File:Thirty years in Washington; or, Life and scenes in our national capital. Portraying the wonderfuloperations in all the great departments, and describing every important function of our national go (14750432996).jpg

Identifier: thirtyyearsinwa00loga (find matches)
Title: Thirty years in Washington; or, Life and scenes in our national capital. Portraying the wonderfuloperations in all the great departments, and describing every important function of our national go vernment ... With sketches of the presidents and their wives ... from Washington's to Roosevelt's administration
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Logan, Mary Simmerson (Cunningham), "Mrs. J. A. Logan,", 1838-1923
Subjects: Presidents Executive departments
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., A.D. Worthington & co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ment makes it a business tobe expert in these. Seating always begins with the Presi-dent, who sits at the middle of the north side of the tablewith the wife of the dean of the diplomatic corps at hisright. The lady of the White House sits opposite the Pres-ident. The others are placed according to precedence, andalternating with reference to the President and his wife.When the seating is definitely arranged, table cards for thegentlemen are prepared by writing in the corner the nameof the lady to be escorted in, and checking off with a pencilthe chair numbers printed on the edges of the small dia-gram of the table which is given to each guest. The nameof each guest is also written on plate cards having a giltcrest of the United States, which is also used on the sta-tionery for state occasions. There are often curiousarrangements at such dinners, as for example when theChinese minister and his wife are out of supporting distanceof each other, and can convey only by smiles and signs the
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A STATE DINNER. 155 enjoyment they feel, unless, forsooth, they both speak Eng-lish, as often happens. After receiving their guests in the Blue or East Room,the number of guests governing as to which is used, theleader of the Marine Band is given the signal, and instantlythe band begins to play a selected march. The Presidentnow offers his arm to the ranking lady and they proceedthrough the East Room and the corridor to the state din-ing-room, followed according to precedence, the lady of theWhite House with her escort bringing up the rear. Exqui-site jmesse is needed to fitly pair these mentally incongruousdiners. Many men officially entitled to White Housedinner invitations are either not accomplished or are illadapted to the usages of good society. Naturally the wivesof such men are equally unsuited to their positions, conse-quently between timidity and ignorance they make veryuninteresting table companions. I have known personsfamous for their conversational powers to be unable th

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