The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-17
THEVANISHING
LUNCHEON IS
INTRODUCED
Mrs. William Mather
Lewis Sponsors Some
thing New
By JEAN ELIOT

KNHE vanishing IuuCuSous
which has just made its ap-
- pearance In washington
would appear To be something new
under the Eastern sun although it
Is a familiar institution under the
brilliant skies OF California
Indeed, it is California i'm
sportation sponsored. here by. Mrs.
William Mather Lewis, wife Of the
president of George Washington
University, who was introduced to
the vanishing luncheon" in Santa
Barbara after the earthquake last
summer, when SERIES OF these
pleasant parties were arranged Tor
: the benefit Of the sufferers from
the catacIysun. On her. return she
suggested the same scheme to
members OF the board as a means
OF raising funds for the George
Washington University Hospital
fund-and the board has done the
rest.
The theory Of the vanishing
luncheon is this. A hostess asks
ten of her friends who are inter
ested In some worth while phil
anthropy to luncheon with her,
STIMULATING that each shall con-:
tribute 81 to the cause, that each
shall agree to give g luncheon for
nine guests who viii, In turn:
entertain for eight friends and 50
on down the line until the company
has vanished completely. It's like
the old time chain letter with ~rs-
verse English and as each person
who entertains. or Is entertained
contributes q dollar. tha- money
rolls In. -
Money Rolls In
The first of the luncheons for
the University Hospital was given
BY Mrs. Eugene Byrnes and Mrs.
ID. Kerfoot Shute, at Mrs. Byrnes'
country home. Mrs. Frederick p.
Harrington took up the good work
on Saturday when she had lunch
con at her home in Chevy Chase.
her guests including Mrs. Frank
w. BaIlou, Mrs. Eugene Byrnes.
! Mrs. Edward B. Clark, Mrs. Gerritt
81. Miller, jr., Mrs. D. Kerfoot
Shute, Mrs. Philip S. Smith and
Mrs. Lyman B. Swormstedt. Mrs.
Edward Clifford was hostess at p
similar party today and others
already booked to give vanishing
luncheons are Mrs. Lewis, Mrs.
Arthur w. Dunn and Mrs. Lincoln
Green. g
Ford vs.. Earthquake
Both Doctor and Mrs. Lewis are
such live wires that they have con-
tributed tremendously to the i'm.
portance ssof George Washingtoni
University q rating in the scheme;
OF things in the Capital And
moreover, they play more active
part in the general activities Of
society than have amy OF their pre-,
decessors, with the possible ezs
eeption of Doctor William Miller.
Collier, now American ambassador
to Peru, and Mrs. Collier, who.
helped lot in putting the uniy6r-
eity on the map.
The Lewises spent the early pdet
Of the summer In California, returns
ing afterward to their summer
home In Connecticut. I am not
sure whether they went through
the earthquake in Santa Barbara
where they have relatives,S or ar.
rived shortly afteyward. But at
any rate, Doctor Lewis tells an
amusing story On himself which Is
an aftermath of the. excitement.
He drove into town one day In
Ford to see people running out Of
shops and offices in q great state
Of fear land confusion. With the
big treyhblor 50 recently over. pro-
fesSional Observation-Disclosures must
haVe' been back Of his query, What
1S/the matter2" But at any rate,
the answer, snapped at him was:
Earthqu AXE. Didn't you feel It?
But no. you wouldn't, riding In q
Ford"