The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-21

Still, the pace does slacken q
wee bit, for by the time Ash
Wednesday comes most society
folk welcome any legitimate exA
cuse to draw breath. The pause
may last six days instead Of the
traditional six weeks, but that is
50 much gained. And even in
this day and generation balls and
big formal receptions are not 30
numerous during Lent as IN the
season between January / and
Ash Wednesday. Dinners, bridge
and dancing enjoy continued
popularity, Of course, but time il
found for such typical Lenten
diversions IS lectures and mu-
sicales.
Whatever the cause. however,
these are crowded days ana 20
numerous are the festivities Of
each evening that it makes ones
head swim to keep up with them.
al.
TAKE tomorrow evening for
sample. It's the night o
the Southern Relief BAN. which
goes back to the time when the
charity bali for the Children's
Hospital - was it's only com-
petitor for fashionable patronage.
And there's = Georgetown. as
sembly. one OF the occasional
meetings OF the oldest dancing
club in the District OF Columbia.
an organization which came into
being along with the st. Cecilia
balls in Charleston and the As
sembly In Annapolis and has
maintained its traditions until to-
day.
The Congressional Club is CIV
ing q reception with the Speaker
of the House and Mrs. Fred
erick II. Gillett as honor guests.
There's q reception and bali at
the Pan American Union which
the foreign delegates to the con-
ference OF Central American Re
publics. are giving to the Secre-
tary Of State and Mrs. Hughes.
And, to cap the climax, it's the
first highland the last night,
too, worse luck, although there's
to be a matinee ON F'riday-of
the Washington Opera Company's
production. OF "Rigoletto.''
To be sure, each event makes
its most potent appeal to a slight
ly different group Of people. And
it will be quite possible to take
in the Congressional Club recep-
tion-always an early party-and
the Southern Relief Ball-a fIlnc-
ton in which Congressional folk,
and more particularly the South
erners in Congress, are naturally
deeply interested. Or to go from the
club to the Pan American. Or to go
from the opera to either ball. But
what about those who want to do
honor both to the Gi1letts and the
Hugheses without sighting the
time-honored Southern Relief?
And what, in Heavens name, is
to become Of the conscientious
society editor who feels that it is
her duty and her privilege to
take in the whole grist Of parties?
WASHINGTON is justly proud
" of it's own opera company,
and, from the way in which boxes
are being snapped up and blocks
of seats taken by the diplomats
and leaders in the civic and social
life of the Capital, it is evident
that the production Of "Rigoletto"
will be an event Of great ifnpor.
lance socially, as well as must
cally. Extra boxes are being put
in and I venture to prophesy
that thereIl be a display Of gowns
and Jewels to rival the famous
diamond horseshoe' at the
Metropolitan Opera.
The plan Of the Washington
Opera Company, Of which Edouard
Albion il the director. is to pre-
sent grand opera with g. home
grown and hone.trained chorus
and guest artists. stars Of the
first magnitude, In tho leading
1nlaaS This han hsen tried cut