Evening star., 1962-04-22


OF human existence, it causes
tongues to wag for months
and permanent records to be
made for peruSal through
history.
1t was true of Madison'S
day, Monroe'S day, Polk'S
day. Lincoln's day and it is
true today.
Hence it is not surprising
that at Mrs. Dean RuSk's
coffee Wednesday morn
ing for Congressional wives
the conversation quickly got
around to the Congressional
reception held this month by
President and Mrs. Kennedy.
1t was Sparked, no doubt, by
my colleague, Carolyn Hag-
ner Shaw, whose column in
last Sundays Star attacked
the black-tie informality of
the traditionally white-tie
party and bewailed the lack
of a receiving line.
I must say I agree with
Mrs. Shaw on the subject of
formal attire for formal oc-
casionS at 1900 Pennsylvania
Avenue. I am in favor of
the tradition ascribed to Mrs.
James Monroe's drawing
rooms" as they were called
in that day, when elegance
of dress was absolutely re-
quired" and when President
Monroe refused admission
to a near relative, who hap
pened not to have a suit of
Small-clotheS and silk hose"
and thus was driven to the
necessity of borrowing them.
To save many of his for
mer colleagues the trouble
of borrowing or renting dress
suits, President Kenne
changed the tradition, and
all masculine guests polled
were immensely grateful for
his thoughtfulneSs - though
I dare say the rental firms
were not.
On the other hand, one
appreciates the standard of
formality maintained in the
past when one reads in Ten
Years in Washington" by
Mary Clemmer published
1892, a description of "a
levee night" during President
and Mrs. Grants admins
tration.
THE EAST ROOM PRE-
SENTS a sight never to be
forgotten. The normous
chandeliers seem to pour the
splendor of noon upon the
glittering and moving host
below. Satins, velvetS, dia-
monds, plumes and laces rise
and fall, and sway beside the
cleaning gold lace of Amer
ican officers, and the jewelled
decorations of foreign min
listers. Eight mirrors repeat
the glory of the sights. Eight
Presidents, from their golden
frames on the wall, seem to
gaze out of the past upon
the feverish splendor of a new
generation"
In Edward Winslow Mar
tins Behind the Scenes in
Washington" 1873) he
writes, The social observ-
anceS of the White House are
prescribed with great exact
ness, and constitute the Court
Etiquette of the Republic. At
the very outset of the Repub-
lie the social question became
one of great magnitude, and
in order to adjust it upon a
proper basis, Washington
caused a definite Code to be
drawn up" Frequent quar-
relS and "claShing of social
claims" followed, he wrote,
until at last another code
was agreed upon. Included
in it was the following:
During the winter season,
a public reception, or levee,
is held once a week, at which
guests are expected to appear
in full dress. They are pre-
sented by the usher on such
occasions, and have the
honor of shaking hands with
the President. These recep-
tions last from eight until
ten o'clock"
THE WITH OF
WASHINGTON perforce
eliminated the public recep-
tions given by the President,
pressing duties necessitated
the end of any receptions on
a weekly basis, a change in
social customs moved the
hour to a later one, and
White House aides have long
since done the introduction
honors. So only the full dress
and the handshaking re-
manned of the 18th century
code until the advent of
President and Mrs. Kennedy.
Since, of the two, only the
full dress contributes to the
charm of the occasion, and
to the glamor of the pic
ture preserved for history,
this would seem to be the
one part of the traditional
code worth keeping.
Of President and Mrs.
Grant, Martin, whose real
name was James Dabney Nc
Cabe, wrote, The levees are
fine things for strangers, but
they are downright hard work
for the President and his
wife. The former is obliged,
by an absurd custom, to
shake hands with every man
presented to him." And of
the guests crowded into the
East Room waiting to be re-
ceived, he wrote, 1T is often
the case that for an hour,
perhaps, you see none but
those who are wedged next
to you"
THAT THE DISCOM-
~ r. i