Bheka abesifazane bethu: bangaki abangasabela ekuphenduleni le nkulumo: "Ubheka okuhle namhlanje!" Phendula: "Ngiyabonga, ngiyazi"? Alas. Abanye bashaya, njengokungathi babanjwe into engcolile, abanye bayathuthuka ngokushesha kangangokuthi abazange bathole ukulala ngokwanele namuhla noma bafake i-blouse engalungile. Futhi konke ngoba umama kaningi wayengasho ebuntwaneni bakhe ukuthi: "Wena ubuhle bami!" Ngokuvamile kwakukhona into efana nale: "Suka esibukweni, kusengakabonakali ukuzwakalisa!" Kodwa owesifazane kufanele azithanda yena, kuhlanganise ebusheni bakhe, kungenjalo ingozi iphezulu kakhulu isigaba esithile sibe ihhashi eliqhutshwayo. His religious enemies “ could not hold their own against the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking . ” also served as the ball’s longtime he words “grandeur” protocol chief. and “fun” seldom Several years ago she asked mix — except at the me to join her in this pleasant International Red Cross task. Questions pertaining to Ball, a long-standing high point of the dress code were frequently the Palm Beach social season. asked about the three-day event: During a decade of writing a luncheon (since dropped), about this always elegant ball, Friday’s Ambassadors Dinner and I’ve never seen it more colorful Saturday’s Ball. than this year, or with more After Trump began flying the Washington-connected guests. ambassadors down, their wives General Chair man Mary Ourisman, formerly ambassador had different queries. One asked if to Barbados and the Eastern she could bring a second suitcase. Mary and Mandy Ourisman get the dancing started at the International Caribbean, is a blonde dynamo I happily told her there was space Red Cross Ball in Palm Beach, Fla. Mrs. Ourisman was the first who has long organized innovative to hold five steamer trunks if she Washingtonian in 40 years to chair the event. (Photo by Lucien Capehart) events in Washington. liked because “The Donald” had She and her two co-chairmen all wore line headed by Stuart Bernstein, a former reconfigured his jet. Originally built to hold magnificent shades of red, the evening’s ambassador to Denmark and the ball’s chief of 158 commercial passengers, it now more than sartorial hallmark. At dinner at Donald Trump’s protocol. It is always an impressive sight as the comfortably accommodates a total of only 23. famed Mar-à-Lago Club, Beef Wellington envoys stand before their respective flags in the This year, while Trump didn’t fly anyone and tripartite desserts were served on deep white and gold ballroom. from Washington, he gave Bonnie McElveenred tablecloths aflutter with appliquéd roseTo the strains of the “Triumphal March” from Hunter a check for $50,000 just as the ball was hued gauze petals, and topped by tall vases “Aida,” Marines escorted ambassadors and ball getting started, presumably to help underwrite of dramatically outsized handmade red roses. officials, along with Trump and his wife Melania, the ambassadorial flight. She is chairman of the American Red Cross, the only woman Ourisman also dreamed up the glowingly red into dinner as Bernstein announced each one. Trump purchased Mar-à-Lago, once ever raised to that top spot. Formerly U.S. dance floor that drew dancers like moths to a flame, not wasting a minute of ball-favorite the Florida vacation home of cereal heiress ambassador to Finland, her name is often Peter Duchin’s music. Marjorie Merriweather Post, to create a private on lists of America’s top businesswomen as The event usually takes a year to plan. club. He has continued the custom of flying the founder and head of Pace Communications, “Mary had only three months to pull it ambassadors down on a private plane, a practice the nation’s largest custom publishing house. together,” said co-chairman Mary Mochary, “so Post began. She presented the Chairman’s Award for I came on board again this year to help,” as did Post was helped by her close friend, the Leadership to honorary ball chairmen Michele co-chairman Susan Keenan, a Palm Beach-er late Garnett Stackelberg, a journalist whose and Howard Kessler. Michele Kessler is a who once lived in Washington. husband, an Estonian baron, was related hands-on supporter, and has worked here and Fewer tiaras and white ties appeared this to Queen Sophia of Spain, Lord Louis abroad to eradicate a fatal strain of measles. year, though some of the guests, including Mountbatten and many other royal and Ourisman said this year’s ball raised a ambassadors from Barbados, Denmark, Mexico, aristocratic notables. hefty $2 million, and Rob Levine, the Red Morocco, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago and Stackelberg helped invite the ambassadors Cross regional head, lauded Mary and her coSweden, sported medals, stars and sashes. each year and worked with Marion “Joe” chairmen for their success and her husband U.S. Marines escorted them to the receiving Smoak, a former U.S. chief of protocol who Mandy for his generous support.