Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-05

The acting Secretary and counselor
of the Department of State and Mrs.
Frank Lyon Polk held a more staid
and dignifed reception, giving a tea
for a number of diplomats who were
invited by card. Regrets that the
glory of the diplomatic New Year
breakfast had departed were con-
stantly heard, and feeling that the
almost overgrown corps had perhaps
6ined at high noon with a Secretary
of State for the last time when the
world war came on found expression
in a hope for regular diplomatic
reception on New Year day to take
its place. 1t is a fine and interesting
show to the whole of Washington to
see the diplomats go visiting on New
Year day, as was proved in years
past. when hundreds stood on tiptoe
along the streets leading to the White
House to catch a fleeting glimpse or
ambassadors in court uniforms and
their ladies in the latest Paris crea-
lions, going to call on the President
and the first lady of the land. Every
thing in the world goes by contrast
and of course the court uniforms
looked more splendid when the OBJ
server cast an eye far down Pennsyl-
yania avenue TO the wee bit of
pickaninny with his skates over his
shoulder who would perhaps be the
last to shake the Presidents hand
The oldest diplomats in Washington
express hope that another year will
bring the diplomatic reception to
give them a means of extending their
Fluctuations, and the whole of WASH
fngton joins them in the wish.
Society was set going for Christ
mas week by the wedding on Monday
of Miss Sara Price Collier and Lieut..
Charles Fellowes Gordon in ST.
Thomas Church, and the brilliant
breakfast which followed, and the
sprightly Junior League ball on Tues
day night: the dozens of dinner
parties, both large and small, on the
same evening. with the supper dance
on Wednesday night which Mr.. and
Mrs Walter Penfield gave for Miss
Zaldivar. the only diplomatic bud,
and the still larger and even more IN
teresting dinner cotillon on the same
evening with Col. and Mrs. Robert
Thompson as hosts and the succeed
ing events of the week proved the
spirit of the times.
Many Of the wives of foreign min
listers started their regular weekly
days at home, and this fact, too, point
ed to the transitory state of Washing
ton society. 1t was Lady Pauncefote,
the wife of the late Sir Julian Paunce-
u,
corps, advised Friday as diplomatic
day, and that day was assiduously
kept by them for many seasons, much
to the comfort of official and resi-
dent society who wished to pay their
respects. But the foreign ministers
are an ever-fieeting element of society
aud the custom was~faSt changing
Khen Baroness Hengelmuller, wife OF
"a one-time Austro-Hungarian ambas-
sador. tried, but without avail, to re-
i've it. Now, women of the diplo-
AaAtic corps, as proven by the formal
announcements already made, may
S4&e any day from Monday until Mon
day comes again for their afternoons
at home If the State Department
were asked for diplomatic day. how
ever, it is probable the answer would
be Friday.
The dinner which the assistant sec
rotary of state and Mrs. William Phil
~ will give tomorrow night in honor
the Vice President and Mrs. Mar
fnAl, and the tea for which Mrs
NQrge Barnett issued cards to intro
re her daughter and the dance Mon
- night, for which she issued a diff
trent set of cards, ushered in the first
MIsk of official entertaining most aus
f&{ously. On Tuesday there will be
81 inner which Mrs. Charles S. Brom-
web will give for the Secretary OF
- Interior and Mrs. Lane, and MI
{ehh Barrett's dinner. in honor OF
IN ambassador of Chile. to add in
terest to the official calendar, and
other events of like interest will over
- each day and evening until the
AhSkity ball for the Children's Hos
bl, on Saturday night. brings the
glowing climax. Dozens of dinner
dfties win preface the ball, the hosts
an their guests later occupying boxes
Sbieh encircle the arena for the dane