Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-28
SOUTHERN SOCIETY
PRESIDENTS HOST
Reception at Willard in Honor
OF D. c. Commissioners.
Notable Event.

The Southern Society of Washing
ton was host to the President and
Mrs. Coolidge last night on the occa-
sion of its reception and entertain
rnent at the Willard Hotel in honor of
tho Commissioners of the District of
Columbia. 1t was one of the few occa-
sions that President Coolidge has
found 1t possible to accept an invita-
ton to social reception.
Three things, however, persuaded
The President to step from his usual
evening retirement. The first was his
desire to pay his own compliments to
the District Commissioners. The others
were his personal friendliness for the
southern Society and his sincere de-
sire to hear Charles Colfax Longs ia
nous lecture on The New Washing
ton"
Missed Reception.
The White House party did not
reach the grand ballroom, where the
entertainment was held, until $50
O'Clock. AS a result. they missed the
reception entirely. The Commission.
ers had left the receiving line and
gone to the presidential box fully Is
minutes earlier. The lecture lasted
until nearly IL o'clock and the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge left immedi-
ately afterward.
The President and Mr. Coolidge were
preceded, upon their entrance into
the ballroom, by the customary naval
and military aides. Mrs David II.
Blair walked with the President and
Mr.. Blair, the president of the So
ciety and G. Bascom SlemD former
a l-Nyt "a 40.
Der of the society, with Mrs. Coolidge
The First Lady was charming in a
rose colored gown, set off by a rose
metallic shawl.
Ovation to President.
In the box awaiting them were
Commissioner and Mrs. ]. Franklin
Bell, Commissioner and Mrs. Proctor
l.. Dougherty and Commissioner and
Mrs. Sidney F. Taliafer1o. The Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge We're given an
ovation, both upon their entrance and
later when the lecturer threw their
pictures on the screen as part of his
description Of the White House and
It's present tenants.
In the other boxes were many men,
hers of the resident diplomatic CORPS.
members OF the Senate and House of
representatives, both from Southern
and Northern States; officers of notable
patriotic societies and well known
members of the social sets from
Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
Elsewhere in the big room more than
400 other persons, including many of
prominence, were seated.
Mr.. Longs lecture was illustrated
by what is declared to be probably
the finest collection of views of the
new Washington in existence. Time
and again he was interrupted in his
lecture by prolonged applause as some
exceptional bit of Photographic arts
try burst upon the screen, showing
old and new citizens of Washington
glimpses Of familiar objects from
entirely new angles.
Pictures Were Beautiful.
All of the pictures were beautifully
colored. and the scenes they brought
into the ballroom seemed to spring to
life, so realistic were they. Whether
beneath the phantom veil of the
moonlight, the twilight of approaching
dawn or the full glory of noon, land
marks of long acquaintance were
painted on the screen with equal clear
ness and exceptional beauty.
Mr. Long brought his audience to
the National Capital by airplane and
gave 1t a first view of the Capitol
from the air. Then he took his
listeners on a tour of the familiar old
building and presented 1t to them from
entirely new angles. The Washington
Monument, the White House, historic
Pennsylvania avenue, the Treasury,
Lincoln Memorial, Corcoran Gallery
of Art. Arlington Amphitheater and
the Botanic Garden, all seemed like
bits of loneliness from an unknown