Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1910 — CAPITAL'S SOCIAL CODE [ARTICLE]

CAPITAL'S SOCIAL CODE

Season Begins with the President's Official Reception New Year's Day. NO INVITATIONS- ABE NEEDED This Entertainment Is Followed by a Brilliant Series, Governed by Fixed Buies. The Washington scdal season opens with the convening of Congress on the first Monday in December each year, but the official, social season does not begin until after the President’s first reception, Jan. 1. Both seasons continue until the beginning of Lent, and the long Urogram of official social events concludes with those of a more or less unofficial character, which are sandwiched in between, making a time of extraordinary activity for all concerned. All Washington, outside • of the official set more particularly, looks forward with keen delight to the New Year’s reception. It is the most informal affair of the entire official social calendar of the President, and this is evidenced by the fact that before his laborious New Year's day is completed he is required to shake hands with from 5,000 to 10,000 callers in all walks of life, who come to wish'him a happy year. This reception begins at 11 a. m., and is ended, so far as official Washington 1? concerned, at i&:16 p. m., after which the general public Is admitted, and several hours are consumed in disposing of these caller?. The New Year’s reception Is really one of the sights of Washington. Not only are the diplomats out In complete regalia, but all the officers of the army and navy stationed in Washington are expected to report on that day at their respective departments in full regimentals, prepared to call upon the President, who is their commander-in-chief. In the meantime the Washington public has also begun to assemble on the side streets east of the White House, where 1t Is formed in line. As soon as the officials are out of the way, a string of humanity, old and young, black and white, files through the White House to meet the President. Men and women in all stages of life, some of them interesting characters in the history of the nation and bf Washington, come by the thousands. No invitations are required for this reception. As Is customary In all official affairs, there is an order of precedence for the officials who attend the New Year’s reception. Each grade of officialdom is assigned an especial time for presentation to the President, who Is assisted by his wife, the wife of the Vice President, the wives of members of the Cabinet, and other women prominent in the social set who are fortunate enough to be invited to the blue room of the White House. As indicated, this reception opens the social season at the White House, as well as in official Washington. On the first Thursday evening following New Year’s the President gives his annual dinner to the members of his Cabinet. This is-usually followed on the second. Thursday by the diplomatic reception. One week later the President gives his annual dinner to the diplomatic corps. Next, on the fourth Thursday, comes the judicial reception, followed on Thursday of the next week' by a dinner to the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court Or* the sixth Thursday after New Year’s a reception Is given to the members of Congress, and finally, on the seventh Thursday, the last big reception of the. winter is given to the army and navy. While this program is usually followed out to the letter—it is easier for the President to carry it out than to change it—it can be modified if necessary. For instance, it was formerly customary for the- series of receptions at the White House to end with another publla reception on the seventh Thursday following New Year’s. This custom has not beta followed In recent years. The wife of the President has social duties of her own aside from that In which she U the central figure along with her husband. On the last Saturday in January, between the hours of 3 and 5 p. m., the wife of the President usually holds her first afternoon reception. This reception Is supposed to be general, and the proper time tor a newcomer to make her initial call upon the lady of the Whit# House. It is not the custom to call at any other time, unless the caller happens to be a personal friend of the wife of the President or has received a special invitation to do so. One call Is all that Is expected, and that on tbs day 6fflclally announced. There is no hard-and-fast rule for the holding of this reception and It has not always been held, but It lp a part of tho unwritten social code of the national capital, which can be altered only by the President or his wife. No mention is made in the unwritten social cods of Washington of the more or less Informal entertainments which take place at the White House and elsewhere daring the height of the social season in Washington. It la this aeries of social events, formal aud informal, however, which Is making of the national capital the winter residence of the leading aocial lights of the country- It is that fact more than anything else which Is leading

the social.elite to add to Waahlngton*a residential districts many magnificent winter homes, which ar.e occupied by their owners during those months In which Washington's society is at Its best.—Chicago Daily News.