded to
prevent the passing 81 ttaaoa-aeaach Information. Dis.
erection replaces freedom 81. speech ind the monitor
OF the minute hand Is forever alert 70 command a
move no. to the next station in the. ~socials pilgrims prog
ress. NJ 80 ~. .%~.. :.s. So @
I just what can be; dlqaeE to. effect q change, giving
the Official womenssos Washington nlore. leisure to
pursue their own inclinations to- cultivate real
friendships; to relax, into genuine social intercourse
is not to be lightly, prescribed. A mountain of sup
posed obligation is to be removed. Many minds arc
now .at5work in the epdeayor, and there is, happily,
a general feeling that some change is essential il
life in the capital issto be restored to q satisfactory
basis. The e~xactionsE Of etiquette mustssbe relaxed.
Cards, perhaps, can be declared acceptable in lieu
Of formal calls marked b.. languid handclasps,. weary
~platitudes Of. p~oliteness and hasty aAisus. Uncle
Sans mail carriers can possibly bear the 5brunt of
the burden. Other, means viii doubtless be devised
to simplify the system OF personal acknowledgements
If the women Of Official Washington really want
emancipation from their present state Of %servitude.
Washington Star. 4 e
Paris cafes that require cooks to wear kid gloves