The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-18
TIE HAsKIN LETTER
Social Life In Washington
81 FrederIe ]. Haskin.

III II 49, -i4tf rs 80 ny sREeU
Owing to an accident all tn,
cards left by ladies calling upon Mrs
Thomas Il. Marshall yesterday wer,
lost. Mrs. Marshall therefore re
quests that the ladies' who calico
either mail their cards to her or re
peat their calls upon some other Of
her at home days..
In any other city in the world such
an announcement would be regarded
as peculiar. 1t created little com
ment when itfappeared in the society
columns Of the Washington newspa.
pers a few days ago. There 1t Is
tacitly understood that the wife Of
the vice-president holds too exalted
a position to be expected to Femem-
Der the names Of all the ladies who
call upon her. Without their cards
to identify them she cannot give
them credit for having paid her this
mark Of attention. Her desire to dc
so. as evidenced by the announce
ment, was generally approved.
The social customs Of Washington
become more complex eacn year de-
spite the continuous efforts heing
made towards simplicity. Certain
requirements and customs have been
handed down for generations. It is
difficult to ignore them and no uni
form method of surmounting them
has yet been discovered.
/ The calling custo mis- perhaps the
most burdensome Of all. 1t has al
ways been generally accpeted that
1.-THE lady Of the White House should
be exempt from calling, but cabinet
women and others in the official cir
Gle have, until recently, been more
or less punctilious about paying calls
according to recognized rules. Such
calls in realty constitute a social
farce. The only requirement is the
leaving OF bit of engraved paste
board. The caller does not expect to
become acquainted with her hostess,
Frequently, she does not desire it.
Under these conditions 1t is not unu-
Usual for two women to have ex-
lchanged calls number OF times
without having met. Yet each is
upon the others calling list and
therefore entitled to remembrance
in the distribution of invitations ds
other social fav0rS.
| 81 met the loveliest woman at the
dinner Senator Blank gave last
might, said one congressma1l's wife
to another. I'VE sat next to each
other and had a chance to talk. ]
ibid not catch her name when we
were introduced. asked for 1t and
found that had been at her house a
number Of times and that she was at
/ my last tea. But she looked different
without her hat, so had no idea that
III really knew her.
You mean you socially knew her.
replied her friend. .'My first season
here taught me the difference be
tween knowing woman socially and
personally"
A Contrary to popular belief thu
women Of the official set have ns
desire to appear snobbish or even ex
elusive, but certain conditions ar,
forced upon them.
Many Of them feel that as thu
wives Of politicians sent to Washing
ton by the votes Of the people the.
ought to, be cordial and considerat'
to all with whom they come in con
tact, but are not able to carry 0u
all their good intentions.
A cabinet woman who believed !
her duty to to return all the call!
made upon her one day found her
self confronted with an unfamilia
address on Fourteenth street Sh
concluded to return the call while OF
her afternoon. drive. After som
searching she located the numbe
over plumbers shop. Nothtni
daunted she entered the shop an
asked to be directed to the residence
Of Mrs. Blank. The blue overalle'
proprietor answered.: "That's M
wife. / mind her saying last mont
that she was going to call on you
You'll find her upstairs over tn
shop. You can go in by them stair
at the side"
The caller mounted the stairs an
spent Ave minutes in pleasant con
yersation with the hostess and tw
children she found in the front room
and departed with no visible evidenc
of surprise or condensation in he
manner.
For many 70 .acrations certain day
have been fixed as belonging to cel
tain members Of the official set an
calls are made accordingly. Thu
4 ladies of the families Of the suprem
\ court justices receive their calls o
Monday, the congressional women o
4 TUESDAY, the cabinet women on Wed
nesday, and those Of the Senate o
Thursday. The ladies' of the dtplc
matte corps select their own day
and announce them. 1t Is regarde
as a breach of decorum to call upo
an official woman upon any other da
than that designated unless by spe
cial invitation. the inference bein
that she is engaged in returning call
upon other days.
Formerly these at home days wer
thronged with people who woul
never have received invitations I
such houses under other conditions
Elaborate refreshments were pre-
\ vided and certain impecunious ind
viduals. who made social pretenslons
counted upon the food given gratul
tously at these functions to supple
ment their own scant meals. Thi
condition has changed considerabl
within the last decade. The refresh
ments are simpler. consisting usual.
Of tiny sandwiches, tea and littl