The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-28
Every Royal Formality Car ried Out Before and Dur ing Precedent Breaking State Dinner Arranged for President
Ky Associated Press

London, December 27.--No more regal setting ever had been arranged in Buckingham palace than that which greeted President Wilson and Mrs. Mil son when they were escorted into the hanquet hall tonight for the precedent breaking state dinner.
 Every royal formality which had at- tended epochal occa sions at the palace for POO or 300 years was carried out be- fore, and during the banquet President Wilson with Queen Mary led the process sion into the dining hall, preceded by officials of the palace splendidly cos tuned. bearing wands and walking back wards and making obeisance to the guests.
 Immediately behind the President and the Queen came King George and Mrs Wilson. They were followed by mem bers of the royal family.
 At the head of the table 12 persons were seated, with King George in the middle. President Wilson sat at the Kings right and Mrs Wilson on his left. To the right of President Wilson was Queen Mary and then the French ambas- sador Princess Christian, the Spanish ambassador and Princess Patricia, daugh- ter of the Duke of Connaught. At Mrs. Wilson's left sat Princess Mary, the Ital- inn ambassador. Princess Beatrice and the Japanese ambassador in the order named The American ambassador, John W, Davis. had the first place at side rectangular table on President Wilson's 8 right.
 GUESTS PRESENTED
 Prior to the dinner President and Mrs Wilson were escorted from their apart ments to the great white drawing room. where the royal family had gathered with their other guests. These guests were presented to President and Mrs. Wilson and the dinner party immediately proceeded to the dining hall
 The scene was one of splendor. In the dining salon was great collection or solid gold plate and huge gold orna- ments valued at $l5,O00,U0l. These had been brought from the vaults for the occasion One of three buffets contained pieces of plate too large or otherwise too cumbersome for use. These included one piece of 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 and gold with crimson car pet and upholstering to match. The crimson effect was further carried ouS by the exclusive use, of poinsettias as floral decorations,
 In the balcony at the end of the room was a military orchestra. not hidden The attendants were in full state dress, which was heavy with gold lace
 THRONE IN HALL
 The banquet hall, which is 200 feet long by 75 feet wide, was approached by the guests through state hallway approxi- matelY a block long, richly furnished and decorated with paintings and porce- lain The banquet hall occasionally is used for banquets and other purposes, and has throne at one end < The main table was arranged so that the backs of President Wilson and King George were toward the throne
 The permanent decorations seemed strikingly simple when compared with the regal table. On each side six cut glass chandeliers hung from the ex- tremely high ceiling, but for the ban quet tonight l2S candles in gold cande. labra. each surmounted by pink silk shade, were used. Other light was ob- tained from fancy wall fixtures. The general body of the guests preceded the royal family and the presidential and ambassadorial guests into the banquet hall They rose and remained stand ing while the main guests and the hosts entered in procession, Heading the pro- cession was the lord chamberlain and the lord sterrrd and other officials in state regalia- Yeomen of the guard in red
 (Csntinued on Pare stxy