The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-26

There IS nothing more symbolic of Washington society than the plan of Washington streets. When Charles rEnfant laid out the city on paper, with its streets straight and diagonal, with triangles and circles, it is clear that he had in mind a prophetic vision of the social system that was to develop, with it's rings and circles and angles, short cuts to greatness if you know the way and divergences that leave you on the rim of outer darkness if you miss the path.
 When train pushes Its nose into the Union station at Washington and un. loads a new representative and his wife, the man may stand looking across at the dome of the capitol, the scene of his future triumphs. His chest may heave with mighty aspirations; he may be al. most ashamed to admit even to himself the height of his political ambition. But what of his wife? She may be a gentle soul from the sunny south, a busy woman from the north, a rough gem from the west or a sophisticated society dame from an eastern metropo- lis. Yet think of the social ordeal that faces her.
 In the small town, there is great ex- citement over the honor conferred on the newly-elected representative. His family and friends think he has achieved the highest position next to the presi- dency. His wife has visions of being a front-ranker in society and there is much preparation for the invasion of the capital.
 Being one of four hundred and more, and lesser one as precedence goes by Tor uth nf chn Ea n big splurge. Her first job is to make her calls-hundreds of them. If she doesn't she will be left alone and lonely, in total obscurity. She is on the outer rim and must learn the way in. How to get from one social circle to another, without once stepping outside the pre- scribed, or if you prefer it, prescribed lines, in the national game of hop scotch.
 Two Guests Too Many
 When you read about being in the "social whirl with a congressman s wife," or society as seen by senator's" 1t has an air of intoxication-glamor, thrill.
 To entertain the visitor from the home state is one of the privileges of c representative or senator. You all ways try to do it we'll. One satisfied elector, little flattered, can do lot when he goes back home.
 Early in the war the wife of a sena- tor from the middle west planned a din- ner for two house guests, electors from the home state Influential electors, too, and she wanted to show them a real party.
 Hoping to be impressive she wished to include as many high-ranked guests as possible and reached up to the limit. But she realized that it would be i'm polite to invite the French and Ger man ambassadors to the same meal So the invitation was sent to M. Jusserand.
 The French reply expressed regret and inability to come, and so cleared man embassy, from which came an ac- ceptance. A lot underlay invitations and acceptances in those tense days.
 Great preparations were made. The middle western friend had decked her.. self as the Queen of Sheba and her hus- band was the martyred magnificence of correct Fifth avenue style.
 The door bell rang and the guests be- gan to arrive. Imagine their horror, when among the first to come were M. and Madame Jusserand. Some secre- tary had blundered.
 This meant two guests too many. The bewildered hostess not only had to secretly murder two guests, but also to keep representatives of countries then at war from stabbing each other with a salad fork or damaging the cutlery.
 Did They Tell Back Home
 At length, surreptitiously, the butler hustled two trays upstairs; and the house guests-a fearful Queen of Sheba, and her spouse-for whom the party really was given, were the sacrificial victims. It was impossible to deny a seat to any of the high officials in- yited. and there wasn't an inch of room