Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-05
THE SOCIAL WORLD
Diplomatic Reception at White
House Last Night.
WAS A BRILLIANT FUNCTION
Mrs. Taft Received With the
President.
CABINET LADIES IN THE LINE
Event a Great Success in Brilliancy
and Also in Comfort.
Other Events.
CABINET LADIES IN THE LINE

! which follows attendance at the first even
ing function under a new administrator
| evident in every face. More than that
/ the rev order Of things which was tried
out last night aud OF which We're heard
many complimentary remarks added an
absorbing feature of interest For the
first TINE in White House history there
We're absolutely no favorites in the way
| the guests entered the Presidents home
! their reception while in it or the way they
| took their leave. Carriages were lined
| nearly up to 18th street at 9 O'Clock, and
| at half-past that hour the east room
| where the company waited, was closely
thronged from wall to wall. In the same
interval Of this assembling the diplomatic
I corps. the special guests OF the evening.
! had entered the mansion by the south
| entrance and was comfortably awaiting
! In the red room and corridor for the
opening Of the reception
| The coming down stairs Of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Taft and their receiving
party was told to the east room gather
ing by the eeemingly far-away sounds OF
the Marine Band Orchestra, stationed in
the lobby.
| The reception OF the diplomatic corps
filed the first half hour of the evening
When it was over, the east room. with
Its hundreds of splendidly sowned and
bejeweled women, uniformed men and
others OF national distinction, got into
line. 1t was naturally slow, and, to
| many, tedious process. The objective
point was an aisle formed nearly across
the south end Of the room. to which all
poured as into a funnel. Its dimensions
were comfortable for two abreast At
the green room doors two of the Presi-
dents military attaches. standing close
together. thinned it down to one, across
the green room to the door of the blue
parlor. where Capt. Archibald Butt an
nounced the names to the President. who
faced south instead Of north all his
predecessors have done. Throughout the
reception Of the diplomats and for
awhile afterward Mrs Taft stood-next
her husband. subsequently she watched
the scene while remaining seated near
| him. but, as she did on New Year day,
went upstairs inside OF an hour.
Mrs. Taft was looking very well and
was dressed in color which she wears
frequently. She wore a pale pink satin.
several diamond ornaments and carried
a bouquet of lilies of the valley.
Mrs. Sherman. who stood near the
President throughout the rest OF the re-
ception, wore white lace with touches or
blue. and several superb diamond stars
in her corsage. Mrs. MacEeagh in white,
Mrs. Wickersham in silver brocade, Mrs.
Meyer In gray. Mrs. Ballinger i'm white
..
in lire until the last guest had been
presented.
! When the formal part OF the evening
was over. the President escorted Mrs.
with her in the red parlor. The cabinet
ladies', their sons and daughters and their
| house guests, who had the freedom OF the
three parlors, had refreshments served
them there. An especially notable party
was formed in the blue room at one time,
when Mrs. MacVeagh and her guest. Mrs.
Potter Palmer, had a group of friends
about them. Mrs. Palmer. on whom the
years pass so gracefully. wore more dia-
monds than have been seen In Washing
ton In decade Growing her lovely
gray hair was tiara OF rows and rows
OF splendid solitaires. with row of
pear-shaped pearls around the top. which
| lifted the crown more than three inches
above her head. Her dog collar was also
of diamonds OF huge size and a double
row of pearls fell to the waist line. Her
gown was a soft gray satin with tunic
of siiver-beaded gauZe.
| The state dining room had buffet
table stretching across the entire west
side. 1t was decorated with bouquets
of flowers and provided with the sub
! stantials and delicacies. hot and cold,
which go to make comfortable COLA
ton. Champagne punch. lemonade
coffee and ice water We're also at hand
and large corps Of walters to serve.
! The hospitality OF the White House was
| thoroughly appreciated ana enjoyed by
| everybody.
| The Vice President and cabinet mingled
with the company after the first few
minutes and the wives OF the latter had
the pleasure also of seeing White
House party from the same point ot
line had separated.
/ I'm the matter of dress the reception
offered a fine expression of the latest
modes in gowns. jewels and hair dress
alt los
| than probably any other feature of 1910
| fashion inasmuch as most Of those
who adhere TO up-to-date coiffures
| wore the new "turban'' mode. This ar
tour of the head and makes in the coils
| OF hair a smooth background for da-
mond-tipped pins or fiat jeweled ban
deauX.
| In jewels those worn BY Mrs. Joseph
Stickney of New York quite equaled Mrs.
Palmer's display. Her tiara was as high.
but its diamondtipped points were
| farther apart, and the effect. like
| that of her necklace. distributed
the glitter of three times as much
showed in the corsagc of her
cloth-of-silver dress. Mrs. Lawrence
| Townsend wore a dog collar of cmeralds
! and superb diamonds and a number Of
and silver lace dress. Mrs. Townsend's
currant color tulle and satin was en-
HANGED by her splendid diamonds and
pearls.
! The diplomatic corps was headed by the
Italian ambassador and Baroness Mayor
des Planches. the latter in superb white
satin and point lace. and wearing many
| fine jewels. Other fire gowns in the dip
| lomatic circle were worn by:
Baroness Hengelmuller. white velvet
embroidered in silver. with a dog collar
and tiara OF diamonds and a necklace
Of diamonds and ruhies.
| Baroness Cchida. wife OF the Japanese
ambassador. white tissue embroidered in
delicate shades of pink and blue, and
made over white satin.
| Nine. Jusserand, sapphire velvet and
diamonds.
Countess Won Bernstorf, black velvet
with diamonds.
| Countess Luise-Alexandra Won Bern
storff, pale yellow satin.
| Mime. Nabuco. cloth of gold and dia-
, nionds.
/ Miss Nabuco, pale blue satin embroid-
cred in white.
Mrs. Bryce. wife Of tie British ana
ba ssador. gray satin with diamonds and
pearls.
Mime. Mejia. lilac satin embroidered
with gold and diamond ornaments.
Miss Mejia. old rose satin. with a tunic
Of gold and Russian net.
| Miss Paulita Mejia yellow satin, with
| a yellow chiffon over-drapery.
i Nine. de LagercrantZ. wife of the min
! lister of Sweden, black satin and tulle.
/ Nine. Ritter. wife of the minister of
Switzerland, white satin.
| Nine. Won I.ivonius, wife of the military