The Washington times., 1917-04-29
Jean .EL0T@
!. LETTER

It looked for a while as though the
ladies. on whose shoulders usually fall
most Of the burden Of entertaining were
to be excluded from participation In the
history-making functions in honor OF
the distinguished visitors from overseas
whose presence had made the week
memorable
The FIRST entertainments for them were
so purely official and so horribly. self
ishIy masculine. The feminine con-
tlngent, especially the ladies Of official
society, were disposed to be frankly
envious of Mrs. Wilson and Miss Bones.
the only ladies present at the White
House dinner for Mr.. Balfour and his
associates. and OF Miss Jeannette Ran
kin. who by virtue of her seat in the
House Of Representatives. attended Mr..
Lansing's reception at the Pan-Ameri-
can Building.
Women Get Innings at
Dinner Later.
However, in the last few days there
has been a change Of heart on the part
Of whoever has the entertaining Of the
lions in charge. There were ladies at
the White House dinner for the French
mission. Thursday evening at the Brit
ish embassy on Wednesday, at the
French embassy yesterday afternoon,
when the Ambassador and Nine. Jusse-
rand gave q brilliant reception for the
distinguished compatriots. Mr.. and
Mrs. William Phillips also included
number Of notable women in the guests
they entertained at luncheon at Wood
ley yesterday. for members Of the
French mission. Mr.. and Mrs. Breckin-
ridge Long will have ladies to meet mem-
bers Of both commissions tonight at the
Shoreham, and also there are ladies in
the party which set sail this morning
for Mt Vernon aboard the Mayfower,
with the Secretary 'of the Navy and
Mrs. Daniels as hosts
The dinner and reception at the
British embassy Wednesday evening,
the first function at which the ladies
came into thefr'own, was notable on
another score. 1t was the first large
entertainment given at the embassy
since the war broke out, and, more
over. one OF the most significant diplo-
matte gatherings in years.
GOld-Laeed Diplomats
Make Gay Showing.
All the diplomats were in uniform,
wearing their orders. and in poignant
contrast to their brilliant dress was
the somber khaki OF the British Of
ficers present. The women wore all
their jewels, many of them blossomed
out in new frocks-and new frocSs
have been scarce of late among the
women of the European nations at
war-even the hunkeys had new liv
cries for the occasion.
In short, there vas considerable
pOmp and ceremony about the recep-
ton There isn't much ceremony,
however, about Mr.. Balfour. who is
blessed with the most engaging smile
and a maner winning in the extreme.
on the day OF the arrival OF the Brit
ish mission got bo wand a smile
from Mr.. Balfour, as he passed by.
which I shall always treasure-every-
holy else in the motor with me
claimed 1t, but I know IT was meant
'for me.
Town Goes Mad on
Sight of JOffre.
II the town turned out en- masse to
greet the British mission, 1t went
mad when the French mission, with
VI. vivianI and Marshal Joffre-it was
Joffre, Joffre: always Joffre for whom
the people cried-arrived. Such blaz-
ing enthusiasm we shall not see
again until a victorious American sol
der comes back from France-Theo-
dore Roosevelt, mayhap. This was
"hands across the sea" with a VEN
geance.
Washington is Washington, and
there's no getting away from it. One
day during the week i watched the
members OF the British commission
departing in State from the MacVeagh
house to keep an official luncheon
engagement. Several handsome mo-
tors were drawn up along the curb. a
line of British statesmen in front OF
the house. They waited and waited.
Finally Mahomet had to go to the
mountain, the Britishers to trot down
the street to their cars.
Cause why? Because from one OF
the tumble-down darky shanties d.
rectly over the way from one OF the
handsomest houses the city boasts,
an aged gentleman of color and his
family were moving. Their house.
hold goods were piled high on TIE
sidewalk. overhowed into the street,