The San Francisco call., 1909-12-19
before returning to the grind of study
and dry books.

before returning to the grind of study
and dry books.
The country home is the Mecca of
the truly hospitable during this season,
and the yule log viii burn in the old
ancestral hall as it never could in an
ordinary town house. Among the most
elaborate of the holiday parties is that
planned by Mr.. and Mrs. William r.
home in San Diego county. They will
have a party of young people for 10
days, and the height of the merrymak-
ing is to be reached at the ball New
Years eve, to which the neighbors in
the Alpine countryside are invited. A
series of trips has been planned in ad
dition to a vaudeville at home and a
variety of luncheon and dinner parties.
Among those from town who will en-
joy tn edelightful holiday outing are:
Miss Ardca Mills Miss Bessie Stetson
Miss Olive Wheeler DIR. Mary Myloft
Miss Fernando Pratt Elmer Dent
Miss Erna st. Goar Lawrence Van Horn
Miss Nellie Grant Arnold Weber
Charles Stetson Ray Whitley
Wheeler Jr. Ashleigh Simpson
The dance to be given by the captain
and ward room officers of the United
States ship Alert is to take place
Wednesday evening, January 19, in the
new ballroom at the Palace, and prom
ises to be a gala event, with the Off
GERS from the various posts about the
bay and many society people in attend
ance. The occasion will be the most
elaborate ever given by the naval mill
tia of this state, and will be attended
with great pomp and ceremony, besides
being a truly enjoyable affair. The
management is under capable direction
and the evening will be made memo
rable for the guests who attend. and
several hundred cards are out for the
party of the new year.
Mrs. Edward l. Mcmillan. whose por-
trait appears on the society page to-
day, is the charming wife of Paymaster
Mcmillan, u. s. A. She is a favorite
in army circles and, much to the regret
of her friends, will leave within
fortnight for Guam, where her husband
is to be stationed A number of In
formal parties have preceded her de-
parture and she has promised to return
for a visit next year. Mrs. Mcmillan
has many friends in Los Angeles,
where she passed her girlhood.
Miss Hilda Van Sicklen whose pic
ture is reproduced on the society page
today. is one of the younger hostesses
who have been active in the affairs of
social moment this winter. She has
many friends on both sides of the bay
and is a sister of Miss Dorothy Van
Sicklen. who will entertain next Tues
day for Miss Agnes Tillmann and who
has given any number of pleasant
parties this winter. Miss Van Sicklen
is an attractive girl with a winning
personality that makes friends wher-
ever she goes.
The serious social event of recent
days. and one that is yet solemn
topic of discussion, was the ball given
by the four and twenty patronesses at
the st. Francis and in lieu of an ap-
propriate title was named the patron
esses' ball" The shining lights from
the local elite and all the leaders were
present and although the pick of ma
ture fashionable life was supposed to
be there, and indeed was at its zenith,
there were many girls at the good
sized party. They were all friends, to
be sure, and the IL that gave the
party having arranged beforehand that
half of the exclusive number should
entertain that evening and the second
half should do the same at the Janu-
ary party, each of the chosen dozen
invited 10 of her best friends. There
was no second best; in fact, at the
party it was the prime of fashion that
assured the success of the entertain
ment There were few outside
guests, however, at this extremely in
side affair, and the aliens were none
other than the distinguished repre-
sentative of the far east and his family.
The aforesaid family consists of a Lady
Chang and five Chinese maidens and
son. 1t would be meet, however. to
give his excellency, Chang Yin Tang,
his full name before proceeding fur
ther. for he has the distinction of be-
ing minister plenipotentiary and envoy
extraordinary of the Chinese empire