Evening star., 1915-01-05
ball FOR CHARITY
| |SSCENE OF BEAUTY
Society Dances and Sups to
|. Aid the ChiIdren's
Hospital.
OCCASION OF GAYETY
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE
Mrs. Mahlon Pitney Heads Receiv.
ing Line at Interesting Event
at New Willard Hotel.

4 What some of the older members of
society described as one of the loveliest
public balls in recent years was held
last night at the New Willard Hotel,
when nearly one thousand persons,
representing all circles of social activ-
lity in Washington, gathered in the
large and small bathrooms to dance,
and later. in the red room, at seated
supper, In aid of the Chi1dren's Hos
pital.
| The throwing wide of the doors be-
tween the large and the small ball
rooms, using both as one great dancing
floor. and the presence of two bands,
one of which began to play as soon as
the other finished a number, made this
particular charity ball." in the estima-
tion of many present, an occasion long
to be remembered. What seemed to be
a friendly rivalry between the two aids
to dancing, the Marine Band and the
| Engineers Band, as they Wed with each
other in producing various inspiring
strains for "hesitations,' fox trots"
and the other present-day dances, re-
suited in breathless gayety among
the young people on the dancing floor
among the older onlookers in the boxes
Beauty of the Scene.
A great blaze of extra lights added
to the beauty of the scene, filled, as it
was, with the most prominent and the
most handsomely gowned women of
| Washington, many of them wearing
noted diamonds and other important
jewels. Many toilets of real magnifi-
cence were one of the striking features
| OF the occasion, marking, as it did, the
! first full gathering of society this sea-
| son. Elaborate hangings and friezes
| OF southern smilax, studded with
| scarlet Christmas wreathes, decorated
the walls, to make a setting for the bali,
and the crowded boxes, which had been
| subscribed for by many prominent per-
sons, all held large parties, who came
to be witnesses of as well as partici-
pants in the gay Kaleidoscope.
This gayety was not confined to the
bathrooms, nor indeed to the tenth
| floor of the hotel, where ante-rooms
had been fitted up with lounging chairs,
palms and cut flowers, where those who
! were so disposed might sit out dance,
| to whisper soft nothings or to rest
| from the inspiring and enticing music
| of the bands. The large corridor of the
hotel on the ground floor, where an
other orchestra was stationed, and the
rooms opening off it were filled with
promenaders before and long after the
supper, served at tables seating ten
persons, in the red room. Many of
these, too, journeyed back up to the
and again, until the early hours this
morning.
In the Receiving Line.
Mrs. Mahlon Pitney. wife of Mr.. Jus
tice Pitney of the Supreme Court of the
United States, stood during the ball at
the head of the receiving line, as the
chairman of the ball committee, which
included Mrs. Thomas T. Gaff, Mrs.
Charles C. Glover, Mrs. Clarence Will
son, Mrs. Horace Westcott, Mrs. Rey
nolds Hit, Mrs. Joseph Letter and Mrs.
Preston Gibson. Mr.. Joseph Letter, as
sisted by Mr.. William Marrow and Mr..
Preston Gibson, was chairman of the
floor committee, and these gentlemen
with others relieved one another in
maxim, presentations to the women in
the receiving line.
Boxholders and Guests.
Admiral and Mrs Willard Brownson,
Mrs. Samuel Spencer, Mr.. and Mrs.
Larz Anderson. Mrs. Thomas F. Walsh,
, Mr.. and Mrs. E. T. Stotesbury, Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas Ewing, Mr.. and Mrs. Fred
erick Bugher, Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Van
dergrift, Gen. and Mrs. John A. John
ston, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Letter and
Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Hill.
Secretary and Mrs. Lane were with
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Ewing, whose
other guests were members of their
dinner party of the evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Vandergrift had in their
box Mr.. and Mrs. George Garrett, DR..
and Mrs. James f. Mitchell, Mr.. and
Mrs Robert Roosevelt and Mr.. and Mrs.
w. A. Slater, jr.
Admiral and Mrs. Brownson had in
| their box Admiral and Mrs. Logan and
Commander and Mrs. Hussey.
With Mrs. Samuel Spencer in her box
were Mr. and Mrs. Peyton Russell, Pay
master and Mrs. Edmond Bonnaffon
| and Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Spencer.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Bugher had
| with them Mr.. and Mrs. A. Garrison
| McCIintock, Mr.. and Mrs. Horace
| Westcott, Miss Josephine Patten and
| Mr.. Maurice Low.
| Mrs. Walsh's guests were Mrs. David
| Jayne Hill, Miss Katherine Hill, Col.
! Charles Page Bryan, Mrs. Payne, wife
| of Judge Payne, and Miss Virginia
| Mott.
Rich Gowns and Jewels.
! Mrs Mahlon Pitney wore splendid
| gown of white satin, with an overdress
of iridescent beaded tulle and pearl
naments.
| Mrs c. c. Glover wore American beau
( -11t h Vlaf mi