The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-04
MISS ALLEGES DEBUT
PRESIDENTS DAUGHTER is NOW
IN SOCIETY.
A RATHER PRIVATE AFFAIR.
A GRAND BALL GIVEN AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.

About 500 Guests Present, Including
the Roosevelt Family Connections
and Society PeOple--The DecOra-
tions Most Elaborate and the
Rooms Adorned in the Most Law
ish Manncr-Mrs. Roosevelt Intro
duced Her Daughter, Who Was
Most CharmingIS Dressed-Many
Harvard, Yale and Princeton Men
Were There.
Washington, Jan. 3.-Miss Alice
Roosevelt, the oldest daughter of Pres
ident and Mrs. Roosevelt, was for
mally presented to Washington society
tonight at a ball given in her honor
at the White House. About 500 guests
were present, many of whom either
were connections of the Roosevelt
family or we'll known society people
living outside of Washington. Miss
Roosevelt is the first White House
debutante since 1873, when Miss Nellie
Grant, the daughter of President and
Mrs. Grant, was presented to society
at ball, which was the gayest social
even of the decads. To-night's enter
tainment was given personal rather
than an official character by Mrs.
Roosevelt, whose wish was that Miss
Roosevelt should make her debut much
as though it had taken place in her
own private home rather than in the
White House. There was no cotillion
and consequently no favors.
When the ball was opened o-night
the interior of the White House was
most attractive. Never before have the
ficral decora tions been more beautiful.
The massive mirrors. chandeliers, col
umns and ceiling of the east room,
where the dancing occurred, were fes-
tooned and garlanded with smilax,
maiden hair fern and asparagus
trimmed with bouquets Of carnations
More than a mile of green festooning
was used in this way. The window re-
cesses were filled with palms rising out
of banks of variegated foliage. The
mantels were banked with roses and
azaleas set in tropical crotons and
crowned with screw pines English hol-
ly was used in profusion In the decora-
tions. The red and green and blue par
lors also were adorned on the same
lavish scale.
When the guests arrived at the White
House they were conducted to the Blue
parlor. where the presentations were
made Mrs. Roosevelt introducing her
daughter. The latter presented a
charming appearance in a dress of
white chiffon with white roses and
wearing the jewels which her father
gave her at Christmas. Mrs. Roose-
welt wore pure white, with white lace
and trimmed with lilac orchids: Miss
Helen Roosevelt, a cousin of the Presi-
dent, and who also was of the imme-
date party of the hostess, wore white
chiffon with white satin ribbon, and
Miss Cutting white lace trimmed with
tulle with pink roses. Miss Roosevelt
was the recipient of many floral pieces
of beautiful design sent to her in honor
of her coming out" day. The Presi-
dent enjoyed the occasion heartily and
mingled freely among the young folks
The dancing which began shortly
after 10 o'clock, and included a pro-
gramme of twenty numbers, was held
in the large East room, the scene Of so
many brilliant functions of the past
The golden carpet on the floor of that
room was removed yesterday and a
handsome figured gray linen crash put
down to form a dancing surface. The
large number of dances kept the COM
pany until after midnight. The Marine
band. under the leadership of Liuet
Santelmann and the Artillery corps
band from Washington Barracks al
ternated in furnishing the music.
During an intermission buffet lunch
was served in the state dining ROOM
The conservatory brilliantly lighted
was open during the evening and was
a favorite place of promenade between
dances.
The company who gathered to do
honor to the daughter of the chief ex-
ecutive, was a thoroughly representa-
tive one of Washington society and
also included a generous contingent of
gentlemen from Harvard, Yale and
Princeton universities and many 9TH
ers from out of town.