The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-24

GRACE
| PORTER
HOPKINS.
ESPECIAL to The T'imes-Dlspatch)

sslssG ESPECIAL TO LAG =
s WASHINGTON, .. G., Jan. 2s.--Pres'-
Hnent ana Mrs. Roosevelt gave an elao-
crate dinner Thursday evening to the
n members OF the diplomatic corps. me
1 table, III the shape of an open square,
~ was ornamented with the tweiIe o'saue
d figures that were presented to TINS gov
#e1nment BY tho commission OF Frencn
8 officers who came last year to attend
"A the unwilling of the Rochambeau statue
tin5 the mark opposite the White House.
" White hyacinths and choice orchids
from he plants collected By Mrs. NC
81 llinley for the official gardens, were
" also effectively used with the hiGh. goid'
Y fruit standards bought during the. LIN
#roin5 administration, and interwined With
u Southern smllax. Pink was the color
scheme. and pink and white bonbons
N filled thu old fashioned, tall. glass dishes
that surrounded the mirror lake thht
was placed in front the Presidents scat
Y in the center Of the table.
q si These state dinners are q feature OF the
NJ social life in Washington, and are given
q annually to the diplomatic corps. .l.e
38tudiciary, to the members OF congress.
and to other representatives OF Official
$5iife. On the occasion OF the dinner, the
VI com pany is n large one, and the state
4 r1ining-room temporarily given over TO
the chef and the decorator upon whose
N skill much Of the success OF the affair
y hepends.
n "a invitations to a formal White House
; H,n,cr are issued through the office OF the
8 President, and unlike invitations to re-
ceptions. may not be solicited by the
would be diner with the President.
making IN the lists is q subject OF
I55 prayerful consideration Oh the part OF
s. the officers in charge, lest some high
q ana mighty one be overlooked, ana some
Il ones head drop into the waste basket
as the result. The recent, dinner was
sHno exception to the rule
with much discussion and much trlb-
ID ,1lation the list was prepared. Inc
eventful evening arrived and when the
names we're given to the press on a
nrinted slip, ono name had been care
fully clipped out. Who, or why 1t was,
u has not been vouchsafed, and though
Ill kinds of guessing has been indulged,
Il nothing as tangible as the shadow OF a
ii nightmares ghost has abeen dlscovereo'
THE incident has, however, served TO TO
n call a similar occasion two years ago
n when Senator Tillman, of South Caro-
.SI,na. as q member of the Foreign Reia-
Il lions Committee In the Senate, was IN
Il yited to the Prince Henry dinner at the
White House, but as the Senator had In
III dulged in a little contretemps with ms
colleague, Senaor McLaurlli, pelo'e 'ho
appointed date, the invitation was can
celled and its return requested. Senator
& Martin, of Virginia, the next ranking
4 member of the committee. was then IN
yited to take the vacant place at the
table. Domestic reasons prevented MS
4 acceptance. and the place remained un-
SSfilled.
When a state function is on the tapis
tha entire state suite is thrown OPEN
q brilliantly lighted and decorated as be-
81 fns the OCCASION the Marine Band Is IN
81 attendance. and the President ana ms
Il y, es,dent John Adams held the first
:Ievees In the White House House In the
!. winter Of 1901, dressed in embroidered