The Washington times., 1923-10-16
First Nights Divide
Interest of
Society
By JEAN ELIOT.

FIRST NIGH HIT S"-to
~ quote from a popular New
York paper-might be an illurni-
mating heading for the society
columns today. For everybody"
who did not attend the gala per-
Torrance OF "Lohengrin," put on
at Polls by the Wagnerian Opera
Company, with the State Sym
phony Orchestra OF New York,
would seem to have turned out
for the Theater Guilds produc-
ton of HE Who Gets Slapped"
ct the Belasco.
Polls was jammed, every seat
In the big theater taken, and men
and women standing three rows
deep. 1t was q most enthusiastic
audience, too, spontaneous bursts
Of applause greeting many of the
lovely passages of the beloved
music drama and a genuine
ovation being extended to the
principals and the slim young
conductor who brought out every
shade OF value in the magnificent
orchestral groundwork upon
which Wagner builds his vocal
structures.
There was really something
rather electric in the atmosphere
last evening. The house was
filled with G mans. Nine.
Wiedfeldt, wife of the German
ambassador, was hostess to a box
. party. having DIR. and Nine.
s Dieckhoff. Baron Plessen and
+, others Of the embassy staff as
AGuests. Still other attaches of
the embassy were present in the
saudience and one heard the sound
sof fluent German here and there
lin the house during the intermis-
lsions. Then the performance of
this great German opera, sung by
liz German company, opened with
Ythe playing of the "Star-Spangled
Manner" the entire audience ris-
II Ing to its feet the moment the
nrst strains poured forth from an
Worchestra already standing at at
tent1on. 1t was q moving moment
4 and s1gn-taken with the gen.
erous reception given the COM
pany-that the kindred arts of
) music and the drama are doing
smuch toward cementing a new
4 friendship among nations.
-
4TNHE Secretary of the Interior
81 - and Mrs. Work occupied a box
sand had with them Mrs. Alva
Adams, wife of the new Senator
|, nom Colorado; Gov. Scott C. Bone
1 OF Alaska, Governor Harrington of
Hawaii, and c. Bascom Slemp,
secretary to the President. An
q other interesting box party in
\ ciuded the Minister of Bulgaria
k@nd Nine. Panareroff and the min
lister Of Persia, Mira Hussein
IKhan Alai; and Mr.. and Mrs.
II Lawrence Townsend entertained
Il guests, their party including Col.
qand Mrs. B. NJ. McCord, Miss Eliza
Z beth Hanna, Hugh v. Tenant, Of
the British embassy, and Leander
:. Mccormick Goodhart, also of the
& British embassy.
During the all too long inter
omissions, an impronptu reception
was held in the foyer, friendly
greetings flying back and forth
between members of the var
pous box parties. Among those
Snoted either in the boxes or scat
'ltered about the orchestra were
William Phillips, Undersecretary
OF State; the Charge -d'Affaires Of
Great Britain and Mrs. Chiffon;
Commissioner and Mrs. Cuno
Rudolph; the Counselor of the Lee
cation of Norway and Nine.
Steen; Comdr. and Mrs. H. A.
Brown, of the British embassy;
Rear Admiral and Mrs. Cary T.
Grayson; Mrs. Victor Kaufman;
Mrs. James NJ. Green; Mr.. and
Mrs. Hampson Gary; Rear Ad-
miral and Mrs. J. M. Helm:
Dwight Davis, Assistant Secre-
tary OF War: James M. Beck,
Solicitor General; Mrs. Katherine
Wylie; Miss Katherine wylie;
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Parsons Err
win; Mrs. Gilbert Grosvenor; Mr..
and Mrs T r Hildohron6. cSro,,U