The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-09
WHITE HOUSE
SOCIAL SEASON
OPENS TUESDAY.
Another Winter Without a
General Diplomatic
Reception.
Two DINNERS INSTEAD.
Other Features of Program
! Announced for Guild
ance of Elect.
1.-TWO DINNERS INSTEAD
tRy Associated Pre.,l

Wy +ASSoGlatGu fTtssJ
WASHINGTON, Dec. g. The pre-.
/ gram for the White House winter So
ctal season has been announced and
as was generally expected. it omits
the colorful diplomatic reception. he.
cause of the war. and also the time
honored New Years reception for the
public. in accordance with the custom
President Wilson set when coming
into office.
In place Of the diplomatic reception
there will be two diplomatic dinners.
The Entente diplomats and all neu.
trails will be entertained at the first
and the Teutonic diplomats and all
neutrals will be guests at the second.
( The embarrassmcnts which would
be caused by inviting the representa-.
ttves of the warning powers to rub
elbows at the same reception NAV be
more imaginary than actual. but they
are regarded by the social managers
as having possibilities. notw!thstand.
ing that 1t is said the ambassador
from one OF the principal Entente AL
lies and the ambassador from one OF
the principal Teutonic powers always
exchange courteous greetings when
/, they pass on the street. However. the
program has been arranged TO keep
the warning diplomats apart
The social events all come on Tues
days instead of Thursdays. as FOR.
merly: the season begins earlier and
ends in February instead Of March,
probably due to the fact that the White
House wants 1t over by inauguration
time.
This is the program as officially
announced
Dec. 12-Cabinet dinner s p. m.
Dec. 19-Judicial reception. Q p. m.
Jan. 9-Diplomatic dinner s p. nj.
Jan. 16-Diplomatic dinner. D. IN.
Jan. 2S-Congressional reception. 8
.. m.
Jan. 3O-supreme Court dinner. s
p. m.
Feb. 6-Army and Navy reception,
9p. m.
Feb. 13--Spcakcrs dinner. S p. m.
Before the war the diplomatic reccp.
Z ton was the social show Of the win.
I ter. Invitations were sought so eager.
Z ly by those who were not quite sure
to be invited that the President set
the rule Of placing an arbitrary limit
on the number outside of the diplo-
matte corps. who were to be invited
without his personal approval. In
form the reception differed little from
, those to Congress. the army or navy.
or the judiciary. In fact ii had a dis
) tinctly different atmosphere. The brill
liant uniforms OF the diplomats and
their aides, the distinctly foreign mall
! llers Of many. and the ceremony with
4 Which custom surrounds diplomat
wheE he is out in full dress uniform
: made the reception distinctive from
: Ire others.
N general way. all the receptions
: 20 conducted alike. \ few special
s:,c5ts are permitted TO enter the main
( GGoT OF the executive mansion but most
enter the east entrance and after lcaY-
ing outer garments IN the lower CORR
y doris of the White House form in long
s lines leading up the marble stair case
Z to the first floor and into the Hue
Room where the President and Mrs.
Wilson, aided by members of the cab
met and their wives with army and
navy aides in full dress. receive them.
81 The introductionS are made by an
. hide; brief word of greeting is spOk.
an, followed by hasty handClaSp and
the guest passes along to the end OF
the receiving line to spend the remain
IS der of the evening moving about or
chatting with friends in the crowd.
. Even to personal friends the Prcsi-
7 dent or his wife cannot say more than
word because to each of the rccep-
lions come between 1900 and 1000 per-
sons and things have to move on time.
In the state dining room the guests
III
opposite ends Of the main corridor two
sections of the Marine Band play al
mos3 continuously.
The nearer the top one Is in official
Washington, the surer one is to re.
ceiye invitations TO these affairs, al
though some OF the receptions are not
so Exclusive" as the others. The Con.
4 gressional reception, for instance.
usually finds the world and his wife
having good time in the White House
and not always in evening dress.
In a capital where there are hun.
( drNs OF persons not connected with
the governemnt, but active in social
life, the limit to the number of invita-
tons must he guaged by the capacity
of the White House itself, If there
Z were no other reasons. 1t is not easy
for the social secretary and the force
& of clerks who handle the invitations
to discriminate. Failure to be invited
to at least one reception may not be
fatal TO social aspirations but 1t is
something to be avoided by those who
Z make at least pretenslon to social
prominence.
Invitations, II anything. are not so
easy to obtain as they used to be. a
s story told in social circles has IL that