The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-16

Lent has come down like a wolf on
khe fold. and, according to Hoyle, all
festivities should come to an untimeIy
snds and 20 they have Tin theory, but
for all their good intentions, 1t looks
from the present prospect that So
e1ety is going to say Its prayers this
Lent. with one eye shut and the other
open for any fun that may be going
around. The season is very short this
winter anyhow: that is, until the ex-
TIA session Of congress opens UP an
o4her. and 50. In spite of going to
church. the indications ars that nu-
marcus parties are going to come off
sub rosa. es II were, being good is
such chore and SO hard on the ner-
vous system. The last few days be-
fore Lent were filed to the bursting
point with froiichfng, Ossa on Pelio1
piled. and everybody seemed to go to
every one of the parties.
The most gorgeous party Of all how
sveF, was the Southern ball. which
came on Monday night, and was at
tended by almost two thousand distin-
guished and ear-distinguished per-
sonages. This ball is an annual oc-
curTence, given by the ladies Of the
Southern Relief Society for the bene-
At Of the needy Confederate soldiers
or their widows, and it is always one
of the very smartest occasions Of the
season. This year 1t was. Ii possible,
more brilliant than ever and was a
thoroughly delightful affair. The
president and Mrs. Taft were among
the guests, and their arrival toward
the shank of the evening was greet
ed by applause and smiles OF welcome,
for big Bill Taft is beloved by the
Southern people who hibernate in
Washington. As usual a bountifully
decorated box was reserved for the
use Of the presidential party, and
thither they were escorted, when the
marine band announced their coming
by bursting into "The Star Spangled
Banner" Miss Mamie Randolph Heth,
the president of the society, taking
the arm of the president, while Mrs.
Taft was escorted by Senator Swan
son, and in their wake a line Of dis
tinguished old Confederates, each
with handsome woman from the
southland upon his arm. Shortly after
the party was seated, Senator Swan
son arose, and In the name of the
Southern Relief Society presented the
president with a testimonial of appre-
ciation of ''the nobility of spirit he
has shown during the four wears of
his administration. and for his gra-
ciousness not only to the women Of
Dixie, but to all Southerners" The
resolutions were encased in a little
silver box. bearing the initials OF the
president, of the organization which
presented 1t. and the date of the hall.
In a graceful little speech the presi
dent thanked the society but said that
It seem to him that he and Mrs Taft
were receiving thanks when they
should be giving thanks TO the South
ern Relief Society for the four very
delightful evenings the had spent as
the guests OF the ladies. As usual
both ball rooms at the Willard were
used, and as always before the ma
rine band played in the larger room
while the cavalry band made the mus
ic in the smaller one. The dancins
in the large ball room was for the
first part of the evening all of the reg
ulation waltz and two-step order. but
in the little room was where the fun
was, every conceivable kind of turkey
trot. Spanish tango and bunny hug
was executed. The boxes were all ii
the larger room. and in consequence
the box holders did not behold any
Of the ''wiggly dances TO the greai
disappointment of some OF them, whe
bewailed the fact that they were con-