The Washington times., 1917-02-06
Affair Surpasses Those of Other
Years Financially and
ArtisticalIy.
PROMINENT PERSONS THERE
Both Willard Bathrooms Are
coIorfuI Scene During
Dancing.

The Southern Relief Society needs
no instruction in the gentle art of
combining business with pleasure. As
always, its annual ball, given last
evening at the Willard and attended
by several thousand guests, was a
huge success financially and as a bril-
liant, colorful spectacle it measured
up to the high standard set by the
many notable functions to the credit
of the society.
Not even the absence of the Pres
fdent and Mrs. Wilson, who were ex-
pected up to the last minute and
whose absence was due to the sudden
stress of official business connected
with the historic developments of the
last few days, could measurably de-
tract from the success of the evening.
OffIciaIdom Represented.
officialdom was well represented
by the Vice President and Mrs. Mar
shall. the Secretary OF State and Mrs.
Lansing, the Secretary Of War and
Mrs. Baker, the Secretary of the Navy
and Mrs. Daniels and many other no.
tables.
The Vice President and Mrs Mar
shall took their places for q time at
the head OF the receiving line. When
this broke up they were escorted to
the Presidential box, flag decked and
rallied about with blooming plants,
from which they looked down with in
terest on the shifting throng, which
filled both ball rooms and overflow
ed into the corridors of the ball room
suite.
A FrieEe Of SmiIaI.
A frieze of Southern smilax about
the great ball rooms, tall palms to
bank the corners-the decorations
were simple but most effective; and
the braces Of flags over the boxes
and at the ends OF the room were in
keeping with the contagious patriotic
spirit which prevailed. Supper was
served at midnight in the supper
room on the ground floor.
Handsome women in bright colored
gowns-belying the much discussed
shortage OF dyes-and little Southern
lasses in the simplest of evening
frocks; elderly gentlemen, whose
courtly manners were reminiscent of
an older generation, and statesmen
whose minds must have been seeth-
ing with the momentous problems OF
today; little ladies who venture sell
dom into the great world of society
and bejeweled dowagers to whom So
ciety is the one great interest In
life-all these mingled shoulder to
shoulder among the dancers. ="
CoIorfuI Scene.
To the spectator the effect was one
of colorful hrilliance and piquant in
terest. Theater bonnets of silver or
gold lace, some pretty and some-well,
startling, were everywhere IN evil
dence, a fashion seldom seen at the
other balls of the season; and 1 no
ticed scores of the great, gay feather
fans which are being so much used
this year. Scarlet, green, burnt or
ange and blue, they gave accent to
the already gay scene.
Miss Edith Temple Oracle, who
shared with Miss Amy Bennett the
distinction of being adjudged by c.
w. De Lyon Nichols, of New York,
Washington's most beautiful girl, car
ried a French blue fan, which she
used most gracefully. Her gown was
black, and she wore a corsage bou-
Quet Of orchids and lilies OF the valley.
Made Presentations.
r. D. Shepherd stood first at the
entrance door and made the presenta-
tions to Miss Mamie Randolph Heth,
president of the Southern Relief. She
presented the guests to the Vice Presi-
dent, who introduced them to, his
wife. Mrs. Lansing stood next to
Mrs. Marshall, then Miss Mary -Custis
Lee took that place for a short while.
Mrs. William L. Marshall, wife of the
chief Of engineers, retired: Mrs. James
A. Mulcare, division president of the
United Daughters of the Confederacy,
and Mrs. Delos A. Blodgett completed
the party.
Mrs. Marshall wore a gown of black
brocaded in gold made short and
bouffant, with a tight-itting bodice
OF white lace embroidered in gold,
over pale pink, and carried a beauti-
ful fan of shaded pink ostrich feath-
ers. Mrs. Lansing wore white lace
over cloth of silver, the lace thickly
studded with crystals and pearls.
Mrs. Daniels was in cloth of silver.
Vetled with silver incrusted tulle
with train OF the cloth of silver, but
arrived after the line was broken, as
she had entertained the President and
Mrs. Wilson at dinner.
Committee ChaIrmen.
Much OF the great success of the
ball is due to the efforts of Mrs. Fran
els II. Chisholm, chairman Of the hall