The Washington herald., 1906-12-14

The first of the series Of state dinners
with which the season of official enter
tanning at the White House is formally
lnaugurated each winter in Washington.
and which is known as the Cabinet din
ner, took place in the state dining-room
at the Executive Mansion last night.
Social seasons obtain and pass away;
incumbents come and go; only official en-
tertaining-like the stability of govern
ment-endures from tenure to tenure and
generation to generation, its claim TO dis
tinetion depending solely upon the stamp
of individuality placed by succeeding in
mates of the White House upon the ma
tionaI rites of hospitality
At last nights function, the Cabi-
net circle. with the exception of the
Postmaster General and Mrs. Cortelyou,
who are In mourning this winter, and the
daughter Of Secretary Wilson, who two
winters ago presided over the home Of
the Secretary Of Agriculture, was COM
plete. Besides these guests Of honor
there were present at the dinner Gov.
and Mrs. Winthrop of San Juan. Porto
Rico, and former Secretary Of the Navy
and Mrs. Paul Morton. Of New York,
who are stopping at the White House.
Peary Is Present.
Hon. Henry White. recently confirmed
by the Senate as Ambassador to France,
and Commander Robert E. Peary, lately
returned from the arctic expedition. were
among the other distinguished persOnages
in attendance.
The complete dinner list included:
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt,
The Vice President and Mrs. Fairbanks.
The Secretary Of State and Mrs. Root
The Secretary 0f the Treasury and Mrs. shaw.
The Secretary Of VA and Mrs. Taft
The Attorney General
The Secretary Of the Navy and Mrs. Bonaparte.
The Secretary of the Interior aud Mrs. Hitchcock.
The Secretary Of Agriculture
The Secretary Of Commerce and Labor and Mrs.
Metcaf
The Secretary 10 the President and Mrs. Loeb
Col. and Mrs. Charles 5. Bromwell
The Surgeon General Of the Navy and Mrs Rixey.
Senator Proctor.
Senator Foster
airS L. T.. Knox.
Representative and Mrs DalzeIl.
Representative PAYNE.
Representative and Mrs Sherman.
Representative William NJ Howard
Hon. Henry White.
Gov and Mrs Winthrop
Commander Robert L. Peary.
Hon. aud Mrs. Paul Morton,
Hon and Mrs. Theodore T. Shonts.
Miss Moody
Miss Idc
Miss Sh0nts
Capt. Harding
Mrs Roosevelt's toilette was a very be
coming and beautiful one of yellow satin
hrOcade and point lace. with which a
white diamond necklace and ornaments
were worn.
Decorations Unusually Attractive.
The beauty OF the state dining-room
has seldom appeared to better advantage
than in the decorative setting OF last
nights dinner. The long table, laid for
forty-fve covers, was treated artistically
in red, green. and white. a combination
Of colors which accords well with the
decorations Of the room. In the center an
enormous silver bowl held a towering
mound of crimson Liberty roses, and two
lower plaques of these flowers were set
in green at intervals along the two ends
Of the table. Nearer the plate line six
branching candelabTa capped in silver
and crimson rose on either side above
spreading punches Of white carnations
and innumeTable clusters of Farleyense
ferns relieved the white expanse of
damask.
At the Presidents place the customary
high gold goblet was set, and the light
which fell from the center chandelier and
girondoles played brilliantly upon the
crystal and plate Of the table service.
The corridor was beautifed with a
charming arrangement Of palms. The
Marine Band played throughout the din
ner.
Sig. Giuiio Cesare Montagna, first sec
retaTy Of the Italian Embassy, and for
the greater part of the past year the