The New York herald., 1921-01-16

away with all inaugural pomI
and ceremony, cut out all unnecessary
frills. get along without the ball, an
everything? Well, really it doesn't
matter much to Washington. When i,
comes to inaugural balls-after all
! they're not much as balls. Washing
ton has plenty of balls of it's own
charity balls, debutante dances. Junior
League, the One Hundred Club. tc
say nothing of private parties.
This week started off gayly on Mon
day night with the ball for the bene-
fit of the Children's Hospital-"the'
Charity Ball-the ball that everybody
turIbs out for. It's the ball whose list
of patronesses is always headed by
the First Lady-followed by the Sec
ond Lady-of the Land, and includes
nearly all of the leading official and
diplomatic hostesses, as well as the in
fiuential dowagers and smart young
matrons of the exclusive resident set
On Tuesday there was the D. A. RS
characterization Ball" which at
tracted practically everybody inter-
ested in the various organizations that
specialize on ancestry and patriotism
and that it's up TO this generation to
live up to it's forebears. Also there
was Mrs Marshall Fields dinner dance
smaller. of course, and equally, OF
course. "suarter."
Also that same night there was the
Baltimore Assembly, one of the biggest
events of the season in Baltimore. to
which, as usual, shoals of the Wash
ington elect went over. Society of Wash
ington and Baltimore is so closely con-
nected that il is sometimes hard to say
which is which, and each town is rather
given to affectionate chatting of the
other as its most important suburb.
Ball In Annapolis.
Wednesday seemed to have been an
off day-or rather night--so far as
dancing was concerned. except that
there was Gov. Ritchie's ball, which
lured practically all who were so for
tunate as to be asked over to Annap-
oils.
Even the White House observed Cab
met Wednesday" Mrs. Wilson had the
entire group of Cabinet women and one
or two outsiders to luncheon at the
White House to meet Mrs. william
Riley Marshall. Apparently Mrs. Will
son has planned a series of small
luncheons for various groups OF official
women.
In addition to Mrs. Marshall, the COM
pany included Mrs. Colby, Mrs. Houston,
Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Burleson. Mrs. Palmer,
Mrs. Daniels. Mrs. Meredith and Miss
Agnes Hart Wilson--all of the Cabinet
women except Mrs. Alexander, who is in
deep mourning and not going any
where-and the one or two outsiders
hereinbefore mentioned. Mrs. Helm !;
Mrs. Joseph Tumulty, Mrs. Clarence
Ridley, Mrs. Adelaide Worth Bagley,
Mrs. Daniels's mother and Mrs. Will
sons mother and sister, Mrs, William
III. Boiling and Miss Bertha Boiling.
Mrs. Alexander Hunter Gait. Mrs.
Wilson's other sister. was not included
In this party. but she had been the only
member of Mrs. Wilson's family in the
White House box at the Philadelphia
Orchestra concert the day before. when
Mrs. Wilson's other guests were Nine.
Pezet. Mrs. Vanderventer, Mrs. William
r. Williams and Mrs. Wallace Radcliffe.
Thursday. apparently society took
day Off following the noble example of
the Secretary of Agriculture and Mrs.
Houston, and dined rather than danced.
Officers Play Hosts.
But last night there was one of the
Junior Leagues dances. which always
occupies the attention of the smart
young dancing set and tonight there is
Maize GOWNS debut dance at Raucher's.
following n tea this afternoon at which
her parents presented her to their
friends; and at the Marine Barracks
there is a dance on with the officers
stationed there playing host to marine
officers stationed in Washington and
Quantico. and their wives and daughters
in particular.
Connoisseurs-people who had been to
practically every dance so far this sea-
son-proclaimed the Charity Ball the
most brilliant the winter had as yet pro-
duced In that it lived up TO it's tradi-
tions and It's reputation extending
through many years. Looking on from
the side lines It seemed more like
one of the big balls OF the war period
than any that has been held this winter.
One thing that helped a whole lot was
the presence of the Vice President and
Mrs. Marshall which gave the affair the
seal of official approval--even the seal
OF official patronage. For there was OF
course no question of the President and
Mrs. Wilson being present. though Mrs.
Wilson headed the list of patronesses.
They have even given up the formality
OF having n White House box at affairs
of this sort at which IL was formerly
expected that the President and First
Lady would look In and spend half an
hour or so.
Probably after-or even before-the
Marshalls the observed of all observers
was Rear-Admiral Newton McCully. just
back from Russia, with seven little Rus
sian orphans whom he proposes to
adopt-and moro to follow. He was In
the box with the former United States
Ambassador to Russia and Mrs. George
T. Marye. and one could not but agree
with brother officer who pointed him
with "A flourish, There he sits; and the
navy never boasted braver''
The seven orphans. by the way, were
temporarily deposited at the Children's
Hospital. and 1t would seem that the
board OF managers overlooked a bet in
not having them down there in the
Marye box along with their doughty
benefactor.
In the Receiving Line.
Mrs. Frederick Brooke. president OF
the board, was at the head of the re-
ceivIng line In very simple gown of
black georgette--for Mrs Brooke Is In
mourning for her mother, Mrs. Alfred
Il. Bates. After Mrs. Brooke there was
Mrs Hagner Mrs. Mahlen Pitney, Mrs.