South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-28
PRESIDENT IS
DINNER GUEST Of
BRITISH KING
No More Regal Sitting Ever
Arranged Than That Which
Greeted American Chief
At Banquet Hall.

LONDON, Dec. 2S.-No more
regal setting ever has been arranged
in Buckingham palace than that
which greeted Pres't Wilson and
Mrs Wilson when they were escort
ed into the banquet hall last night
for the precedent-breaking state
dinner
Every royal formaIit! which had
attended epochal occasions at the
palace for two or three hundred
years was carried out before ana
during the banquet. Pres't Wilson
with Queen Mary led the procession
into the dining hall, preceded by Of
ficials of the palace, splendidly COS
TUNED, bearing wands and walking
backwards and making obeisance to
the guests.
Immediately behind The president
and queen came King George and
Mrs. Wilson. They were followed
by members Of the royal family.
Twelve at Head OF Table.
At the head Of the table Il per-
sons were seated. with King George
in the middle. Pres't Wilson sat al
the kings right and Mrs. Wilson on
his left. At the right O. Pres't VIII
son was Queen Mary and then tn"
French am bassa dor. Princess Chris
tian, the Spanish ambassador and
Princess Patricia. daughter Of tn
duke OF Connaught. vt Mrs VIII
sons left sat Princess Mary. the
italian am bas sador, Princess Bea-
trice and the Japanese ambassador.
in the order named. The American
ambassador, John W. Davis, had the
first place at a side rectangular
table on Pres't wilson's right.
Prior to the dinner Pres't Wilson
and Mrs. Wilson were escorted from
their apartments 10 the great white
drawing room. where the royal
family had gathered with other
guests. These guests we're present
ed to Pres't and Mrs. Wilson and
the dinner party immediately pro-
ceeded TO the dining hall
Scene One Of Spicndor.
The scene was one OF spiendOr. IN
the dining salon was a great collec-
ton Of solid gold plate and huge
gold ornaments, valued at 1909.
100000. These had 0een brought
from the vaults for the occasion
one Of three buffets contained pieces
Of plate too large or otherwise too
cumbersome for use. These in
cluded one piece o. great size taken
from the wreck of the Spanish
armada.
In color the gold laden table
blended with the decorations in the
hall. which are white md gold with
crimson carpet and upholstering to
match.
The crimson effect was further
carried out by the exclusive use OF
poinsettas as floral decorations. In
the balcony at the end OF the room
was a military orchestra hidden
from view by floral and other deco
rations. The attendants were IT.
full state dress. which was heavy
with gold lace.
The banquet han, which j. 200
feet long by - feet wide. was APP
preached by the guests through
state hallway approximately block
long. richly furnished and deco
rated with paintings and porcelain.
The banquet hall occasionally is
used for banquets and other pur-
poses. and has a throne at one end
Wilson's Back Toward Throne.
The main table was arranged so
that the backs Of Pres't Wilson and
King George We're toward tho
throne
The permanent decorations seem
I'd strikingly simple when compared
with the regal table. The only are
on the walls was the sobelin tapes
try ON each side six cut glass