The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-05
Southern Relief
Ball Attended
ByGeatG o4vd
BY JEAN ELIOT.

1t was a big ball, a brilliant bali,
highly successful ball, for the
world, his wife, his sisters and his
cousins and his aunts were there;
but somehow It didn't seem quite like
the time-honored Southern Relief Ball
The war-which has a lot to answer
for these days-was responsible, no
doubt, the war which has brought to
Washington thousands of striking
looking. smartly clad men and women
from all over the United states. They
were quite numerously present, strlk-
ing a note Of progressiveness and
modsrnity in contrast TO the fine,
ante-bellum key which usually char
! acterizes the annual ball OF the
Southern Relief Society.
Not that the conservative Southern
element was lacking, the element
which has only been Reconstructed"
since the blue and the gray have
been fighting under one Tag in
France. Dear me, no! There were
scores OF dainty little ladies present,
whose rare old laces and quaint jewels
are only brought from their wrap
pings for one ball year, and that
the Southern Relief; and the gray OF
the Confederate uniform, the pathetic
livery of a lost cause, mingled with
the olive drab and blue OF the army
and navy OF today, and the more
striking uniforms OF our allies.
Monster Crowd.
This was the conversation I over
heard as entered the doorway:
Crowded! Why, my dear, believe
there are more people here than there
were at the Charity BALI" and in
answer. "of course, there are. It's
a bigger crowd than Billy Sunday
brings to the tabernacle"
But let's go back and begin at the
beginning. The time was last night,
from o o'clock until we'll after2 when
the strains OF Home, Sweet Home"
sent the last dancers scurrying' for
home. The place was the willard.
And the Eirl--well, there were pretty
girls enough to make the custom,
sacred to the Southern Relief Ball,
OF selecting the prettiest girl at the
party, an impossible task.
Presidents Party Early.
The President and Mrs. Wilson, ac-
companied by Mrs. William II. Bolt
ing, Miss Bertha Boiling, Mr.. and
Mrs. Julian Boiling, and Miss Edith
Benham, arrived early, stayed late.
and. apparently, had a very agreeable
time. Mrs. Wilson, who Is partial TO
black evening frocks, was gowned in
gray last evening, a becoming cos
tune OF taffeta brocaded in silver,
combined with tulle and outlined
about the decoltaEe with brilliants.
She wore a diamond cornet and, by
way of the note OF color she affects
carried an orchid feather fan and had
a cluster Of orchids pinned on her
shoulder. She carried during the
evening q sheaf OF roses and violets,
the gift OF the Southern Relief So
ciety.
Miss Margaret Wilson and Mist
Helen Woodrow Bones were guests al
the ball, coming on from the dinner
which Senator and Mrs. Key Pittmsn
gave. They remained part OF the
evening with Senator and Mrs. Pitt
man, who had in their box the Vice
President and Mrs. Marshall, Nm. |
Riano, wife of the Spanish ambass1-
dor; Mai. Gen. and Mrs. George Bar
nett, and others OF their dinner party, !
later Joining AR. and Mrs. John Skel- |
ton Williams. The Williams also had
a box party. with the Secretary OF the |
Treasury and Mrs. McAdoo among
BuGSNs. -llSS W llSDl lt4L viii
the White House party, but Miss |
Bones, who loves to dance and who is |
a great belle, remained until the esG |
Of the evening.
Some of the Box Holders
Will you have some OF the box
holders-always important person
ages at a charity ball-and their T,
guests9 1 can't give you all OF them !
for they were so numerous that ex-
tr[s boxes had to be put in wherever !
corner offered space. The Diplo- I
matte Corps was well represented. !
The Minister OF Colombia and Nine. {
Urueta had the Iatter's sisters, Senior +.
tia Ines Tribe and Senorita Julia !
Tribe, in TER box. The Minister OF :
Salvador and Nine. Zaldivar and the ,
iatter's sister, Princess GhikR, were /
guests OF William L. Fowler, who /
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES