The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-12-09
Program Out For Brilliant
White House Social Season;
Neutral Diplomats Are Lucky

ton was the show OF the winter lnyl-
tailonS were sought so eagerly by those
who were not quite sure to be invited
that the president set the rule OF pllc-
lng an arbitrary limit on the number
outside OF the diplomatic corps, who
we're 30 be invited without hi, personal
approval In form the reception diff
icrcd little from those to congress the
army or navy OF the judiciary. In TACT
1t had a distinctly different atmoS-
pfere The brilliant uniforms OF the
diplomats and their aides. the distinct
h foreign manners ~ many and the
ceremony with which custom surrounds
a diplomat when he IS out in full dress
uniform made the reception distinctive
from the 'othcrS
All Conducted Alike.
In a general way. all the receptions
are conducted alike. A few spccia
guests are permitted to enter the main
door Of the executive mansion, but
most enter at the east entrance and
after leaving outer garments IN the
lower corridors Of the White House.
form in one long line leading up the
marble staircase to the first floor and
INTO the blue room, where the president
and Mrs Wilson. aided hy members
Jt the cabinet and their wives, with
army and navy aides IN full dress re
ccive them
The introductions are made by an
aide; brief word Of greeting IS
spoken, followed by hasty handclasp.
and the guest passes along to the end
cf the receiving line to spend the re
malnder OF the evening moving about
or chatting with friends in the crowd
Even to personal friends the president
or his wife can not say more than a
word, because to each OF the receptions
ccme between 800 and 1000 persons,
and things have to move in time. In
! the state dining the guests usu-
ally find a buffet luncheon and in op-
| poSite ends OF the main corridor two
cctlons OF the marine band play al
most continuously
Congressional Reception Large.
The nearer the top one is in off
cia Washington. the surer one is to
receive invitations to these affairs al
though some OF the receptions are not
50 exclusive" as the others The con
riessionaI reception. for instance, usu-
ally finds the world and his wife hsv-
ing a good time in the White House
and not always in evening dress
In a capital where there are hun
dreds OF persons not connected with
the government, but active in social
life, the limit to the number of. inyi-
tatons must he gauged by the capacity
OF the White House itself, If there were
no other reasons II is not easy for the
social secretary and the force OF clerk:
who handle the invitations to discrim-
mate. Failure to be invited to at leas'
cne reception may not be fatal TO so.
! cial aspirations. but it is something tC
be avoided by those who make at leas
a pretension to social prominence
Senator Rebuked. ~
Invitations. If anything. are not $,
easy to obtain as they used to be
story told in social circles has il tha
at the opening of President Wilson
term a certain senator OF influcno,
sent TO the White House for ten invita-
tions issued in blank in which h,
wished 70 show some favor. The stor,
has il that his request was refused will
a rcbuke.
For some of the White House affairs
demand for invitations has been S,
great that almost unheard of subtcr
iuges are used to obtain them and o'
enc occasion watchful door tender
PICKED up admission tickets whicl
proved 10 be very clever forgeries