Evening star., 1934-11-11
Brilliant Company
Is In Attendance at
Armistice Day Ball
Diplomatic. Official and
Resident Circles Are Well
Represented.

The anniversary Of the signing Of
the Armistice, November IL, 1918.
was fittingly celebrated last evening
when the Veterans of Foreign Wars
gave their annual Armistice Ball for
the benefit of destitute veterans. The
Veterans of Foreign Wars maintain
a community for the widows and or
phans of veterans, each widow being
allowed a seperate house for herself
and her children. This community
is partially supported by the annual
poppy sale of the Veterans Of Foreign
Wars, the proceeds from their an
nual ball being used for the aid OF
the veterans themselves.
The customary gayety prevailed
last night, as we'll as the usual cere-
mony, with the Overseas Drum and
Bugle Corps escorting each distin-
guished guest to his or her box, the
uniforms of the corps adding color
to the scene. The ball last evening, al
though given by Veterans of Foreign
Wars, was sponsored by the American
Legion for the first time. The
Legion has given its own balls in sew
eral of the former years.
Sergt. Frank Witchey, who played
Taps" at the burial Of the Unknown
Soldier on Armistice day, November
IL, 1921, sounded Taps" last night at
IL o'clock for the comrades who, as
in the vanguard. have gone on. 1t
was an impressive scene, the large
and distinguished company stopping
in the gay celebration to bow their
heads in silent tribute.
The large company was representa-
tive of the diplomatic, official and
resident circles in Washington, the
dean Of the diplomatic corps. the
Ambassador of Great Britain, Sir
Ronald Lindsay, heading the list of
box holders, and Mrs Daniel c. Roper.
wife of the Secretary of Commerce,
was chairman for boxes and patron
eSses.
No Armistice ball of the Veterans
Of Foreign Wars would be COM
plete without the presence of Walter
Johnson, famous base ball star and
beloved by all Washingtonians. Wal
ter johnson is the only member of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars wis
has not seen service in foreign soil,
and was made an honorary member
of a Washington post some years ago.
Brooke Johns was master of cere-
monies for the floor show" which
was presented during the evening
A group of dancers from the studios
Of Phil Hayden. and directed by him,
gave several attractive numbers. and
Marian Walberg gave a speciality
dance, while Virginia Hunters bal
let also danced. Buddy Rogers, who
is appearing at the Earle this week.
was among the many attractions of
the brief floor show. Among the
other boxholders were the Ambassa-
dor of France and Nine. de Labou-
laye. the Ambassador of Poland, Mr..
Stanislaw Patek: the Secretary of
the Treasury and Mrs. Henry Nor
genthau, jr.; the Secretary of Agri-
culture and Mrs. Henry c. Wallace,
the Secretary of Commerce and Mrs.
Roper, the Minister of Hungary and
Nine. Pelenyi, the Minister of Portu-
gal and Nine. de Bianchi. the charge
daffaires of Nicaragua and Nine. de
Bayle, the Undersecretary of State
and Mrs. William Phillips, the Treas
urer of the United States. Mr.. Will
liam A. Julian; Mr.. Frank Hecht,
deputy administrator of the N. r. A;
Mrs. Jacob Leander Loose. Mr.. ]. O.
Robert, department commander of
the American Legion; Mr.. and Mrs.
Stephen Bonsal. the Perry Ship Post
Of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Mr.. and Mrs. T. A. Buckley, Mr..
Walter Colston, department COM
mander of the Disabled Veterans, and
also occupying boxes were the men
holding the Congressional Medal of
Honor, the department commanders
in Maryland, Virginia and West Vir-
gina, and the veterans of the Span
ish-American War. Mrs. r. Sheppard,
Mr.. Robert Sechner and Mr.. and
Mrs. John L. Lenearts.
Miss Mary Katherine Spinks was
chairman of the Debutantes Com
mittee, and Miss Mary Senate Howes
daughter of the First Assistant Post
master General and Mrs. w. -
HoWes, headed the Subdebutante Com
mittee. Mr.. Stanley B. Harman.
department junior vice commander.
and Mr.. Walter J. Weben, comman-
der-elect Of the National Capital
Post, headed the Ball Committee.