Social Etiquette at Washington, 1898

 

Lucy Webb Hayes was a popular hostess in Washington D.C. ; “Mrs. Hayes, on one of her tours with her husband, was asked if she did not get tired of seeing so many people and going so much, and she replied: ‘Oh, no; I never get tired of having a good time.’”— Laura Carter Holloway

The wife of the President makes and returns no visits. The wife of the Vice-President pays first visit only to the wife of the President. The wives of Senators make first calls on the wife of the President, the wife of the Vice- President, the wives of the Ambassadors, the ladies of the Supreme Court and upon each other in the order of the length of service of their husbands in the Senate, The wife of the Vice-President holds receptions on Wednesdays, cabinet day, because her husband is a member of the President's cabinet, while the day of receiving for Senators' wives is Thursday, between the hours of 3 and 6 in the afternoon. These receptions begin after the 1st of January and continue to be held until Lent begins. Some ladies observe the day for receiving all the time Congress is in session. 

The customary preparations for holding an afternoon reception are to station one man at the drive to open and shut carriage doors and call carriages, and another at the hall door to admit callers and take cards. The hostess receives the visitors, standing near the door of the entrance, and is dressed in a high-necked gown, which may otherwise be as elaborate as taste may dictate. Visitors may be announced by name to the hostess by an usher, or may speak their names themselves.

Any person is at liberty to make the visits at the homes of Senators, and all persons are cordially received. Those leaving cards expect their visits to be returned; resident and non-resident sightseers, who call without introduction of any sort, do not leave cards. A large proportion of the official folk owe first calls to the ladies of the Senate. the ladies of the cabinet, the wives of foreign ministers, and the wives of the members of the House of Congress. These are termed “duty calls,” and must be returned in person. A woman whose husband is in the “upper house” can be quite as exclusive as any lady of private position, if she so desire. The women of the cabinet could not close their homes to the public, however much they might wish to do so.-Woman's Home Companion, 1898

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