The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-11-12

i tural aspect and in the method and
manner of the doings of its society
or rather societies Washington is
unquestionably city apart
The fact that this city is the capitaJ of q grao,
country and that here the chief officials of that
country dwell, coupled with the farther fact Of
ehe presence of large foreign official element
accounts Tor the singularty of Washington in IFS
social life " 10
1here are seven distinct social circles i'm the CITY
vi washington Each circle has its distinct place
ano each enjoys its somewhat isolated no.
u'iues Ana yet there are times when all the
circles become concentric and within the ono cir
eumierence the members Of all circles mingle
does TINS sound obscure? In truth il Is very
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 tbe
JUDICIARY, or the scientists and OF the old resi-
dents So 1t is that all through the so-called So
ciaf season Washington witnesses all kinds of
ooings which are separate one from another and
which are attended only by those whe were born
of nave been indicted into the particular circum-
Ference. linen comes perhaps some greater event
and all are hidden and all GO
Now why is 1t that Washington is as II is social
W In the hrst place 1t is what II is because I'm
tliis town. except for the residential set neither
birth nor money can count for anything II is the
ONCE held or the attachments reached as in the
case OF the scientists. which determines the no
sifion Of the man and his family in Washington
society. This Is America and the Office and not
the man must be accepted and honored. In Wash
ington man may be poorer than the turkey of
job and may have been born In a garrett but If
ne has made good and the people have honored
MIN by election TO high Office he freely can enter
q certain White House which the country counts
as better than any Newport or Southampton man.
sion.
II has been intimated that Washington society
Is systematized. SO 1t is II has TO be The
presence of so many foreigners of high official and
personal position has made precedence prime
matter In the capital city. Foreigners are great
sficklers 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
fngton's way of doing things socially. In Chicago
one man and one woman at q reception can walk
ahead of another man and another woman with
cut mental discomfort to themselves and without
INJURY 10 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
inet 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 seem snobbsh to the last degree
hut In a way the thing is most excellently DEM
ocrntic The precedence given man In Washing
ton really is compliment to the people who
elected him to Office who elected the man who
appointed him to Office Here is where the democ-
rucy OF Washington society comes in despite its
precedence and some seeming fol-derols
Speaking of democracy in America, who is the
drst lady of the land? She has been a working
newspaper woman and an American housewife In
p 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
hey represent were formed. The list ruAs thus:
state, treasury. war. justice postofice, navy, in
(erior. agriculture, commerce and labor
The social activities of the cabinet part of the
administration circle are confined almost entirely
% 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
q labor. Each affair is given i'm honor of the
President and his wife and few additional guests
dore often than not these guests selected from
lut Of town. y
These, with rare exceptions, are the only func-
Ions that the President attends outside of the