Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-28
PRESIDENT GUEST
At ROYAL DINNER
IN BUCKINGHAM
Scenes of Gorgeousness Almost
Unequalled; All British Not
ables Meet the Wilson's.
SIS, 1000, 900 GOLD SERVICE

London. Dec. 2S.-No more regal
setting had ever been arranged IN Buck
mgham Palace than that which greeted
President W lson and Nrs Wilson when
thev were escorted into the banquet
hall last night for the state dinner
Every royal formalty which has at
tended epochal occasions at the palace
Cor two or three hundred years was carried
out before and during the banquet.
President Wilson with Queen Mary led
the procession into the dining hall,
preceded by officials Of the palace, splen-
didy costumed. bearing wands and walk
ing backward and making obelsanco 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 ROYAL TABLE
" the head of the table - persons
were seated. with King George IN the
middle President W llson sat at the
Kings right. and Mrs Wilson At his left.
To the night Of President Wilson was
Queen Marv. and then tho French Am
basssdor, Princess Christian, the Spanish
Ambassador and Prnccs Fatri,is,
daughter Of the Duke OF Con naught.
At Mrs Wilson's left sat Princes Mary.
and the japanese Amhassa dor. IN the
order named The American Ambassador.
John W DAVIS. had he first place at
side rectangular table on President
" ils0n : rgh;
Prior - the dinner President and Mrs
Wilson we're escorted from their apart
mcnts 10 the great white drawing room,
where tho royal family had gathered
with their other glcs,s. These guests
wcnr presented 10 President ana Mrs.
Wilson. and the dinner party immediately
proceeded e. the dining hall
pANQUET HALL = sCENE or sPLENDoR.
The scene as tho CUES Is proceeded %
the hall was one of splendor. In the
dining salon was a great collection of
sa,d goid plate and huge gold ornaments
y4uci al sl5.o0O00O These had been
brought from tho vaults for the occasion
enc of three Bullets contained pieces Of
plat. tio large az otherwise TOO cumber-
som, tor ~. These included one piece
81 great size taken from the wreck Of the
spanish Arnlada
III oolor tho gold-ladon table Blended
with The DECORATIONS IN th. halls, which
~ white and gold VIth CRIMSON carpet
and upholstcrlng to match he CRIMSON
eject Was further carried out hy the cN-
elusive dsc of poinsettiaS as floral decorA-
irons IN tho balcony - the end of the
Tcotn was y military orchestra. IL was
NOT hidden from view hN horal or other
decorations The attendants were IN
fun state dress. which sas heavy with
gold lace.
The banquet hall. which is 200 feet long
lry IS feet " dc, was approached hy the
guests through = state hallway apron
matelv block long, richly furnished and
decorated with paintings and porcelain
The banquet hall OCCASIONALLY ! used for
hanquets and other purposes and has =
throne AZ one end
The main table Vas arranged - thai
the backs 81 President wilson and hing
George were toward IN throne.
The permanent decorations seemed
stflklngly ~tnple when -Umparcd With
tho regal table The only ar on tho walls
ws.s one l,ohclin tapestry. On each side
SlX crt glass chandeliers hung from the
extremely hlgh celiinG hlt FOR the ban
duct tonight : eandles q gold candelntra
oach >urmouutec ly a piak sllk shade,
yvere used other light WaS obtained
from ianrl wal fixtures
H.LBtkDIERs u .TrENpaHcE.
The general body % IL, guests pre-
csded the roval family and he celdentlAl
and Alnh..ssadorlal guests luto 'hc han-
qu.t tall They rc~c and remained
standing while the main guests and the
hosts entered in PROGRESSION Heading
The processlon va fhc Iord 1'hamter!ain
and the Lord steward and other o4clals
N state rcgaha eu,aen 81 The Guard
IN red Ehzabethau costumes and with
halberis Vcrc 10 attendance
Queen Mar wore creaH-eolored
l,1Vu q slIl v.fh d long tram and fiari
~ diamond, and usr, other !esel> Nh
Wilson dress w. bisel V'h p1ugics
and vas made a. "a, Whit. Ho1s' She
,sorc very tcw JeWCls
The military and naval oscer- were
n service uniforms and vorc their ,Vords
In, Awha>eador- vcr. ir full tmhassa-
oars. IN foru. President Wilson and
tnlhas-adof Dtv.> vor. b. 4-la. formal
AIn.rcsu evening ciothee lhe Bru-h
C.e usu cIes'. vor or dr,es and h.
Insignia manv prieT
~ hls 4ddre-s of Vo.cori, ~ fne Pres
cent and Mr. Wilson hing G.cprcc cA-
T,r,,s-ed IN, hOic 'ha' >ome plan rlgh'
l. devised ~ which fhe rlsk q future
wars might - svertcG
IN, Pro idcn' IN hi- reply sald 'ha'
=. taa rousultec ;h' spokesmeu of the
Brltlsh Government ana those ~ France
and lialv and that o. uas glad - say
tha' he bad found them 20 be II accord
,.tt.,t-. - p ~, d4f of No nat