The Idaho recorder., 1921-11-18

0V \ capital city Is different from other
NJ cities of the land, but In the struc.
tural aspect and in the method and
manner OF the doings OF It's society
or rather societies. Washington Is
uhluesiionably city apart
a"e iuct thht this city Is the capital of n great
country and that here the chief officials ~ thar
country dweii, coupled with tile farther fact of
the presence OF large foreign official element
social life - ''
ihere are seven distinct social circles In the civ
"Sn'hsi"h Each circle has Its distinct place
anu each enjoys its somewhat Isolated nc.
INVITES And yet there are times when oI tho
N"'eS become concentric and within the one cir.
euinterence the members Of all circles mIngIs
boes THIS sound obscure? In truth II Il n very
'Hl"o hatter' 1he seven social circles of Wash.
hgion are those OF the administration Of congress-
" me diplomats. OF the army and navy. of the
JudichFy OF the scientists and of the OLD resi-.
uents So II is that all through this so.eaIIed 90
c'ai season Washington witnesses all kinds OF
uoihgs winch are separate one from another and
which are attended only by those whe were born
of nave been inducted Into the particular circum.
ference. Then comes perhaps some grenter eyent
and all are hidden and all 20
Now why Is II that Washington is as IL Ia social.
W IN the nrst place II Is what IL is because In
,his Town, except for the residential set neither
olrsh nor money can count for anything II is the
once held or the attachments reached, as In the
s'tion OF the man and his family In Washington
society This Is America and the office and not
He mEh must be accepted and honored, In WASH
ihgton man may be poorer than the turkey OF
'oo ana may have been born In a garrett but II
he has made good and the people have bonored
hiir by election 10 high Office he freely can enter
certain White House which the country counts
W. better than any Newport or Southampton man.
sion.
II has been intimated that Washington society
u systemntized. SO II Is. II has TO be- The
presence OF so many foreigners or high official and
personal position has made precedence a prime
matter In the capital city. Foreigners are great
suckers for what may be called the right OF way
The ambassador OF longest service must precede
the ambassador Of shorter service aud his wife
must precede the other ambassadors wife or
there VIII be dire trouble
i THIS precedence has forced system into Wash.
'ngions way OF doing things socially In Chicago
one man and one woman at II reception can walk
ahead OF another man and another woman with.
out mental discomfort 10 themselves and without
injury 10 the feelings OF the trailing couple. In
Washington things different because American
Office holders or more strictly speaking, their
wives. have imbibed the precedence draught from
the cups OF the foreigners And 50 here the cab
lne officer must walk ahead OF the senator the
senator ahead OF the representative, and the rep
resentatiye ahead Of Thomas Jones who holds no
ONCE.
All this may seem snobblsh 10 the last degree
but In way the thing Is most exceliently DEM
Ocraiic. The precedence given man In Washing
ton really Is compliment to the people who
elected him TO Office or who elected the man who
appointed him TO once. 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
drst lady Of the landl She has been a working
newspaper woman and American housewife In
q small city
The administration circle proper comprises the
President and his Wife aud the cabinet officers and
their wives and families. Then ten cabinet officers
rank In the order IA which the departments which
they represent were formed. The list runs thus:
state treasury, war Justice. postoffice. navy In
lerior agriculture. commerce and labor
The social activities Of the cabinet part of the
ADMINISTRATION circle confined almost entirely
90 small dinners given during the winter months
They begin with the secretary OF state and his
wife as hosts and continue mt 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 Vuests
More often Than no, these guests are selected from
out Of town.
These, with rare exceptions are the only func
aois mat the President attends outside OF tho