The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-28
ETHEL'S DEBUT
sMARTEsr AFFAIR OF THE SEASON
 AT WHITE HOUSE, TONIGHT.
The Presidents Daughter Has Spent More Time in White House Then Any Other
 Girl

Washington. Dec. 27.--'-The President and Mra Roosevelt are to give a small dance at the White House Monday, De- cember 2S, g p. m"
 Such is the simple announcement made for the social debut of Miss Eth- el Roosevelt tomorrow night. which promises to be by far the Bmartest af- fair ever given in the White House by the President. and Mrs. Roosevelt, ex- cept the ceremonies attending the we'd ding of Miss Alice Roosevelt and Rep resentative Nicholas Longworths of Ohio.
 The term ''snall. applied to the dance by the President and Mrs. Roose- welt must not be taken literally. It is to be small only in that the invitations have been confined to Miss Roosevelt's friends and the younger people In the official set. whose parents figure on all formal invitation lists Of the season at the White House. This means that several hundred guests will help the daughter of the President dance her way into the social world.
 The dance is sto be given in the East Room. where q small army Of decora- tors were at work today converting the historic chamber into a verttable bower of floral beauty, There are to be elaborate fIoral decorations in all the rooms on the main floor of the ex- ecutive mangion. In the main corrlder the nlches will be filled with decorative plants. stately palms and tree ferns. Behind q screen of rhododendrons will be stationed the magnificent Marine Band orchestra. A special program Of music has been prepared for the occa- sion. The pieces we're selected for the most part by Miss Roosevelt herself
 The debut dance is the one topic of Washington society today. Tt is not only because the debutante is the daughter of the President that SO much interest Is taken In her formal en- trance into society, hut that she has made 30 many real friends in Wash lngton among all classes
 Of the young woman herself the pub- lio knows much through the public press, which has ehronieled her per sonallty to the fullest during the past few months. Miss Roosevelt has lived in the White House longer than any young girl in history. not even except Ing Nellie Grant. During her girlhood in the executive mansion she has met the most prominent men and women of the tcountry--but only as a child. Now she is ready to accept her inher- itance. to greet them on terms of ma tuFe equality. Perhaps no young wo-
  responsibilities with better equipment.
 A year ago last spring Miss Ethel left the National Cathedral School for Girls. During the greater part of the time since then she has been putting the finishing touches to her education under the direction Of geverness. She has paid particular attention to Ger man and French Although not by any means a brilliant musician she Is quite and possesses. in addition to 6 thorough education, upon which her father insisted, many accomplishments essential to the social success of 6 young American girl.
 Following closely in the footsteps of her father and mother. Mss Roosevelt Is an enth husiastic horsewoman and not only drives a stylish dogcart with great vim and dash, but is a fearless rider. She rides like a young Amazon, with free and graceful abandonment She was one of the first of Washing toms very young girls to take to the cross saddle.
 Unlike her sister, Mrs. Longworth, Miss Ethel takes great interest In po- lltical and economical questions She is fond of political argument and 'tis whispered that she is not averse to en- gazing In a forensic tilt with her fath- CT in the seclusion of the family sit- ting room.
 Miss Ethel often has been spoken of as the prettiest Roosevelt of this gem eration. She is tall and superb of hg- ure, with a mass of chestnut hair and gray eyes so dark that at times they appear black. Her complexion is pure and clear. very much after the English style.
 Miss Roosevelt has exquisite taste in dress which has been cultivated bv aI- lowing her to have voice in the ae- lection of her wardrobe ever since she was a small child. While not prim, she usually dresses In tailor-made gowns.
 She has inherited the literary taste of her father, and she also possesses In unusual degree for a woman, his love of animals She paints a little In water colors. teaches class in Sunday Sch ool. is fond of tennis and rowing. and. all-in-all, is a many-slded young