Evening journal., 1918-12-28
WILSON'S GUESTS
AT REGAL DINNER
Every Royal Formality At
tends Precedent-breaking
Function in London
PRESIDENT ESCORTS
ENGLAND'S QUEEN


ingham Palace than that which greeted
President Wilson and Mrs. Wilson
when they were escorted into the ban
quet hall last night for the precedent
breaking state dinner.
Every royal formalty which had at
tended epochal occasions at the palace
for two or three hundred years was
carried out before and during the ban
quet President Wilson with Queen
Mary led the procession into the dining
hall, preceded by officials Of the palace
splendidly costdmed, bearing wands
and walking backwards and making
obeisance to the guests.
Immediately behind the President and
the Queen came King George and Mrs.
Wilson. They were7followed by mem
bers Of the royal family.
At the head Of the table ~ persons
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 VIII
son was Queen Mary and then the
French Ambassador, Princess Christian,
the Spanish Ambassador and Princess
Patricia, daughter of the Duke OF Con-
naught. At Mrs. Wilson's left sat
Princess Mary, the Italian Ambassador,
Princess Beatrice and the japanese Am
bassadOr in the order named. The
American Ambassador, John w. Davis,
had the FIRST place at a side rectangular
table on President Wilson's right.
Prior to the dinner, President and
Mrs. Wilson were escorted from their
apartments to the great white drawing
room, where, the royal family had
gathered with their other guests. These
guests were presented TO President and
Mrs. Wilson, and the dinner party i'm
mediately proceeded to the dining hall.
The scene was one of splendor. In the
dining salon was great collection or
solid gold plate and huge gold Orna-
ments valued at Si5,000I0O0. These had
been brought from the vaults for the
occasion. One Of three buffets contained
pieces OF plate too large or otherwise
too cumbersome for use. These in
cluded 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 car
pet and upholstering to match. The
crimson effect was further carried out
by the exclusive use of poinsettas as
floral decorations. In the balcony at the
end OF the room was a military orches-
ira not hidden from view by floral or
other decorations. The attendants were
in full state dress, which was heavy
with gold lace.
The banquet hall, which is 200 feet
long by 20 feet wide, was approached by
the guests through a state hallway ap-
prOximately a block long, richly fur
nished and decorated with paintings
and pOrcelaine. The banquet hall oc-
casionally is used for banquets and
other purposes, and has a throne at one
end
The main table was arranged so that
the backs Of President Wilson and King
Geo ge We're toward the throne.
The permanent decorations seemed
strikingly simple when compared with
the regal table. The only art on the
walls was one Gobelin tapestry. On
each side six cut-glass chandeliers hung
from the extremely high ceiling, but
for the banquet ton ght 1913 candles in
gold candelabra, each surmounted by a
pink silk shade. We're used. Other light
The general body Of the guests pre-
ceded the royal family and the presi-
dental and ambassadOrial guests into
the banquet hail They rose and re-
ma ned standing while the main guests
and the hosts entered in procession.
Heading the procession was the iord
and the lord steward and
other officials in state regalia. Yeomen
of the guard in red Elizabethan cos
tunes and with halberds were in at
tendance.
The guests at the banquet were:
King George and Queen Mary, Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson, Princess Mary,
Prince Henry, Prince George. the Duke
of Connaught, Princess Christian, Prin-
cess Beatrice, Princess Patricia, Of
Admiral Grayson, Major General BID
die, BTigadler General Harts, Lord Her
schell. Sir Charles Gust, Paul CambOn,
the French Ambassador; the Italian Am
bassador and the Marchioness Imperial.
Alfonzo Merry del Val, the Spanish
the Japanese Ambassador
and ViscOuntess China; the American
Ambassador and Mrs. Davis, Vice Ad-
mral Sims, j. Butler Wright, counselor
of the American embassy, and Edwa. Il
Bell. F. NJ Gunther, r. E. Pennoyer and
E. C. Shoecraft, secretaries Of the Ameri-
can embassy.
David r. Francis, American ambas-
sador to Russia: r. B. Stevens, of the
American Shipping Board; Colonei Endi~
colt. of the American Red Cross; Cor
don. Miss Benham, secretary 90 Mrs.
Colonel S. H. Slyocum. mill
tary attache Of the American Embassy.
The Archbishop Of Canterbury, the
of York, Lord Chancellor
Finlay, Premier Lloyd Chorge, Earl
Curzon. the Marquis Of Crewe. the Earl
Of Reading British Ambassador TO the
United States; the Earl Of Crawford,
The Maharajo of Blkaner, Viscount Mil
ner. Lord Haidane. Viscount Bryce,
Field Marshal Viscount French. Vls-
count Northcliffe, Viscount Jellicoe. Wis
count Cave. Lord Robert Cecil, the
Bishop of London, Lord Rayleigh, Lord.
Burnham, Lord Harding, Lord Weir.
Speaker Lowther, A. ]. Balfour. Walter
Hume Long and former Premier As
Iuith.
,eived by the Rev. and Mrs. ]. r. Blck-
ng, Chorister James E. Challenger.
0rganists Mrs. James CHALLENGER and