Miss Alice Roosevelt was the
honoree of a luncheon given on May
31, to which 600 guests were
bidden. The affair was most
charming and successful.
Having thus during the opening
month announced itself, the board
of lady managers continued
during the exposition to contribute
its quota to the social life
of the great fair.
The distinguished foreigners whom it was the privilege of the board to especially honor were the representatives of foreign governments, with a reception on June 17; Prince Pu Lun, to whom a dinner of 52 covers was given on July 10, and Prince Fushimi, for whom a reception was held on November 22. Receptions to the Interparliamentary Union on September 12 and to the Congress of Arts and Sciences on September 20 were also international in character, a number of distinguished foreigners being present.
Among the special functions
given, none was more successful or
more brilliant than the dinner
in honor of President David R.
Francis, on November 12, to
which 140 guests were invited.
The building of the board of lady managers, with the changes made by the board, was, both in its appointments and location, admirably adapted for the purpose for which it was set aside, and in itself was a tribute to the necessity and advantage of cooperation on the part of the board.
The whole lower floor of the building was beautifully fitted up for the reception and entertainment of guests and the upper floor was reserved for the private use of the board, being divided into board room, secretary’s room, reception room, apartments for the president of the board, and quarters for all members of the board who wished to avail themselves of the hospitality of the home while in the city.
The house was conducted as any well-organized household under the direction of the rotating committee, composed of the resident members in St. Louis, and the members rotating each month. They were ably assisted by a very capable hostess.
The house committee are greatly
indebted to Miss Julia McBlair,
for the gracious manner in
which she served the board as hostess
during the period of the exposition.
The work of the house committee is so closely allied to that of the committee on ceremonies that it is somewhat difficult to draw a line between the duties of the two or to set forth in a formal report the differences.
For details of the work of house committee preliminary to entertainments, reference is made to report of entertainment and ceremonies committees, and for details of house furnishings reference is made to house furnishing committee.