The Dermott news., 1916-12-21

clal junction into which no one mas
been allowed to enter without a ticket,
except the president and vice president
of the United States, and their wives,
If both gentlemen have happened to
be blessed with them, Even the mem.
bers of the arrangements committee, the
men who do the work. always have
paid admission to the ball. The price
has been s. per person and the equal
ity of women in the paying matter has
been recognized in this, If not In all
other matters.
Ball Money Pays Expenses.
The money which has come in from
the inaugural bah has been depended
upon to pay the expenses of the grand
stand building. of bands. of flags. of
flowers, of the parades of local bodies.
and of n score of other things which
cause Uncle Sans cash To change
from one hand to another. With no
inaugural ball the citizens who con
tribute To the expenses of the govern
ment will not get their money back
directly
However there is silver lining To
every cloud. literally silver lining,
because silver is money. and indirectly
probably all the good people of Wash.
ingten who put their coins into the
contribution box will have them make
their way back. even II il is by n cir
cuitous route.
In about six weeks an army of car
pcnterS Will take possession of Penn
Sylvania avenue They will erect sight
seeing stands all along the way from
the state. war and navy building
down by the White House. the treas
ury and the post office department to
the towering capitol. \ stand, partly
glass incloSed. Will be erected directly
in front of the White House. and there
the president. the vice president. their
wives. the cabinet officers and their
wives. and chief of staff of the army
and his aids will view the passing regi.
ments and the passing bodies of civil
am
Nearly all the residents of the city
of Washington who have offices over
loo,jag Pennsylvania avenue will in
wife their friends 10 view the parade
from their windows, or, If they art
thrifttly inclined, will rent out window
space nj anywhere from 81 To $40 n
pair Of sightseeing eyes
Ready for Social Season.
Washington is "all set" for It's
social season. President, cabinet
officers. senators, representatives.
army and navy officers and their wives.
sisters. cousins and aunts must amuse
themselves during the of hours of the
working day, or mt any rate such i
their desire, aud therefore society runs
II pace which outStrips laggard legisla=
ton.
The most brilliant event of the So
cial season. unless the army aud navy
reception be excepted. has been ahan-
doncd. The reception To the diplomats
of foreign governments must he fore
gone until the war in Europe is over.
The diplomatic reception Is one of
the four big semi.public affairs which
have taken place annually AT the White
House with the president his Wife and
all the ,adics of the cabinet in the III.
ceiving line. The war in Europe has
east its shadow on one section of soei-
ETY. In Washington. 1t would not do
to have the English ambassador and
the German ambassador in the same
room even II. rs in this case. the re-
ception would be entirely neutral. The
same inhibition applies, Of course, 10
the French ambassador and the Aus
TRAN ambassador aud 10 all the others
who represent the warning countries
When Il representative Of nation at
war With another nation meets the
representative of the second nation on
the streets of Washington, there is n
cold hayonet chilly bow Of recognition
and that is all.
TWO Dinners 70 Diplomats
In lieu OF the reception the president
and Mrs. Wilson are 10 give two din.
ucrS To the diplomats this winter.
When there are two affairs, ii is pos
sihle To keep the warning diplomats
aSuuder II one dinner there will he
IN f'Nt#lAt Alihs u ~ f-tiHtttl VI ttt' at
lies aud Il considerable number of the
representatives Of the Central and
South American countries. AZ the see
oud dinner there will be present the rep
reSeutatives OF the central powers with
the representatives of the other Cen
trail and South American countries Who
are hot present M the first dinner,
II might he asked why the central
powers representatives would not take
aifense because the first dinner. the
dinner Of precedence. is 10 be given "a
the representatives of"he allies The
answer is easy: Because J. J. JuSse-
rand the French ambassador. is the
ruukiRg diplomat In Washington on
account OF his great length OF service
Therefore the first dinner must he civ
On 10 that group ot diplomats which