Evening star., 1925-02-22
G. w. u. Hospital Ball
Planned Along Lines
Of Colonial Period.
Function at University Gym
nasium Tomorrow Night
To Commemorate Wash
ington's S Memory,

Colonial atmosphere will environ
the George Washington University
Hospital ball tomorrow night at the
gymnasium of the university, 2el4
II street in commemoration or the
103d anniversary of the birth OF
George Washington.
4 few weeks ago a prize contest
was held by the architectural depart
ment of the university, under Prof..
Norris Ingersol Crandall, to procure
tho best plan for the decorations for
the occasion. The present scheme is
the composite result of the best ideas
outlined in the suggestions submitted,
and for many days students OF this
department have been working day
and night on the execution OF the
plans as finally perfected.
From the moment that the outer
door of the gymnasium VIII ne open
ed tomorrow night reality VIII slip
away and Illusion will hold COM
plete sway. The colonial costumes
OF the beaux and bellies and Of their
stately elders will At perfectly into
the surroundings provided in the
transformation of the usually bare
and utilitarian building into glow
ing replica OF the garden side of the
mansion al Mount Vernon, with just
enough of the artists license to make
the picture more beautiful.
The ball will represent, as 1t were.
q garden party Of a long-ago day,
with the guests assembled on the
lawn of the west side of the manor
house for their merrymaking. Domi-
mating the scene there Will rise at
the far end OF the ballroom a re-
plica of the lower story OF the west
facade of the mansion. Friendly
lights will CLEAN from the curtained,
many paned windows. and the double
doors of the west entrance will stand
Hospitality ajar as IF to welcome the
approaching guest. In the days OF
George and Martha Washington this
was the entrance at which the coach
and four" would deposit its arriving
guests. and tomorrow night it will
form the background of the box to be
occupied by President and Mrs. Lewis
and their honor guests.
From this vantage point there Will
be seen on the right q red brick gar
den wall topped by a low white
picket fence with the dipping curves
so familiar to all visitors to Mount
Vernon. Beyond the wall will lie in
imagina tion the formal garden be-
loved of Martha Washington, its eN-
istence suggested by the glimpse of
hollyhock stalks rising from behind
the inClosure, and the greenery of
garden trees outlined against a deep
blue sky. Trailing vines will lend
their air of antiquity as they droop
over the wall, and here and there a
brilliant flower will add its note Of
color.
On the opposite side or the gym
nasium will be a row of boxes for the
many distinguished boxhoIders, placed
against a frelliSad ha ok
run with smilax and lowering vines
The tall piers OF the building will
be hidden behind masses of ever
green representing the towering trees
or the colonial estate, and they will
rise TO meet the sky-gTay canvas cell
ing, which will be spread above all
From this ceiling will be suspended
~ parchment lanterns, shading from
rose to gold and decorated with CO.
lonial hgures in silhouette
President and Mrs Lewis will have
as guests of honor in their box the
French Ambassador and Nine. Daesch-
her, whose presence will be a happy
reminder of the historical event
when Gen. Lafayette was the honor
guest of the university at it's first
commencement in 1924, and also the
recent celebration of the one hum
dredth anniversary OF that event the
past year, Wnen Jules JuSSerand
then the French Ambassador, was the
guest of honor and speaker and pre-
sented two books to what will be
known as the Lafayette section of the
university library
Other guests of the university and
OF President and Mrs Lewis tomor-
row night will be Lady Betty Field
Ing, Miss Katharine Trow bridge, Miss
Elizabeth Beale. Mr. Eye, Mr.. VIII
lfams, Mr. Eaton. Mr.. Hobson, Mr.
Rutter and the following members
of the Washington family: DR. Rich
ard Washington and his wife, Janet
lIatane; DR.. Henry Augustine Larane
Mrs. John Morrison Kerr, Mrs. Eu-
genie Washington Moncure Brown,
the Misses Pattie and Anne Madison
Washington, Miss Margaret Preston
Chew, Right Rev. Henry st. George
Tucker, Mrs. Eleanor Washington
Miss Frances Packet, Mr.. Thomas
Washington, Mr.. William Fontaine
Alexander, the Misses Cecily and
Anne Catherine Alexander, Mr. Law
renee Washington and Col. Mervyn
c. Buckley, retired.
This hospital ball is being given to
revive an old custom OF giving an
annual ball for its benefit 1t is the
hope of the committee that II may
become the custom in the National
Capital to reserve the date of Febru-
airy % annually lor this event.