The Holly chieftain., 1922-01-19

n time. Their relaxation consisted of drive each
afternoon in their victoria, drawn by a span of
horses and recognized by all people In this region
by the tricOlOr cOckades In the tall hats of the
driver and footman.
The French ambassador has adopted the Amer
lean breakfast. When weather permits, he takes
1t on the roof of the embassy instead of following
the custom with which all travellers to France
familiar Aso when the weather Is congenal.
afternoon tea is served on porch. 1t is at these
teas quite informal that the Jusserands get In
close touch with Washington society, official dip
lomatic and Others On these occasions Nine. JUS
serand presIdes over the teacups with the digni-
fed simplicity that characterzes her at all times
She is always well gowned, never overdressed
never appearing In anything approaching the
bizarre
1t Is considered of the utmost Importance to all
the members of the diplomatic corps that they
make their calls at the home of the dean and his
wife MS soon us possible after their arrival In
Washington 1t would be hard to estimate how
many calls have been made In this way, hundreds
surely, and possibly thousands AS the number
of diplomats is small compared to the rest of the
people who figure in Washington society. all of
whom make many calls each year on the Jusser.
ands, person mathematically inclined might find
some amusement in computing the approximate
number of visits which probably have been made
at the French embassy during the past eighteen
years.
To the casual visitor in Washington, the en-
bassies and legations seem practically inacces-
slbe, whereas such Is not the case TO saw the
official bones of the foreign colony are easy of
access would be nearer the truth. The represen.
tatives of other countries and their families go
more than halfway to meet Americans. 1t is true
they follow the rules and regulations laid down
by polite society and are punctilious about calls
precedence and other social amenities but thev
most appreciatlve of courtesies which bring
them In more intimate touch with the affairs ont
side Of diplomatic formalities.
1t Is pretty safe statement to saw thot nj,
diplomats speak at least one language other than
better than that and or less familiar with
half dozen or so speaking more thnn half of them
fuently. 1t has been noticeable that for some
years the wives of the men who are sent TO WASH
ngton from countries in all parts of the world
have perfected themselves in languages
There are two ways of placing the rank of tho
heads Of embassies and legations In the mattsr
of precedence at society doings the ambassadors
rank the ministers, irrespective of the length of
time of residence here. For instance the minister
of Portugal, Viscount dAlte, came to Washington
Just nine months before the French ambassador
NJ Jusserand, arrived. However all the ambnssa.
dors must pass ahead of the viscount and nil the
wives of the ambassadors would precede the wife
of Viscount d'Alte, II he had one.
The other method of rating the embassies takes
into consideration the order of their establishment
in Washington. The founding of embassies here Is
part OF history and goes deeper to the root of
international relations than the appointment of
ambassadors. The Importance of the British EN-.
bassy cannot be underestinated ana vet Sir Aucl
land Geddes the British ambassador must take
his place tenth In line because nine colleagues OF