. Rand, McNally Washington guide to the city and environs. announced by the bvitler as the hostess is hostess is usually assisted, in these formal hospitalities,by a number of ladies—young girls predominating. They areexpected to address visitors and to make their stay , except under exceptional circumstances, do not extendtheir stay over ten or fifteen minutes, and it is not necessarythat any good-bye should be exchanged with the hostess whenleaving. As these receptions are frequently attended by fromfour to eight hundred people, who for the most part are stran
. Rand, McNally Washington guide to the city and environs. announced by the bvitler as the hostess is hostess is usually assisted, in these formal hospitalities,by a number of ladies—young girls predominating. They areexpected to address visitors and to make their stay , except under exceptional circumstances, do not extendtheir stay over ten or fifteen minutes, and it is not necessarythat any good-bye should be exchanged with the hostess whenleaving. As these receptions are frequently attended by fromfour to eight hundred people, who for the most part are strangers,the reason for the slight disregard of the usual polite fonn isobvious. Refreshments are not often offered. Visitors leavecards. Callers wear ordinary visiting dress. The hostess andassistants wear high-necked gowns, however elaborate theirmaterial and make. This fact is mentioned because a fewyears ago the reverse was the case, and low-necked eveningdresses were generally worn by the receiving party at afternoon 144 RAND McNALLY WASHINGTON GUIDE. Stairway Executive MansionPage 133 receptions. At that period also,men frequently appeared onsuch occasions in full-dress eve-ning suits, swallow-tail coats,etc. In fact, full-dress on bothmen and women was not un-usual at the Presidents NewYear reception a dozen yearsago, under the impression thencurrent that street clothes werenot in keeping with a functionsecond to none in point ofceremony from our standpoint,and which was attended by theDiplomatic Corps in uniformor in dazzling military or navaluniforms. Customs in thesematters have changed so en-tirely that a violation of theaccepted fashion makes of theoffender a subject of ridicule. The proper costume for awoman to wear to the Presidents New Year reception is herbest visiting dress, with bonnet or hat, the same that she wouldwear at an afternoon reception. A man will dress for thePresidents New Year reception as he will for any other cere-monious daylight event. Neither
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