Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-27

FEWER FUNCTIONS
AT WHITE HOUSE
Diplomatic. Pun-Nmcricnn md New
Yenr Reception Omitted From
Schedule.


Diplomatic. Pan-Nmcricnn md New
Yenr Reception Omitted From
Schedule.
WASHINGTON. November 26.-Thc
| formal program of social entertain
ments to be given by President and
Mrs. Wilson during the season OF 1916
and 1917 was announced at the White
House last night. the principal feature
| being the omission of the reception in
honor of the members of the diplo-
matte corps, the place of which was
taken last year by Il reception in honor
| of the Latin-American diplomats. There
| is no Pan-American reception sched-
| MED this year, and no New Year recep-
| ton is announced
With the omission of the diplomatic
| reception, usually the most brilliant
| entertainment. public or private, of the
winter in Washington, and which has
| been a. tlmc-honored event, 1t is evil
| dent that the social program at the
| White House this winter is to be an
! extremely simple one. The entertain
| ments begin three weeks earlier than
| last season, and end that much earlier,
probably for the reason that it might
| social program around inauguration
| time.
The first event on the schedule is 4
| dinner. December -, in honor of tho
members Of the Cabinet. This is TO be
| followed, December l9, by Il reception
| In honor of the judiciary: January 3. by
Il diplomatic dinner; January 16. by
another diplomatic dinner. January %,
| by Il reception in honor of the membe rs
OF Congress; January 80, by Il dinner in
| honor of the Supreme Court of the
| United States; February 6, by a rcccp-
| ton in honor of the army and navy,
and February -, by a dinner in honor
| OF the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives.
! TO Finish Before Inauguration.
On this schedule the State entertain
ments will be ended more than two
| weeks before the inauguration. An
| other interesting change ia in Connec-
ton with the fact that last season the
State receptions were given Friday
| evening and the State dinners were
| given Tuesday evenings. Before the
| administration of President Wilson all
| State entertainments were given Thurs
| day evenings. This season, however.
all the entertainments will be given
| Thursday evenings.
| There are to be two diplomatic din
\ ncrs" this season. as last, owing to the
| war in Europe, and the fact that it is
|
| House at the same time the representa-
tives OF the powers which are at war
! with each other. The eNpedient of hav-
! ing two dinners solved this problem
last season, the representatives of the
allies being invited TO one and the rep
| resentativcs OF the Teuton powers and
| their companions in arms being invited
| to the other. 1T is presumed that this
plan will DO followed again this sea-
| son. Ambassador Jusserand, repre-
| hn;, l,o Iii RI n
| lomat who will escort Mrs. Wilson to
| dinner at the entertainment To which
| representatives of the allies arc in
! vited and Ambassador Won BcrnStorif,
| representing Germany, being the rank
| ing diplomat who will escort Mrs. Will
| son to dinner at the entertainment to
| which representatives of the Teuton
powers and their companions in arms
are invited.
| The public OF Washington, including
merely the "onlookcrs," have always
! taken a deep interest In the gala social
| events at the White House. and the
| diplomatic reception has always been
| the means OF bringing to Washington
| for the winter social season large and
| important group of hostesSeS from
other cities. especially New York.
| Philadelphia. Boston, Baltimore, Rich
| mond and other Eastern communities.
| who have taken houses here, and who
have entertained largely because of
| The brilliancy of the social winter as
set by the White House program. This
| has usually made the month OF Janu-
AIRY an especially interesting one So
cially. but the coming January there
will he but one reception at tho White
| Housc-the one in honor OF the mem
bcrs of Congress.
The Less Important Functions.
The other events on the White House
| program for January are dinners.
f@l, II IL
tention as the receptions. The nights
| the latter arc held it has been no I'M
usual thing to see thousands OF Wash
| ingtonians gathered in the ncighbor-
| hood of the White House, irrespective
| OF tho weather. which has ofcn been of
n scmibllzZard character, to watch the
| gay throngS arriving in carriages, in
! automobiles and foot, as happy and
as eager at the prospect Of the revels
| within the brilliantly Illuminated and
! historic old mansion as the actual
| participants about TO enter.
Another innovation in this seasons
| program is that the receptions are to
begin at o'clock instead of $50
O'Clock. the hour of last season. This
| Will probably have the effect OF hav-
| ing them end earlier and giving the
| tired President and the first lady OF
the land an opportunity to retire
| earlier. after having stood in limo for
| hours and laboriously shaken so MANY
hands, as they are required to 10
| The fact that there is to he no re-
sumption OF the New Year reception
| long feature OF White House life dear
| to the heart of the WashinStonian he
| fore the administration OF President
| Wllsoh' because thousands OF Wash :
| inStonions in all walks CT life paid
! their respects to the leading citizen OF
| washington or that day, caused no
surprise in Washington last night.
| President Wilson never having held
such Il New Year reception. and being.
1t is understood. opposed to it.