Youth's Educator For Home And Society

CHAPTER VI.

WASHINGTON ETIQUETTE.– LIFE AT THE CAPITAL

SOCIAL life in Washington differs from that of all other cities. The lady or gentleman who is accustomed to the usages of society will find an entirely new experience on visiting the nation's capital. Society here takes its tone from official life. It is composed of official personages from other lands as well as our own, who represent government, and who necessarily have a dignity to maintain. Consequently the rules governing here, do not apply to any other section of our country.

WHO ARE THE LEADERS.

The men there have precedence through the offices which they hold. Women rule by virtue of their husbands' official position. It is true that in a republic all men are equal before the law. But that does not excuse them from honoring the office to which they have been called by the people, and they should demand the privileges and respect which their position confers upon them.

A writer of authority on etiquette at Washington, says:

"We do object to that hybrid term 'Republican court, ' of which we so often hear. It is senseless and an anomaly; or, if it have a meaning, it is still more to be deprecated, as incompatible with the spirit of the framers of our excellent Constitution. We have no 'court circles,' nor do we expect to remain a republic and at the same time ape 'court' manners. We have a social as well as a political autonomy. Let us preserve these with an equally jealous care and dignity. Our official etiquette is not intended as a personal compliment, but addresses itself to the office borne, so that it remains strictly in harmony with our republican sentiments. When the incumbent loses office, he becomes again simply a private citizen, whom the republic has honored. This is such a very beautiful provision of our legal Constitution, that we should never lose sight of its bearing on social life and manners. It is the counteracting and saving element, as opposed to all hereditary distinction, and holds each man and woman intact in the exercise of their talent, by which he or she may regulate the individual destiny. The very words 'Republican court, ' have a fatal sound of Caesarism; and, as we have already remarked, words become facts – they are the expression of the soul's aspirations. We should prove to the world that republican manners are the very acme of true elegance in their unaffected simplicity."

THE FIRST GENTLEMAN IN THE LAND.

The first gentleman in the land is the President. He leads social as well as official life. He is always alluded to as "the President," even by his wife. He can be approached by any one as the privilege of calling upon him is accorded to all, but he need never return a visit.

He may stretch a point, and call upon a friend, but this concession is not expected of him. The same rule applies to the wife of the President.

ALLING ON THE PRESIDENT.

When a private call is made upon the President, the visitor is shown into the Secretaries' room, presents his card, and awaits the result. A business caller has the preference over one who merely makes a formal call.

If a person has an object in seeking an interview with the President, it will aid him greatly to secure an introduction through some official, or a friend of the Executive.

RECEPTIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

Receptions are given at the White House at stated times, which all are at liberty to attend. As the caller enters he gives his name to an usher, and is announced. He then approaches the President, and is introduced to him by some official to whom this duty has been assigned. A word may be exchanged with the President; sometimes when the crowd is very great, a bow is all that is possible. The guest can then pass through the rooms, or can retire from the scene, as his taste decides.

INVITATIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT.

An invitation from the President to a state dinner must not be disregarded. It is even expected that you will decline another engagement in favor of the more important one, and your excuse that you have received an invitation from the President, is sufficient.

NEW YEAR RECEPTION.

The President with his family holds a New Year reception, which is a very brilliant affair. Ladies and gentlemen attend it alike, and all the officials, diplomats, etc., are to he found there. The foreign legation appear in full court dress. The guests are all in holiday costume, but the ladies do not remove their hats, save the members of the President's family, who receive in reception toilettes, without hats.

ORDER OF OFFICIALS.

Next in order comes the Chief Justice. His once being for life, he seems to have precedence over the cabinet and senate. He is addressed as "Mr. Chief Justice." The Vice-President follows him in rank, with the Speaker of the House, the General of the Army and the Admiral of the Navy. Members of the House of Representatives call first on all these officials.

The duties of the ladies of the Cabinet are very burdensome. They are expected to give a reception every Wednesday, at which anyone who chooses can present themselves. They return all the First calls of their lady guests, and leave the card of the cabinet officer, and an invitation to an evening reception. When it is taken into consideration that they stand for hours receiving, and have two or three hundred calls to make after one of their receptions, we think any fashionable lady will declare the demands made upon her own time, easy by comparison.

WRITING TO THE PRESIDENT.

In writing to the President, he should be addressed as "The President – Sir." In speaking to him he is designated as "Mr. President." All other officials are addressed as "Mr. Vice-President," "Mr. Speaker," "Mr. Senator," "Mr. Secretary," while a member of the House would be plain "Mister," unless he had another title. In introducing the latter he would be called "The Honorable Mr. of " naming the State he represented.

"Among the duties of the cabinet officers is that of entertaining Senators, Representatives, Justices of the Supreme Court, members of the diplomatic corps, and the distinguished people who gather at the capi tal. Ladies of the families of these officials are includ ed in the invitations. The season for dinners lasts during the session of Congress. All other official;, except the President and cabinet, entertain or not, as they choose. The official position imposes no particular social obligations, and circumstances, health, and all the reasons and motives that influence men and women in private life to entertain or not to entertain, are taken into consideration in Washington life, and the question is decided accordingly.

"The visiting hours in Washington are from two until half-past five. As is true in many other cities, many of the very fashionable ladies prefer to walk in making calls in fine weather, and many of the richest visiting costumes are made up as short suits."

DAYS FOR RECEIVING.

There are certain days alloted for certain classes of society to receive. Thus the families of justices of the Supreme Court are at home on Monday. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, as also other members, and the General of the Army keep open house on Tuesday. Wednesday is called Cabinet day, and the wife of each Secretary is expected to be at home on the afternoon of that day. Thursday is set apart for calling upon the families of the Vice-Presi-dent and Senators, while Friday is the great calling day for all who hold no official rank. Saturday is thus left as reception day at the White House. Guests always hand their cards to the usher at all receptions.

These receptions are designed to answer in lieu of calling upon strangers who go to Washington. As in theory every citizen has helped elect an official, and is entitled to some recognition, at their hands, and as it would be manifestly impossible for the families of public officials to call first on the many strangers who visit our capital, it has grown into a custom for our officials to throw open their houses, on certain days, thus affording all a chance to be present at these informal receptions. From the time of Washington until the administration of Jackson, 'strict rules of etiquette were observed, and life at the White House was as ceremonious as at any Old World court, but "Old Hickory" broke down the barriers, and inaugurated these public receptions, whether with advantage to social life or not we leave our readers to judge.

ABUSING PRIVILEGES.

It is a fact that the privilege which is thus afforded transient visitors is sadly abused, and people will intrude upon those with whom they have nothing in common, and to whose social circle they could never under any other circumstances, gain admission. It argues a lack of delicacy of feeling, and is a rudeness which will not be perpetrated by refined ladies or gen-tlmen. We do not refer now to the receptions. Those are given in a hospitable spirit, which extends its favors to all; but to that class of sight-seers that will call upon private citizens with whom they have not even a common acquaintance. The only redress that can be had, is not to return such visits, else would every private individual be completely at the mercy of every one who went to Washington. As an instance of this abuse of good manners, we quote from Miss Hall, who says:

"It would seem as if common-sense ought to teach people that to a card reception (that is, where the guests are all invited by card) no one save those specially invited would have a right to go; but the Washington tourist is very unreflecting. Where he sees a number of carriages standing before the door of a mansion, he immediately enters thereat; and whether he is one, or whether he is two hundred, makes absolutely no difference in his view of the situation. The result of his theories is naturally disastrous. No private house can hold an unlimited number of people; and where the uninvited throng in such numbers, the invited guests are unable to gain admission. A Washington lady received cards for a reception given by an official person. It was a little late when she started, and upon her arrival in – Avenue she found a surging throng of people in and around the door of the house where the reception was to be held. After striving with the crowd for an hour or more, and reaching only the vestibule of the mansion, she and her escort gave up the attempt to gain further admittance, and went home without having been to the party at all! It transpired afterward that an excursion of two hundred people had arrived in Washington on that day, and had attended Mr. – 's reception en masse!"

WHO NEED NOT ENTERTAIN.

Senators, Representatives, and other officials, need not entertain unless they wish to. The President and Cabinet officers are compelled to, by the laws of Washington etiquette.

One peculiar feature of life at Washington will strike the visitor, who is at all observant, and that is, the retirement in which young people are kept. They attend the receptions with their elders, but they do not lead or rather tyrannize over society, as they too often try to do in some cities not nearly so cosmopolitan as Washington. A young lady would not think of taking a seat until her mother or the married ladies of the party were provided for. Young ladies are not invited either to state or formal dinners, but all the simpler forms of gayety are left for their participation.

At morning receptions, a cup of chocolate is usually tendered the guest – some add other drinks, with tempting confections. The simplest refreshments are the most proper, however.

LEAVING CARDS.

On making visits, it is the custom among all well-bred persons to send in or leave a card. When the person called upon is not at home, turn down the right-hand upper corner of the card to show that you came in person. When you go away from the city, leave or send a card in which "P. P. C." is written on one of the lower corners, "P. P. C." meaning Pour Prendre Conge – to take leave. When a lady leaves Washington with the intention of returning at some future time, she sends these cards by mail to such of her friends as she desires to continue the acquaintance with, and when she has come back friends may call upon her as soon as they learn of the event, or she can send them cards with an "at home" day specified upon them.

The usual hours for calling are from 2 to 5 P. M. An evening visit presupposes a degree of social acquaintance, and should never be made as a first call.

LADIES ASSUMING TITLES.

A custom which is growing in favor is to address the wives of dignitaries by the titles which indicate the honors of their husbands, as "Mrs. Senator Dur-borow," "Mrs. General Dickerson," "Mrs. Secretary Bell." Most of such customs, although at first rather out of keeping with our simple republican tastes, become familiar to us by usage.