The Cairo bulletin., 1908-12-18
SOCIAL SEASON
| At WHITE HOUSE
OPENING EVENT LAST NIGHT
WHEN CABINET WAS
ENTERTAINED,
THREE STATE DINNERS
To BE Held During Season--Ethel
Roosevelt Makes Debut at Ball
December 28--Season Close
February 10.

Washington, y. C., Dec, l7.-Every-
thing in and around the White House
has been put in the best possible Or.
der for the opening Of the last and
most brilliant social season under the
Roosevelt administration. The open
ing eynt was the Cabinet dinner TINS
evening and the season Will closa
with the army and navy reception
on Thursday, February Is, During
the intervening time Their Will be
round OF diplomatic receptions diplo'
matte dinners, judiciary receptions
the usual supreme court dinner ana
congressional receptions, all to De
given on Thursday evenings, inter
spersed with many other, less formal
functions, prime among them the
hall TO be given on the eyenig OF he
SENDER 49, in honor of Miss Ethel
Rooseyelt's social debut
The old historic mansion has Wit.
messed many interesting social events
under the changing administrations,
but probably never a season quits as
strenuous and brilliant as win be the
closing season o fthe present admin
istration. Next winter Mrs Taft Will
be the First Lady and Washing
ton society is already specializing
over the prospects Of the first Taft.
Season
The three state dinners, the first OF
which will take place tonight, will
include from forty to seventy guests
That to the diplomatic corps will be
the largest, as It must include all the
chiefs of embassies and legations
wit hthe wife Of each ambassador or
minister. The evening receptions
will be, as In former years, from u
1920. and two thousand invitations
viii be issued for these events. A.
rule guests other than those Of tae
administration circle will be invited
to one reception only
The president and Mrs. Roosevelt
will also receive as usual on New
Years Day, but no cards are issued
for that occasion Mrs. Roosevelt has
also planed number of musicales on
Friday evenings during the season
in addition to other minor social
functions. among them the bah on the
coming out of Miss Ethel Roosevelt.
There is every indication that the
season just opening will be the gay.
est the White House has seen since
the first winter Of President Roose.
velt's administration. when his eldes,
daughter, Miss Alice Roosevelt, now
Mrs. Longworth. was presented 10 so
ciety. The ball for Miss Ethel will be
given In the same historic rom wher2
Abigail Adams dried her clothes and
which never was the scene OF gay
ball scene until during the Harrison
administration, when Mrs. Mckee
gave a cotillion.
In addition to the ball there viii
be many dinners. luncheons, break
fasts and receptions. from the begin
ming of the New Year to the begin
ming OF March, when Mrs Roosevelt
will turn over the household affair.
to her successor as lady of the White
House.
Nearly all these social functions
are held on the lower floor OF thC
presidential mansion. which had beer
changed but little under the succeed
ing administrations until IL ha.
reached such a state OF dilapidation
that President Roosevelt cansidere.
il advisable to subject the aujiQuat-d
inadequate and uncomfortable lowe
part OF the mansion to a radical Pc
construction and regeneration. wEir
raised such a protest throughout th
country. mainly from those who Sc
dom or never frequentcd the hCus
and knew little or nothing OF its need
and requirements.
In accordance with time hOnCre
custom no changes or improyem, nj
of any consequence have been mad
since last winter and none will .
made under the present alministr
ton. leaving it to the next presid .
and his family 10 arrange the houi
ami its fixtures and Furnishings a
cording 10 their taste.