The Washington times., 1913-01-29
White HOUSE GAY
At BIG RECEPTION
TO CONGRESSMAN
Huge Throngs at Mansion to
Pay Respects to President
and Mrs. Taft.

The President and Mrs. Taft were
hosts ct their annual reception last
evening in compliment to the two
branches of Congress. and the White
House was filled to overflowing with
The guests invited to do them honor.
While the Congressional reception is
not considered so brilliant as the
: diplomatic and army and navy recep-
0on on account of the lack of uni
forms Respondent with gold lace. etc,
IL entirely made up for this in the
number and enthusiasm of its guests
last evening.
Quantities of tall palms and clusters
OF pink carnations adorned the East
room where the guests assembled and
formed into line. In the red corridor
where they passed from the state
apartments palms and ferns formed
sthe chief decorations and a back
ground for the Marine Band which
played throughout the evening.
White lilacs and pink carnations
and roses were used in the green
\ poom, and in the blue room, where the
president and Mrs. Taft and the ladies
. a the Cabinet stood to receive the
guests, the flowers used in decorating
2 Clllciis IuduNt
orchids. lilies OF the valley. and white
4 hyacinths.
j In the beautiful red room palms and
y clusters OF American Beauty roses in
) tall vases were used. In the state
! dining room, where the buffet supper
was served, the long tables were
adorned with clusters of red carna-
Z lions and candles with red silk
shades.
Diplomats There.
Among the many guests were a few
members Of the Diplomatic Corps. some
members Of the judiciary. but the
greatest majority of the guests were
from Congressional and resident cir
cIes. The British Ambassador and Mrs.
Bryce held a little reception all their
own in the red corridor. many of the
guests who do Aot expect to see them
again before their departure, bade them
goodbye. After the reception was over
the President and Ambassador Bryce
sat for quite a while in the red parlor
chatting. The Postmaster General,
Frank H. Hitchcock, who was present
all the evening, was being congratulate
ed upon the success of the parcel post.
Miss Helen Taft and her house guest,
Miss Isabel Vincent, who had figured
in a runaway accident early in the
afternoon, seemed no less the worse for
the experience and were kept busy all
evening answering questions about It,
Another interesting and interested
guest at the reception last evening was
Miss Genevfeve Clark, who accompanied
her father, the Speaker Of the House of
Repfesentatfyes, In the absence Of Mrs.
Champ Clark, who left washington last
night for New York. This was the first
time Miss Clark. who is yet a school
girl, had ever attended a White House
reception. and she enjoyed every mo-
menf.
After the last of the 1,s1s guests had
been greeted by the President and Mrs
Taft, the Marine Band moved into the
East Room. where the guests danced
unth after midnight While the Presi,
dent did not join the dancers, he and
Mrs Taft sat at the south end Of the
room and watched the dancers for quite
q while. Miss Helen Taft and Miss vim
cent Were among the dancers.
Mrs TAFT wore a beautiful gown of
black velvet with a tiara of diamonds
set In platinum in her hair.
Mrs. Knox. wife of the Secretary CT
State, who stood beside Mrs. Taft in
the receiving line, wore a handsome
gown of white crepe de chine with
pearls.
Mrs. MacVeagh, wife of the Secretary
Of the Treasury, who was next TO Mrs.
Knox. wore gown Of cloth Of gold bro
caded in black velvet.
Mrs. ,Stimson, wife of the Secretary
of War, wore black velvet with white
lace on the bodice.
Mrs. Wickersham, wife of the .Attor-
nsy General. looked particularly charm
ing in a gown Of French blue brocade
and lace.
Mrs. Nagel. wife Of the Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor, was in dark blue
velvet trimmed with rhinestones.
Mrs. Meyer, wife Of the Secretary of
the Navy. and Mrs. Fisher, wife OF
the Secretary of the Interior Depart
ment, were absent last evening.
Mrs. Bryce, wife Of the British am
bassador, wore a becoming gown OF
gray brocade.
Mime. Bryn, wife Of the minister Of
Norway, wore sapphire blue chiffon and
satin.
Countess de Chambrun. wife Of the
military attache OF the French embass,
wore black velvet.
Miss Taft in White.
Miss Helen Taft wore a becoming
gown OF white brocade made with angel
wing effects Of handsome white prin-
cess lace.
Miss Isabel Vincent wore a dainty
gown Of pale pink satin, draped with
crystal embroidered net.
Mrs A. Garrison McClintock wore a
gown Of purple charmeuse and her
daughter, Miss Katherine McClintock,
wore American Beauty satin.
Miss Mabel Boardman wore a becom-
ing gown OF white brocaded velvet trim
med with rhinestones
Mrs. Thomas K. Laughlin was in a be-
coming gown of black charmeuse, with
chiffon.
Miss Patten wore striking costume
Of gray satin.
Miss Helen Patten was becomingly
gowned in pink satin.
Mrs. James r. Mann wore a striking
costume of white satin with shoulder
drspery of lace forming the sleeves. A
beautiful diamond necklace completed
her costume
Mrs. Miles Poindexter wore a lovely
gown OF Chinese blue chiffon velvet
trimmed with cut steel.
Mrs. Spencer Cosby wore a lovely
gown of white brocade slashed with
black velvet, and a black velvet train
Mrs. r. T. Ansberry wore a hand
some gown of white charmeuse and
lace.
Mrs Sdwin F. Sweet wore q hand
some gown Of embroidered black crepe
de chine.
Miss Sweet wore a charming cos
tune of yellow chiffon and charmeuse.
Mrs. William Bailey Lamar wore a
handsome gown of white satin trimmed
with chiffon and narrow bands OF fur.
Mrs. John w. Timmons wore a love-
ly gown of black velvet, the bodice be- |
fap nf chiffon sfnhrOfdared in sfaal