The Washington times., 1912-05-12
Appropriation Of Twenty
Thousand Dollars for En-
tertainment Helps.

and American delegates to the Interna-
tional Red Cross conference, now in
session in Washington, have occupied
the attention of society to the exclusion
of practically all else throughout the
week. An appropriation of $4,000 in the
hands Of a capable reception committee
assured a fitting social program for
such an event, in addition to numerous
handsome private functions in honor of
the delegates.
Officials and diplomatists have We'd
with each other In the arrangement of
dinners and receptions for each night
of the convention, and a conspicuous
feature of the sumptuous program thus
arranged was the garden party and aft
ernoon dance which the President and
Mrs. Taft gave at the White House
Friday afternoon.
These charming al fresco affairs have
been an important feature Of the spring
season during the Taft regime, and 1t
is q matter of general regret that the
mistress Of the White House has been
Obliged to recall her invitations for the
one scheduled for May II. That mSde
the one last week unusually large. as
the company asked for next Friday
was thereby added to yesterdays guest
list There are still two others, how
ever. before the close Of the season
one Friday, May "a, and the last the
following week, May 81.
Col. and Mrs. Robert M. Thompson,
with their famous ever-ready hospital
ity, started the festivities for the Red
Congress Monday night with a dinner In
honor Of the Japanese delegates, fol-
lowed by musicale to which all the
a MI hnr ~ nnt
Washington folk were asked. Earlier
In the day Mrs. Thompson entertained
company of distinguished women at
luncheon In honor of Countess Ogasa-
wara and Nine. Nagasaki. the feminine
members Of the Japanese delegation.
only men were asked to the dinner
given by Colonel Thompson, though the
feminine contingent was we'll repro
sented at the musicale later. The ar
lists of the evening were the Misses
Fuller and Myron w. Whitney. who
gave most delightful program of old
time folksong in costume of the mid
Victorian era.
Mrs. Taft Sees
The Congress Opened.
Mrs Taft, accompanied by Mrs.
Charles w. Rae. one of her intimate
the opening Of the congress Tuesday,
arriving In time for the reading of the
Presidents message.
All the pomp and ceremony Of
White House function attended the re-
ception given Tuesday evening at the
Pan-American Union building by the
American Red Cross in honor Of the
visitors. Military and naval officers in
uniform and members of the Sons of the
American Revolution and other patriotic
societies In full dress regalia, acted as
ushers, and the building, itself one of
the handsomest in the country, formed
an appropriate setting for the brilliant
throng. In the assemblage were repre-
sentatives of every country of Europe
each Of the twenty-one American repub-
lies, Japan, China, Siam. India, and
several of the South African states,
with large social contingent from
Washington. New York, and other
American cities.
Miss Boardman, the indefatigable
secretary of the American organization,
and who has been untiring in her eff
forts to have the conference the occa-
sion for much social activity, came to
the front with a brilliant function,
which was the feature of the evening
for the delegates Wednesday.
Other notable hospitalities at which
the delegates were the lions of the
hour were the dinner at the Italian
embassy Thursday evening, the recep-
tion which Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas T.
Gaff gave at their handsome colonial
residence Friday evening, and the re-
ception at the Congressional Club FRI
day afternoon, at which the feminine
contingent of the various delegations
were the honor guests.
Last night there were several func-
tions for them, including the dinner at
the French embassy, at which the Am
bassador and Nine Jusserand asked a
notable company to meet the delegation
from their country, and the dinner
which Miss Scidmore gave for the Jap
anese visitors.
Dolly Madison
Breakfast Next.
An impending function which has oc-
casioned no end of speculation in Con-
gressional circles Is the Dolly Madison
breakfast, scheduled for Monday, May
20 the anniversary of that DISTINGUISHED