Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-08
Monumental Tuboos-
Red Tape and Ribbon
BY GWEN DOBSON
Star Staff Writer

You see . . all the trouble started just because Of
Thomas Jeffersons glowing reputation as great and
gracious host.
Members Of benefit ball seized upon this reputation
and of its attendant customs as the theme for their
october ball They named their event the crimson RIBBON
Bali and planned the decor around the red bunting
crystal chandeliers and white columns similar to one at
Monticello and those surrounding the Jefferson Memorial
Then too one of the committee members has a close
friend who direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson
She was helping in advisory capacity.
It is here that the plot thickenS
The publicity chairman got the bright idea OF pho
tographng some the commeewomen in their ball gowns
at the jefferson Memorial also thought of tying red
ribbons on the columns and shrubs surrounding the Me-
mortal.
through the trees leading Monticello and draped red
bunting the surrounding the mansion to lend
festive air at parties and to guide his guests along the
roadways)
On the appointed day the ladies arrived early for their
taking session. with the publicity chairman in the
They waited quietly for the photographer to arrive.
guard approached He inquired as to their business
The publicity chairman said they planned to take PIC
lures The guard said II don't think you can You need
permit and besides we're very particular ABOUT our
monuments"
The publicity chairman was mortified. Here she had
all of her friends dressed to the mines at II o'clock in the
morning and at was all so awkward" she declared.
She pointed out to the guard she mao akSn A
kinds of pncesse had posed there for regattas and les
rivals she continued
His supeors secretary answered and after being assured
there was no commercial attachment allowed as how
special concession might be maze
However she checked with her boss who came on the
Hne and talked with the by-then shattered publicity
chairman. W. -
She assured him. mo it is not commercial we guar
antee not to take picture of the statue We will not go
inside the will take pictures only Of the pillars
| There a slight pause
30 Eyes the ladies are evening gowns What! You mean
its perfectly all right for to visit here in shorts
hkins or Stacks but not formal gowns?" Another pause
and finally reluctant and conditional assent
Because Of lighting and to absolutely avoid photo
graphing Jefferson statue the photographer suggested
they move to the east side of the monument.
Scene They began the picture taking The ladies
stroed through the lovely shaded within the pillars
They gracefully draped red ribbon through the columns
and little girl direct descendant Of the Washington
family handed invitation to the Jefferson descendant
& Next Scene: The same guard rushed up to the group
and them Of "decevng him. He fumed they had
included the Washington Monument in Of the pictures
But, then he admitted the Monument really wasn't his
problem. He had authority over that
In the meantime amateur photographers were click
ing away with little box and tourists in all manner
Of attire came and stared at the shrine.
The photographer perseverng The publicity chair
frustrated and the provoked Jefferson descendant
shifted If she had known it would all this commoton
she would have driven the ladies to Monticello and
had the pictures taken there.
1.-THE 1868 DerSon OF party at Monticello, In spite
OF all this u take place Oct II at the Stdter Hilton
Hotel and uDH benefit the Crippled ChdrenS Society,"