The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-10-28

tural aspect and In the method and
manner of the doings of its society
or rather societies, Washington is
onquestonably city apart
The fact that this city is the capital Of a great
country and that here the chief officials of that
country dwell, coupled with the farther fact of
tne presence of a large foreign official element
accounts for the singularity of Washington in its
social life
There are seven distinct social circles in the city
OF Washington Each circle has its distinct place
ana each enjoys its own somewhat isolated ac-
tv1ties And yet there times when all the
circles become concentric and within the one cir
cumference the members Of all circles mingle
Does this sound obscure? In truth 1t is a yery
simple matter. The seven social circles OF Wash
ington are those Of the administration of congress
OF the diplomats, Of the army and navy of the
judiciary Of the scientists and Of the Old resi-
dents So 1t is that all through the so-cafed So
c1al season Washington witnesses all kinds of
doings which are separate one from another and
which are attended only by those whe were born
OF have been inducted into the particular circum
ference. Then comes perhaps some greater event
and all are bidden and all TO-
Now why is 1t that Washington is as it is social
lyf In the first place 1t is what 1t Is because In
this town, except for the residential set neither
birth nor money can count for anything. 1t is the
ofhce held the attachments reached, as in the
case Of the scientists, which determines the po-
eitton Of the man and his family in Washington
society. This is America and the Office and not
ington a man may be poorer than the turkey of
Job and may have been born in a garret, but If
he has made good and the people have honored
him by election to high office he freely enter
a certain White House which the country counts
as better than any Newport Southampton man.
sion.
1t has been intimated that Washington society
is systematized. So it is. 1t has to be. The
presence of many foreigners of high official and
personal position has made precedence prime
in fhc oil nifty
sticklers for what may be called the right of way
The ambassador of longest service must precede
the ambassador of shorter service and his wife
must precede the other ambassadors wife or
there Will be dire trouble
This precedence has forced system Into Wash
ingtons way of doing things socially. In Chicago
man and one woman at reception can walk
ahead Of another man and another woman with
out mental discomfort to themselves and without
injury to the feelings of the trailing couple. In
Washington things are different because American
Office holders, or more strictly speaking their
Wives have imbibed the precedence draught from
the cups Of the foreigners. And so here the cab
met officer must walk ahead of the senator. the
senator ahead of the representative, and the rep
resentative ahead of Thomas Jones who holds no
ONCE.
All this may snobbish to the last degree,
but In a way the thing is most excelenty dem
ocratic The precedence given man in Washing
ton really is compliment to the people who
elected him to Office who elected the man VII ,
appointed him to Office Here is where the democ-
racy of Washington society comes in despite Its
precedence and some seeming fol-de-rols.
Speaking of democracy in America who is the
first lady of the land? She has been a working
newspaper woman and American housewife In
a small city.
The administration circle proper comprises the
President and his wife and the cabinet officers and
their wives and families. Then ten cabinet officers
rank in the order In which the departments which
thev represent were formed. The list runs thus
state treasury, war. Justice postoffice, navy In
tarfor agriculture commerce and labor
The social activities of the cabinet part of the
administration circle are confined almost entirely
to small dinners given during the winter months.
They begin with the secretary of state and his
wife as hosts and continue at the rate of one each
week until concluded at the home of the secretary
of labor Each affair is given in honor of the
President and his wife and few additional guests.
More often than not these guests are selected from
out Of towp
These with exceptions, are the only func-
ttors that the President attends outside of the