The Washington times., 1917-01-16
JEAN ELIOT TELLS
OF CHARITY BALL
Hardy Annual" at Willard
Great Success, Though the
Crowd Was Not So Big.
USUAL EccENTRIcs ABSENT
Throng Of. Distinguished Men
and WeII-Dressed Women
Give Private Aspect.

The charity ball .fr the Children's
Hospital, 'hardy annual" and always
one Of the gayest affairs of the winter
season, was at its gayest last evening,
and seldom has the great ball room
Of the Willard housed more interest
ing company. To be sure, the crowd
seemed smaller than usual, which may
have been q bit discnuraging to the
organizers OF the ball but it made II
all the nicer for those who were there.
Although the koor'wa filled anO
well filled -throug4out the evening, at
no time was dancing made difficult
BY the crowd, and IN the supper room
there were seats for all without the
usual wait.
No Eeeentries There.
Moreover, there was a conspicuous
absence Of the odd looking and eccen-
trically clad persons who usually flock
to such semt-public functions, and the
throng OF distinguished men and smart
women in handsome gowns had all the
air OF brilliant private ball.
or course, the President and Mrs.
Wilson were there. No charity ball
has been quite complete in many years
without the presence OF the Chief
Executive They came ION from the
dinner the Secretary of the Treasury
and Mrs. McAdoo gave in their honor,
they occupied the big state box at one
side OF the ball room, and they stayed
until long after midnight, displaying
. keen interest in the ever shifting
scene below them.
white House Party.
Afrx. Wilson's mother, Mrs. Boiling,
who came in on the arm Of Col. w. w.
Harts, the Presidents aide; her sister,
Miss Boiling; Miss Helen Woodrow
Bones and Miss Edith Benham were in
the White House party. They were
Joined shortly by Secretary and Mrs.
McA6oo, Or. and Mrs. Cary Grayscn
and Vance Mccormick, and received
many a distinguished caller In their
box during the evening. Mrs. Wilson's
EoWn9 Why, black velvet trimmed
with. many strands OF crystal beads.
and she carried great sheaf Of pink
roses and orchids,
Secretary and Mrs. McAdoo. the lat
ter in becoming blue frock. fingered
late among the dancers, and es was
IeaYfng-after the band played Home,
Sweet Home,'-I saw Miss Bones wait
ing under the portico for her machine.
Ban at Its Height.
Itwas while the ban was at its height
that, the President and his party ar
rived, and a. the members Of the floor
committee were rnafshaling the guests
TO form an aisle for their entrance I
heard one pompous Individual exclaim.
: Put the men in front. put the men in.
front" DID he think, I wonder. that
in their black coats and buttonhole
bouquets they made, a more imposing
array, or did he fear there were suf-
fragists concealed in the ranks Of fem
mime guests?
The boxes, with their crimson hang
ings, made picturesque background for
many a gay party. Nine. Christian
Hauge, who looked like the veriest girl
in her French blue tulle froch. hadl
the big one next the Presidents and
had among her guests the Spanish am
bassador and Nine. Riano. Mrs. Chand-
Ter Anderson. Senator-elect and Mrs.
Peter Goelet Gerry, Mrs. Larz Ander-
son, Mrs. J. Borden Hartman and Mr..
Constantinidi, OF the Greek legation.
Stunning Gown.
Mrs Gerry danced and danced, and
in her stunning gown Of silver bro
eade made a lovely picture on the
floor. Charming little Mrs. william
a Slater, jr, who was so much the
rage in Washington last winter, was
with Mr.. and Mrs. Aksel wichfeld in
their box, and I also saw Miss Anne
Tracey. J. Pierpont Morgan's young
kinswoman, who was here in the
spring attending the National Service
School at Chevy Chase.
In q certain corner box, which
seemed to be a magnet for the men 1
saw at one time Or another, Mr.. and
Mrs. Warren Delano Robbins, Miss
Julia Meyer, her sister; Mrs. Raymond
Rodgers, whose lovely cloth of silver
gown had. a very chic garniture of
beaded roses; Miss Eleanora Morgan,
and Gerald May.
Mrs. George Barnett wore one of
the loveliest costumes of the evening,
a trained gown Of corn-colored satin,
beaded in black and gold in an efab-
crate and graceful design Of palm
leaves.
Guests Of FahnestOck.
With General Barnett and her sis
ter, Mrs. Henry Muslin, she was the
guest of Mr.. and Mrs. Gibson Fahne-
stock. DIR. Charles Clinton NSwisher
was also in the party.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Mcclellan Rit-
ter had a box party, their guests in
GLIDING Mr.. and Mrs. Frank z. John
son, Mr.. and Mrs Murray Cobb, and
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Spencer. Mrs.
Ritter wore q most becoming frock