Evening star., 1919-03-27
DIPLOMACY DIRECTS.
BALL Of NATIONS.
Official Claim to Precedence
Prevails in Last Nights
Representative Pageant.
FOR SETTLEMENT HOUSE

A diplomacy unequaled in the his
tory of Washington was shown in the
arrangement of the ball of nations
given at the New Willard last night
for the benefit of Neighborhood House.
every country having diplomatic
representative in this country taking
part The happy solution was the
diplomatic list. edited and published
by the Department of State, which
gave the line of precedence for the
long list of nations shown in the
pageant. according to their official
claim and not necessarily the impor-
tance of the countries. Even the
names of patronesseS were alphabet
cally arranged.
To have all of the diplomats ac-
credited to this country by foreign
powers unite in one splendid effort to
further the interests of a settlement
house in the greatest country of them
all. was tribute not only to the i'm
mediate cause. but to the many months
of untiring work done by American
women for the countries most affected
by the war.
Trip Through Fairyland.
The entire ball was one of the most
beautiful spectacles ever witnessed in
Washington, and to have each coun-
try select Its own typical feature
without suggestion from any other
country made the entire evening like
trip through a Worldwide fai yland
where a wave of the wand brought
to view only the most beautiful things.
The conceptions ranged from the
splendid allegorical presentation of
France, ending with suggestion of
her many triumphant battles, to the
classic showing of Italy. which won
the silver cup as being the most
beautiful group of all; that of Great
Britain with merry laugh and jest
brought forth when in the showing of
her provinces Scotland waved aloft
an empty flask typical of the passing
of that famous still in this country;
and Switzerland with the suggestion
of her famous Alps in the Alpine goat,
the St. Bernard dog, the familiar look
ing bear and the stately monk with
his long black robe and cowl.
Omitted States Is Applauded.
A happy conception was that for
the South and Central American coun-
tries with their colorful costumes
and their suggestion of the gay life
of the peoples, and always a fore
most thought for their agricultural
products. Cuba's figures representing
sugar cane. tobacco and other prod
ucts were particularly good, and each
one seemed made to make mutual the
interests Of the older and younger
republics.
The United States, as the Oldest of
the republics. came last as being
hostess to the other nations, and was
q splendid presentation. Mr.. c. C.
a1 a
Mrs. George Draper. as an Indian
Maiden. won rounds Of applause, with
their costumes showing all the arts
of the Oldest tribes and their un-
studied grace Of movement.
The ballroom itself was a fitting
setting with huge clusters Of many
colored balloons floating beneath
the great chandeliers. where again
varied color was shown in the shades
Miss Siebert Receives.
Miss Sophie Siebert as president of
Neighborhood House received the
guests and was clad as the Goddess
of Liberty, the costume being partic-
ularly adapted to her stately figure.
Her gracious manner. too. was sug-
gestive Of America opening her arms
to all other nations in peace and war.
Assisting her from time to time dur
executive committee. including Mrs.
Walter r. Tuckerman. Mrs. Charles
J. Bell. Mrs. =. j. Herman. Mrs. John
c. Fremont, Mrs. George T. Odell.
Mrs. Claude B. Mayo. Mrs. John Jay
White, Mrs. Mahlon Pitney and Mrs.
Charles S. Hamlin.
France in Lead.
France led the pageant of nations
and was perhaps the most classical1y
beautiful group Of them all Nine
Collardet, wife Of the military at
tache Of the French embassy, was the
patroness. and Mrs. Ffoulke Smith the
chairman.
Miss Ruth Wilson, as France. wear
ing q gold brocade anG tulle gown,
with a gold helmet, carried q tall
standard, from which drapeo the
French flag, completely enveloping
her.
The spirit Of victory, Mrs. Dudley
Gates, wearing a classic robe in the
French colors, welcomed each of the
French provinces as they approached
the pedestal on which France took
her stand.
Personnel Of Representatives.
These provinces were: Algerienne.
Miss Eleanor Johnston; Bretonne
Miss Lucy Kinsolving; Normandie. Miss
Alys Downing; Boullonaise, Mrs. Jo-
seph Lippincott; Arlesienne, Miss
Frances Hopkins, Boullonaise. Miss
Alys Graef; Breton Boy. Miss Nancy
Hopkins; Alsace-Lorraine, Miss Enid
Sims.
Those taking part wore the nictur-