The sun., 1918-12-28
WILSON DINED
IN REGAL STATE
Gold Plate Worth S15.OOO,OOO
sed at Kings Feast to
Honor President.
FOREIGN ENJOYS THERE
Leading Men of All Walks Of
British Life Participate'in
Function.

LONDON, Dec. 27.-President Wilson's
second day in England was quieter
than the first day. The only ceremon-
ial event was a state banquet in Buck
ingham Palace tonight, which was
notable not only as a spectacle such as
probably no other court in Europe can
provide the setting for, but the repre-
sentative character OF the men sum-
moned to meet the head of the Ameri-
can Government.
Beside the members of the Royal
Family the official world was repre-
sented by the Amba ssador 10 the
Court Of st. James's, the heads of the
Of the army and navy. colonial officials
and members Of the royal household.
There also were present dlgnitaries of
the Church OF England, representatives
of universities and men high in the
worlds OF literature. art and Journalism
Royal FormaIities Followed.
Every royal formality which has
attended epochal occasions at the
palace for two or three hundred
years was carried out before and dur
ing the banquet. President Wilson,
with Queen Mary, led the procession
into the dining hail, preceded by off,
cials of the palace splendidly cos
TUNED. bearing wands and walking
backward and making obeisance to
the guests.
Immediately behind the President and
the Queen came King George and Mrs.
Wilson. They were followed by members
of the royal family.
At the head of the table twelve per-
sons were seated. with King George in
the middle. President Wilson sat at the
Kings right and Mrs. Wilson on his left.
To the right OF President Wilson was
Queen Mary and then the French Ambas-
sador. Princess Christian the Spanish
Ambassador and Princess Patricia.
daughter of the Duke OF Connaught
At Mrs Wilson's left sat Princess
Mary, the Italian Ambassador Princess
Beatrice and the Japanese Ambassador
in the order named. The American Am
bassador. John W. Davis, had the first
place at side rectangular table on
President Wilson's right.
Escorted 10 Drawing Room.
Prior TO the dinner President and Mrs.
Wilson were escorted from their apart
ments to the great white drawing room,
where the royal family had gathered
with their other guests. These guests
were presented To President and Mrs
tTfNF1 NaiIl ltfsls
moved TO the dining hall.
The scene as the guests proceeded 20
the hall was one OF splendor. In the din
ing salon was great collection OF solid
gold plate and huge gold ornaments val
ued at Sl5.000.O0O. These had been
brought from the vaults for the occasion
one Of three btI:fets contained pieces OF
plate too large or otherwise too cumher-
some for use. These included one piece
Of great size taken from the wreck OF
the Spanish Armada.
In color the gold laden table blended
with the decorations in the hall, which
are white and gold with crimson carpet
and upholstering to match. The crimson
effect was further carried out by the
exclusive use of poinsettias as floral dec
8
the room was "A military orchestra. It
was not hidden from view by floral or
other decorations. The attendants were
in full state dress, heavy with gold lace
wilson's Back 10 Throne.
Phe banquet hall, 200 feet long by
seventy-fivc feet wide, was approached
nv the guests through a state hallway
approximately a block long, richly fur
nishcd and decorated with paintings and
porCclain. The banquet hall occasion
ally is used FOR banquets and other pur-
noses. and has throne at one end
The main table was arranged so that
the backs OF President Wilson and King
George were toward the throne.
The permanent decorations seemed
strikingly simple when compared with
the regal table. The only art object on
the walls was one Gobelin tapestry ON
each side six cut glass chandeliers hung
from the very high, ceiling; but for the
banquet tonight 12S candles in gold
candeiabra, each surmounted by PINK
Continued on Second Page.