Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-03-12
WHITE HOUSE DANCES
The Historic Mansion as . Scene ot
 Social Activity

Washington Letter in Sprlngheld ke-
 publican.
 Among the most interesting features of the past winter have been the dances held at the White House in honor of Miss Ethel Roosevelt's debut, and in place of the evening musicales which the presidents wife had given each season previous for several years. The great East room on these occasions was a brilliant sight, with the scarlet-coated Marine band playing at one end, on a raised platform, running clear from wall to wall, and with the floor covered with dancers, including diplomats and many oficers of the army and navy in full uniform, while around the open space for the dancers stood an interest ed and interesting throng composed of the older members of the diplomatic corps, those of the house and senate who venture into society, and members of floor of the White House was given over to the guests. These, on arrival, passed through the Blue room, where they were presented to the president and Mrs. Roosevelt, and then on to the East room, which was the center of attraction. Those who preferred, however, to sit out their dances, strayed into the other rooms and chatted or whispered their little gossip of the hour in corners where portraits of the presidents, of earlier
 
 chaperon them. After all the guests had arrived, the president ard Mrs. Roose- welt would themselves enter the East room, the president essaying waltz with his wife, and possibly with one or two favored and prominent matrons.
 The last of these dances happened to be given on one of those clear and bal my winter nights which, time and time again, make Washington in midwinter seem like the Riveria in early spring. The big windows leading from the East room out upon the eastern terrace, were thrown open and few of the dan cers ventured into the open air. It is doubtful if the White House could be seen to better advantage or under cir cumstances more picturesque. The ter race, with it's artistic electric globes and green plants, is always worth a glance at night But on this occasion the scene had added charms. Like a close and sheltering shadow to the east the Treasury building stood, with it's pillars and classic outlines, dimly sil. houetted in the night. On either hand stretched the White House grounds, open in the bright starlight or broken with the dark shapes of shrubs and trees On the terrace itself few fig ures wandered up and down, while now and then spangled scarf, draped care lessly over young shoulders, or else a bit of gold lace or epaulet, caught a ray of light and glistened. The snowy walls of the White House itself stood somewhat like huge, but pale, mirror, upon which the closed and curtained windows let through ruddier light from within. Somehow the mansion had never seemed to the outer view so alive with the spirit of earlier times Through the open windows could be seen the gay dresses and bright uniforms of the dan cers, but even in the little distance on the terrace, individuals and modern styles were lost and blended in the scene of light and color which seemed as if it might equally have been page of past White House history colored and brought to life.