The Washington times., 1918-01-13
by JEAN ELIOT.


people"
This was the amiable plaint of
young foreigner at the cnarity bali
at the Willard last evening. And ''it'
was. entirely TOO much people" for
comforts sake and the pleasure Of
seeing ones friends and ;be possibil-
| ity of dancing IAN everything" But
consider the charity-the popular
ChiIdren's HospitaI-snd what would
you?
! BESIDES. the crowd was quite the
most typical Washington crowd I've
seen this winter. everybody in town.
my dear" besides hundreds OF attrac-
| tive-IookinS people new l. town and
| gOodIy sprinkling Of one ;ime famil-
| lars whose faces have long been miss
| ing from such scenes in Washington.
Boaz Long. for instance. American
minister to Salvador. who is home on
leave. and who hadn't danced step
| in two years until tonight | submit
that he didn't do much dancing in
that jam. but he held reception all
his own and appeared to be having
! an excellent time.
President and Wife Present.
The President and Mrs. Wilson
| were among those presen.," and the
knowledge that they were to be there
doubtless helped swell the attendance.
| just as their presence ga"c fllip of
interest to the festivities We chanced
| to be downstairs in the LOBBY waiIIns
| for the elevator, an interminable wait.
| too. when the President and the
White House party arrived and | was
tremendously interested % see the
careful preparations which heralded
his coming.
4 group OF Secret Service men who
preceded him by at least half an hour
Kept an eye on every man and woman
who entered or left the lobby in that
| time.
The Marine Band, an indefatigable
band. which didn't stop to draw
| breath all evening, played Hail To
he Chief" as the Presidential party
entered the ballroom through lines
| of army and navy Officers, standing
/ at attention. "'The Star-Spangled
| Banner" was reserved for later In the
evening. and was intended TO herald
he Presidents departure. He, how
ever. refused to take the hint, and re-
mained standing until the national
anthem was played twice through.
Then he left, followed by a burst 81
hand-clspping, which was evidently
well intended but a bit out OF place.
One doesn't applaud the exit" of
star save for the possibility of an
| encore"
President Enjoys Party.
Certainly this was no sign of RELIEF
at the departure OF the Chief Execu-
tive: for, although he never takes a
turn about the floor as President
Taft used frequently to do, President
Wilson Is the most affable person
possible at a party, and always ap-
pears tc be enjoying himself and to
take pleasure in the enjoyment OF
others. Last evening appeared to be
an especially agreeable occasion. for
after the President and Mrs. Wilson
were comfortably seated in their box
| they had a stream of interesting Vis-
itors Mrs Mahlon Pitney, wife of
Justice Pftney and chairman OF the
ball committee, sat chatting with
them for a long time, and among
oilers who dropped in" were Brig.
Ger. J. ID. McLachlan, d. S. On
blue dress uniform, II you please.
instead of the usual British service
drab-miIitary attache of the British
embassy. and Commodore Guy Gaunt,
the British naval attache, who were
guests in a neiEhboring box.
Mrs Francis Bowers Sayre. wearing
simple, but becoming, pale yellow
frock, was in the White House party.
Also Miss Bertha Boiling. in black,
and Miss Edith Benham. whose gown
was OF emerald green. Mrs. Wilson
wore lovely gown OF black velvet
and jet, the trimming applied In
panels and forming almost the entire
bodice. She wore a coronet OF jet and
carried a gray feather fan.
Flags of All Allies.
Decorations? Well. the flags OF the
allies were used and just enough
greens to make an effective pack
ground. Supper? Mr.. Hoover must
have been consulted about this for
the usual elaborate charity ball menu
was cut to ice cream and coffee, serv-
ed buffet fashi-1, and one hear~ .Iints
that the ice cream was giving out, all
same like q Sunday school picnic.
Gowns? I'll have to beg that ques-
ton, for you know I'm a duffer when
IL comes to clothes and besides the
crowd was so thick ] could hardly
see what anybody had on. | only
! know the general effect was that of
an exceedingly Eood-looking we'll
/ gOwncd asscmblage.
BeIeWeIed In Boxes.
Every box was filled with women
handsomely gowned and bejeweled.
distinguished men, extra boxes being
added for the occasion across the end
OF the long ballroom. And on the
side lines" were scores of French
officers in their horizon blue, with a
sprinkIing Of Eelgians in khaki, not
dancing because "C'cst dcfendu' dur
ing the war. but vastly ornamental.
The Brazilian Ambassador and Nine.
da CANA and Mr.. and Mrs. Edison
Bradley, who Were all on the list or
boxholders, occupied together the big
Ioge next the Presidents box, and
had numerous guests with them.
Among those in the party, who had
first been entertained at dinner by
Mr.. and Mrs. bradley. were Nine.