The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-01
. MR
SOUGHT
BUT
SCORNFUl;
B-ORAH

hapo. Th0uSh ono Acrimonious Amer
lean husband. as he figured UP the
months grocery bill. had 4 different
reason. and he asked his wife. Don't
those dips ever get anything to eat
at home3"
sIllustrAtivA OF the legend (some cali
It 4 fact: others swear It u = libel)
that the foreign envoy 10 an evsrlAst'
ing pilgrim a1tsr food. IL the story .
cave dweller tells OF sumptuous
party which q wealthy vulgarian gave
to guests whom he barely knew.
1.-THE ofI,cials." says the cave dwell
er. hesitated, but went. Tho d'plo'
mats went, without hesitAting. The
old residents went back into their
caves.
LIQUOR q tho Embassies.
Well. II the ambassadors and min
listers arc hungry. their American
hosts erase the debt, and make new
one. by being thirsty guests ut the
embassies and legations. Since the
advent In Washington OF technical pro-
hibition, oilicialdom IL dry at many
Of It's official parties. But tho embes'
sizes and legations. being possessed OF
extra territorial rights. do not observe
the volstead act. So the Friday after
noon diplomatic teas are q mecca for
al of Washington's thirsty. They
spill the best wine on the rugs. They
jockey for position around tho bottle
Of BaccArdi rum. They ask for cham
payne. while q mystified English but.
Ter looks on. and q mystified Euro
pean ambassador looks away.
Cave dweller. residential. diplomat,
all important circles. Their impor'
lance 10 largely dependent upon the
fact that they have been brought to
Washington by a fourth circle. that
OF the rovernment's officiAldom At the
nations capital. And yet, paradoxic'
ally. this fourth circle sometimes does
not know much about the other threa
which are dependent. but indepen.
dent.
Status Of the President.
At the ofYictal center Of oficialdon
stand the President and his wife. The
oretically, they are important hgurea
In the tapestry which society inter.
laces with politics Actually. they are
esteemed ornaments. hEurtnes. who
appear on stated occasions, and do def
initely routined things. JsfYerson's
rule Of pAle.mele. and Monroe's frigtd
foreign formality may have been ire
mendously real in their day. But mod
ern usage Of the President has stripped
him Of 40 many social obligations
and has SO despotically patterned his
activities that the chief executive
would f1nd 1t impossible, even II he
thought 1t desirable. to be the Ward
McAllister Of capital society:
His name II the Abou Ben Adam
leading all the rest in the list Of
patrons for every function given In
tho District Of Columbia. He Is host
In definite. pre-ordered sequence. al
less than half q dozen state dinners
he IL guest. by precise plan. at the
cabinet dinners; he holds four ofiicial
receptions: he shakes hands on New
Years day: there IL garden party
or two, and the story Of the Fresi
dents place. officially, in society Il
done.
He Is forbidden by an unwritten
law. indelibly inscribed In the record
to visit in private homes or embassies
all for fear Of local rivalrics and
international jealousies. And 90 he
has Z dining out proxy In the person
Of the Vice President. 1t was Thomas
Riley Marshall who dubbed himself
the eating President Of the United
States" and Charles Gates Dawes haa
had to defend that title. Gen. and
Mrs. Dawes. 90 the social calendar
reveals. are obliged to dine out abou,
twenty.six nights a month during the
season. THIS last year they were even
booked tor the night Of their wed
ding anniversary.
Mr.. Dawes. BY the way. doesn't care
Tor caviar and gate de foie gras Hill
fAvorite luncheon 10 I bowl OF mill
and Z handful Of crackers. But III
must 50 70 virtually al Of the dining
tables 70 which he 10 asked Tor hi
Il the liAison officer between the Prssi
dent, who has 70 eat Il home. and
the worlds hospitality.
The other political.social liaison ON
cor b the secretary Of state. He rep
resents the President at Internal ona
dinner tables. and II entertained Ok
tenaively ~ the embassiss and tn
leSntiOnA.
A for the rest Of the cabinet. the,
have various t.Andatory social dutle.
which they discharge with varioul
abilities Occasionally there cosnee 4
Washinston Z cabinet minister who1'
social prestige Mnte.datsd his appoint
ment: In iheAe csAeA h1 ana htp VII,
enrich the social tradition Of the town
Otherwise they merely keep II stel
with theft UiIicixi ohiiga tinns.
Asked to give the snrial status o
the Supreme court circle tt the Wash
,nktnn geometry. ; widely KNOW
hostess said. "(sOoo. hut solemn" An,
they Ars. usually. Impressive rAthe