The Washington herald., 1918-03-10

herself to tell someone that she was
awfully sorry. but the tables were
all gone. Oh, of course she'd be de-
lighted to put them on the waiting
list. Or. If It was some intimate
personal friend-well. she'd already
sold that table to so-and-so. but she
didn't mind selling 1t over again II
they insisted-only they mustn't In
sist on occupying II, ALL OF the
time. or be disgruntled II they found
some one else installed! Then she'd
turn back and try to talk-only to
repeat the interruption ad infnitum.
I don't think the tables were very
successful. for nothing could be seen
from them. They were on the
standing in front Of them-(there
er)-obstructed their view of all
that was going on.
Back in the little village street, at
! 1870 when the White House party ar
rived. there was a motley array in all
sorts OF costumes, from straight even
ing dress to the most wildly camou-
faged imaginings, in the gaudiest pos
sible colors. OF course, the entrance
was alive with Secret Service men, as
per usual when the President and Mrs.
Wilson arrived, bringing with them
only a family party-also as per usual
consisting OF Mr.. and Mrs. Julian
Boiling. Miss Bones and Miss Benham.
As they stepped from the elevator
they were met by lines OF khaki-clad
| soldiers standing at attention, and es-
| corted to their box through a sort of
aisle Of camoufeurs-member OF Com
pany B, Fortieth Engineers, which IL
| now stationed at American University
| camp. on the outskirts OF Washing
| ton-ahd IL. I understand. the only
carnoufiage company on this side.
The soldiers in khaki. with bay
oneted guns. really looked very serious
and business like: almost enough 20 to
startle q nervous person. Perhaps that
was what happened to Mrs. Wilson,
for as she stepped out OF the elevator
she turned and beat q hasty retreat
back into 1t. But the truth Of the
matter. I think, was that some one,
perhaps one OF the horde Of detec-
| tives. stepped on the trail of her hand
some grey gown. The door Of the
elevator closed so quickly that we
couldn't be quite sure just what had
happened. But It did not remain
closed long, and the eager waiting
guests were soon rewarded by a sight
| Of the lovely First Lady Of the Land
and her perfectly fascinating smile.
| The Presidential party entered to
a fanfare of trumpets, and as they
| reached their box the band struck into
''The Star Spangled Banner" with. OF
course. everybody at attention. Then
they subsided, into their chairs, and
settled down to watch the fun at leis-
ure. There was curiously little visit
ing In the Presidential box. It Is the
first time I can remember seeing a
White House party at a ball that they
seemed to be there to see rather than
to be seen. 1t must have been some
thing OF a relief.
After little, lured by the sounds
OF merriment in the Midway, they
slipped quietly from their box and
made their way thither almost un-
noticed. and jostled and elbowed quite
recklessly by the dancera They
patronized everything-except Mrs
| Lewis's palm readIng-she has read
Mrs. Wilson'S palm-and stopped there
long enough to greet q good wilson
ian Senator's wife warmly. Mrs. Will
son slipped lemonade. and the Presi-
dent saw the invisible ship, and, yes,
1t will delight the world to know-he
swatted the Kaiser! Then the party
slipped out, almost unnoticed. II the
size Of the bill which the President
slipped into the palm of Sergt. Wells,
when he left the small ballroom. ex-
pressed how much fun he had there
no one had better time than he, OF
that I am sure.
They did not stay long, but Il was
something that they came at all. 1t
! w. II memory serves, the first time
that President Wilson has attended
anything SO frivolous as a fancy dress
pail Probably his doing It last night
staged" by q unit Of his army.
staged Is the right word, for It hap
pens that the Camouflage COMPANY
that arranged the ball. was recruited
almost entirely from the big producinr
movie studios of California. and IA
made up Of men who are experts AZ
! making something look like sornethins
quite different. Oh-before she gets
quite out Of sight-Mrs. Wilson wore
the lovely gray tafreta and tulle gown,
with silver embroideries, and wide.
heavy silver lace bandings. that has
only been seen once before this sea-
son-at the Southern relief ball She
wore with It the same diamond tiara,
which Is distinctly more sumptuous
than anything else IN the jewelry line
| that have ever seen on her-and
she carried big plnlxy-purpie feather
IAN and wore orchids to match. I'm
wondering whether she is going to
| take up the fad for peacock feather
fans that seems to have hit New York
rather hard this winter, or Is she su-
perstitious? \.
| 1t was a cusiously unofficial party,
for one that the President elected
to attend. don't think there was
single member Of the cabinet, or
any one Of their wives present. In
fact the only members of any of the
cabinet families that I saw were the
sailor sous Of the Secretary Of the