Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-28

son when they were escorted into the
! banquet hall tonight for the precedent
| breaking state dinner.
Besides the members of the royal fam
| lily, the official world was represented by
the foreign ambassadors to the court Of
St. James, the heads of the government
present and past chiefs of the army ane
navy, colonial officials and members Of
the royal household. There also were
present dignitaries Of the Church Of
England, representatives OF universities
and men high in the world Of literature
art and journalism.
Every Royal Formally.
Every royal formality 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 Queer
| hall, preceded by officials of the palace
| splendidly costumed, bearing wands and
| walking backward and making obei-
sance to the guests.
Immediately behind the President ano
the queen came King George and Mrs
Wilson. They were followed by men,
bers of the royal family.
President on Kings Right.
At the head of the table twelve
persons were seated. with King
George in the middle. President Will
son sat at the kings right and Mrs:
Wilson on his left. To the right OF
President Wilson was Queen Mary
and then the FRENCH G ambassador dor
bassador and Princess Patricia,
daughter of the Duke of Con-
naught At Mrs. Wilson's left sat
Princess Mary, the Italian ambassa-
dor, Princess Beatrice and the
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 draw
ing room, where the royal family had
gathered with their other guests,
These guests were presented to Presl-
dent and Mrs. Wilson, and the dinner
party Immediately proceeded to the
dining hall
Scene One of Splendor.
The scene was one of splendor. In
the dining salon was a great coliec-
ton of solid gold plate and huge gold
/
These had been brought from
the vaults for the occasion. One of
the buffets contained pieces Of plate
too large or otherwise too cumber-
some for use. These included. one
piece Of great size taken from the
In color tho gold-laden table blended
with the decorations in the hall.
which are white and gold. with Grim
son carpet and upholstering to match.
The crimson effect was further car
ried out by the exclusive use Of poin-
balcony at the end Of the room was
a military orchestra, 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 - feet wide, was approached
by the guests through state hall
way approximately block long.
richly furnished and decorated with
Daintings and porcelain. The banquet
hall occasionally is used for banquets
a nd other purposes and has throne
at one end.
Sat With Backs to Throne.
that the backs Of President Wilson
and King George were toward the
throne
strfkingly simple when compared with
the regal table. The only art on the
each side six cut-glass chandeliers
hung from the extremely high ceiling
but for the banquet tonight 133 can
dies in gold candelabra, each sur
mounted by a pink silk shade, were
used. Other light was obtained from
fancy wall fixtures.
The general body Of the guests pre-
coded the royal family and the presi-
Dental and ambassadorial guests into
the banquet hall. They arose and re-
manned standing while the main
guests and the hosts entered in pro-
cession. Leading the procession were
the lord chamberlain and the lord
steward and other officials in state re-
gala. Yeomen of the guard, in rec
1liZabethan costumes and with hal
herds. were in attendance.
Queen Mary's Costume.
An authorized description of the
gowns worn says Queen Mary's cos
tune was an evening robe Of gold cloth
cut very low. with the coFsage trimmed
with briIliants. Among the ornaments
diamonds which at various times had
been presented to the sovereign.
Ms. Wilson's gown is described as a
black velvet evening gown, of which
the only or at least the most noticeable
ornament was a very fine diamond
brooch.
The military and naval officers were
in service uniform and wore theil
swords. The basSadorS were in full
ambassadorial uniform. Presiden,
Wilson and Ambassador Davis wore
formal American evening clothes. The
British civilian guests wore court
dress and the insignia of many or
ders-
Guests at Banquet.
Those at the banquet were:
King George and Queen Mary
President and Mrs. Wilson, Princess
Mary, Prince Henry, Prince George
the Duke of Connaught, Prince Chris
tian. Princess Beatrice, Princess Pa
tricia of Connaught.
Admiral Grayson, Maj. Gen. Bidd1e
Brig. Gen. Harris, Lord Herschell
Sir Charles Gust. Paul Cambon, the
French ambassador; the Italian am
bassador and the Marchioness I'm
periali.
Alfonso Merry del Val. the Spanish
| ambassador: the Japanese ambassa-
dor and Viscountess Chinda. the
American ambassador and Mrs. Davis
Vice Admiral Sims. ]. Butler Wright
counselor of the American embassy
and Edward Bell, F. NJ. Gunther. r
f. Pennoyer and Z. c. Shoecraft, sec.
rstaries of the Am erican embassy.
David r. Francis. American am.
| bassador to Russia; r. B. Stevens o.