The Washington times., 1913-01-28
TAFT VIEWS BALL
OF RELIEF SOCIETY
!. FROM CENTRAL BOX
Replies FeelingIy to Speaker
Who Presents Resolutions
of Regard.

The best attended ball in the history
of the Southern Relief Society passed
into history at . o'clock this morning
when Lieutenant Santelmann, director
for the Marine Band, led his men into
the strains of Home, Sweet Home"
Immediately the large and small ball
rooms of the New Willard, on the
tenth floor were deserted by the hun
dreds of persons, young and old, who
had been turkey trotting. Bostoning
and waltzing since .. m.
President Taft was guest at the ball
after midnight, when he came from a
theater. His arrival was the signal for
the presentation to him of set of
resoltions in recognition of his presence
at the ball and OF his remarks comoli-
inentary to the South at the conven-
ton of the United Daughters of the
Confederacy seme weeks ago.
Presidents Reply.
Senator swanson made the presenta-
ton speech. The President in replying
said:
Ladies and gentlemen of the South
ern Relief Society, 1 do not know what
these resolutions contain. Your presi-
dent says they contain love They are
certainly a great treasure, which Mrs.
Taft and l will cherish forever. 1t has
been a great pleasure always to attend
the balls OF the Southern Relief So
ciety. The grace of the dancers is al
most enough to attract me to the floor.
II Is onl,, consideration for the dancers
that makes me restrain myself
Testing aside, there is no part of the
Presidential office that is so dehSh1Gi
to the incumbent as that of using 1t to
encourage such a beneficial association
and such high purposes as this Southern
Relief Society. So Mrs. Taft and l VIII
taks this with US. We VIII not dance TO
II. but we will read ii always with
great pleasure to remind US OF 1our
beautiful nights in the four years that
we spent SO delightfully."- a; Washing
ton"
The President remained to watch the
dancing for while, sitting in the cen
trsr box reserved for mis- use. He was
at a social affair notable for the num-
Der of dignitaries and personalities
present.
: Receiving with Miss Mamie Randolph
Heth. president of the Southern Reiief
Society were Mrs. White, wife OF the
Chief Justice, and Mrs. Leonard Wood.
wife of the chief of STAFF. Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, Col Hilary A Herbert Gen:
Julian Carr. the Peruvian minister, ana
many other diplomats, Officers OF tne
army and navy, members of the Senate
and House and high executive officials
of the Government were in the throng:
The number of persons at the ball
made the floor uncomfortably crowded
the first part of the evening, parucu-
larly in the small ballroom, where the
.'trukey -trotting' was going on But
after midnight the congestion dimin-
tshed and the dancing was more en-
joyable.
Of the most handsome spectacles of
the kind Washington has known
Rare Laces and Jewels
An interesting feature of the ball was
the wonderful display of rare old laces,
old-fashioned Jewels, and heiriooms,
many of which have probably slum-
bered in cedar chests for many years
and are seldom brought ont except for
tnis annual occasion -...-- .--..-
There were many bellies and beauX
among the huge gathering last evening
who had attended the first Southern
Relief charity ball, and the one of last
evening was the twentieth. They we!-
coined the debutantes of last evening in
true Southern fashion. -
Miss Mamie Randolph Heth, president
Of the Southern Relief Society, received
the guests. assisted by Mrs. Edward
Douglas White, wife of the chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court; Mrs. William
Corcoran Eustis, Miss Mary Gusts Lee,
Mrs Claude Swanson, Mrs. Lindsay Lo-
max, Mrs. Marcus Wright. Mrs. Mat
thew T. Scott. Mrs. John Miller Horton.
and Mrs. Oscar Underwood. The intro
ductions were made by Senator Hoke
Smith, Senator Swanson, Robert Lee,
and Major Gordon.
The boxholders. in addition to the
President and Mrs. Taft, were the Ad-
Iniral of the Navy and Mrs. Dewey,
congressman and Mrs. Underwood, Gen.
julian Carr, of Durham, n. c.; Mrs
Matthew I. Scott, Senator and Mrs
Fletcher, a {. Crenshaw, Mr.. and Mrs.
Graeme Harvey, Mrs. John Miller Hor-
ton, Mrs. Cole, OF Tennessee: Dr. and
Mrs. James Dudley Morgan, Mrs. Elmer
Black. of New York; Mrs. Andrew b.
Graham. Judge and Mrs. Martin A.
Knapp, and Mrs. Bennett.
Mrs. Taft wore gown of soft black
satin and chiffon with jet embroidery.
Miss Mamie Randolph lIeth wore
black charmeuse embroidered i'm bril-
Iiants and diamond earrings and
brooch, which are heirIooms and very
handsome.
Mrs. White. wife of Chief Justice
White, of the Supreme Court, wore
black velvet with white lace on the
bodice.
Mrs. Claude Swanson was in a becom-
ing gown of American Beauty satin
With touches of gold. She wore dia-
m1 nd ornaments in her nair.
Mrs. Oscar Underwood's gown was |
Of white brocaded chiffon velvet with |
rhinestones.
Miss Lee was in gown of mauve
satin with touches OF black velvet
Mrs Marcus w. Wright wore white |
charmeuse draped in white chiffon |
With touches of lavender. She also
wore very handsome diamond Jewels. |
Mrs. John Miller Horton wore silver |
A nnnsf III