The Washington herald., 1918-01-06
-Copydsht b. Hsris Ewina

and his family are all very human
any way. Nothing delights the Presi-
dent more than to give his body guard
slip and get out of the White House
without their knowing It. But he
never manages to get very far be-
fore some of them catch up with him.
Last Thursday afternoon he, with
Mrs. Wilson, stole away for a walk
through the business section OF the
city as they like to do occasionally.
but the detectives were not far be-
hind.
Americas first year in the world
war has solidified certain changes,
making Interchangeable impressions up
on society in Washington for the fu-
ture. Fashionable traditions which
dominated and narrowed the social
point of view have been wiped out
Those traditions of caste designated
as the fashionable set" had become
rigid, II unwritten, laws. From the
first month of the war this recon-
struction has showed Itself.
1t was in August, 1914, when New
port, whose society rules in several
cities, stopped in the midst of its
midsummer gayety to find out what
society should do. The result was
fete which dumped thousands of
dollars into the treasury of the Red
Cross. But soon the old barrier be-
gan to come down. Society stepped
out into the open and demanded CO.
operation of all classes in war relief
work. Through the succeeding months
millions have been raised, people Of
all classes working together.
Thus into the melting pot of hu-
manitarianism went the first Of the
old-fashioned rules. Since then So
ciety has been continually broaden
ing until today It has no distinct line
Of demarcation. The right of indi-
viduaI worth Is displacing the old
order of inherited position and the
closest students of fashionable change
agree that the old order has gone for
good.
Society's aspect is almost diamet-
rically opposed to that Of a year
ago. Then there were not hours
enough in the day and night to ac-
commodate its dances and parties
for its debutantes. Now society
dances only for war relief and the
debutantes have to forego formal in
Productions.
The same is true in New York
and other cities. New York society
opened the year 1917 with dance
by Col. and Mrs. Cornelius Wander
bilt at their old home In Fifth ave-
nue. for their daughter. Miss Grace
Vanderbilt, who was to have been
a debutante this season, and for the
first time in a decade the Astor
homestead in Fifth avenue was the
scene OF a brilliant ball given by
Mr.. and Mrs. Vincent Astor for her
debutante sister, Miss Alice Ford
Huntington. A thousand friends
were there.
A few months later Col Wander
bilt marched down Fifth avenue at
the head OF the Twenty-second En-
gineers on his way to Camp wads-
worth. spartanbufg, s. c., where now
he is commander. of the 102d Engi-
neers. Marching behind him was his
son, PriYate Cornelius Vanderbilt,
now, although under age, serving at
Camp Wordsworth in the headquar-
ters troop.
And now Vincent Astor Is an en-
SABh Al thS scENiCc OI lnc BONeEnInent
on the high seas and his wife now is
working for the soldiers and sailors
in France. Her sister is Mrs. Charles
II. Marshall, whose husband is in
the. aviation service. They were iv-
ing here for a while.
Those incidents are eloquent of the
change which society everywhere has
undergone in the year. Nevertheless,
Col. and Mrs. Vanderbilt gave a small
dance, some 125 guests, this New
Years Eve for their son and daugh-
ter at their home in New York
A recent visitor to Camp wadsworth
lately tells an amusing story about
the colonel andAhis son.
Private Vanderbilt, accustomed
to an unlimited supply of money, is
finding it very difficult TO manage
with the $40 amonth pay which the
government gives him as a private
In the army. The visitor happened
to be passing by when Private
Vanderbilt met his father, Col.
Vanderbilt in one of the camp
streets and asked him for some
money. stating that he was with
out funds. In loud tones so that
many nearby heard. the colonel