The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-27
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN, Director.
Washington, ID. G.
WHO SHALL WALK FIRST.

Should the wife of a justice of the
supreme court walk in to dinner
ahead of a senator's wife, or should
1t be the other way round?
This is one of the Oldest. the Bit
terest, the most debated questions
which perplex the great minds that
govern the greatest democracy on
earth. And it is one of many such
questions. 1t is a symptom of a state
OF mind. For in this capital of the
country where all men have been pro-
claimed equal. the question of social
rank and social precedence is given
an importance which is paralleled
only by the practices of some barbaric
tribes in which a violation of the
order of precedence is punished by
death. Here you are punished by by
physical, if you fail to make the
proper genuflection before the reign7
ing princes. NA
At the beginning of a new admin
istration thNre is always a degree OF
uncertainty and apprehension in
Washington society.
For example, at a recent formal
function here social leaders gasped
with horror when Mrs. Coolidge wife
of the vice-president, entered The room
at the. right OF the guest of honor
dent, was on the left.
A Social Crisis.
washington shivered. 1t feared
that this radical departure from all
set rules was the signal for a social
revolution. The administration was
new. Its policies toward Washing
tons heretofore rockbound code OF
precedence were unknown. Could IT
be that the system worked out in in,
tricate detail by generations OF SOCIAL
mentors. was threatened?
Mrs. Harding had not mingled TO
any great extent in Washington eX-
elusive society during her years here
as the wife of the senior senator from
Ohio. Her attitude toward society
WAS in doubt. The new adn1inistra-
ton had been in existence but few
days. For the moment society held
it's breath in dreadful suspense.
The few weeks that have elapsed
since that first error have relieved
the minds of the social elect. Appar
entity the slip was unintentional. Mrs.
Harding seems of mind to follow the
social trail blazed by her predecessors.
Precedence. the god before whom
Washington society bows, has been
appeased. At formal functions at the
White House since then for members
OF the official and diplomatic set the
rules~of precedence have been metic-
ulouslyN observed.
Social leaders, and those seeking So
cial preferment, employ experts of
precedence as secretaries to warn
them against breaches of the sacred rit-
ual. The government itself employs
staff of precedence experts to conduct
informal and formal state functions
according to rules. They are versed
in the rules not only of this country
but of foreign capitals, and have
charge of the visits of foreign rulers
and statesmen. Moot points of order
are submitted to these government Aex-
perts by society leaders in Washington
and members of the official and dipIo-
matte circles, anxious TO be on the safe
side. Before a diplomatic wedding,
for an example, long consultations are
held at the state department to deter
mine the extent and character of the
invitation list.
New points of precedence are con-
tinually arising and old ones are al
ways in dispute. What shall the at
titude of the. social elect in Washing
ton be toward Mrs. Wilson, wife of
former president. the first to make
his home, after retiring, in Washing
ton? So far the continued illness of
the former president has preciuded
any decision on this point. but upon
his complete recovery, should the for
ner First Lady of the Land desire So
| cial recognition the point must be set
! tied.
fW1ASoHS
1t is admitted that Mrs. Wilson,
widow of wealthy merchant, charm
ing as she was, was not of Washing
toms social elect before her marriage
to Woodrow Wilson. As First Lady she
took and gracefully performed the
duties of her place. Does she stay up
| or slide back? Is she primarily a
mere merchants widow or former
| presidents wife? Or is she merely
| herself? No. that cannot be. No one
Is himself in Washington society. He
| is merely a member of a certain
class, and until he is properly CLASH
f1ed.-everyone is afraid of him.
The old disputefoyer precedence be-
| tween the WiveS of members of the
supreme court and those of the United
| States senators has never definitely
| been settled. The senatorial ladies
claim that, as their husbands confirm
| the appointments of the justices, they
should have first place The wives of
the justices believe, as their husbands
| form the highest tribunal of the ma
| ton and holdN their positions for life,
| the sacred right of preceding the sena-
! torial ladies should be theirs. At pres
/ ent they>seem somewhat to have the
| better of the argument and usually
enter dining rooms first and sit at the
right hand of the host-provided, of
course, the wife of the president, the
| wife of the vice president and the
4
4present. H.
The wife of the president, naturally,
takes precedence over every other wo-
man present. Even visiting royalty
yields her first place. The vice presi-
| dents spouse comes next and the
| wives of the cabinet secretaries follow
in their logical order. The cabinet
7 ladies frequently yield third honors to
wives of ambassadors, but their right
to follow the vice presidents wife is
| admitted. y
In the diplomatic set the order Of
precedence is undisputed. Madame
Jusserand, wife of the dean of the
diplomatic corps, Ambassador Jules
Jusserand of France. is always ac-
corded first place. AS a matter OF
fact the real deantof the corps IS the
minister of Portugal, Viscount date
but as he is only a minister and Jus
serand is an ambassador he does not
hold the title. Viscount d'Alte is a
bachelor. There is no lady to dispute