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Show PRESIDENT TO OCCUPY THE ROM SUITE LONDON, Dec. 23 The "Belgian suite," reserved exclusively for royal guests until now, will be occupied by Prcsidont and Mrs. Wilson during their stay in London. In the years of Its interesting history, it has had within Its walls many crowned heads, one of the latest, but the leas't mentioned at Buckingham palace, being the former German emperor. It was given Its namo during Queen Victoria's reign and was always known as me nouse ot tne king of the Belgians, Bel-gians, when royalty was entrained there. That too much is being crowded crowd-ed into his short stay in England, the proposed dinner at Lancaster House on Saturday night has been eliminated. eliminat-ed. This was to have been a function only second to the banquet at Buckingham Buck-ingham palace Friday night. Instead of the Lancaster House banquet Premier Pre-mier Lloyd George will entertain the president at dinner Saturday, to meet the war cabinet. Those In charge of the details of the arrangements, particularly the officials offi-cials at Buckingham palace, arc at times puzzled over the niceties of etiquette, eti-quette, the result of the situation being be-ing that thero will bo no royal guests at the palace. These puzzles, however, how-ever, byive been only of momentary duration, except among some of the aged attendants, who have been casting cast-ing about for guidance. It is understood under-stood that they haTe been informed that it will be "plain "Mr. Wilson," iurb. wnson mucn to their relief. PARIS. Monday. Dec. 23. President and Mrs. Wilson went Christmas shopping shop-ping today, visiting many of the principal prin-cipal shops during a tour of two hours in the center of Paris. Both have been about the city before but this was the first time that they ventured nto the shopping district together, as they often oft-en do in Washington. They walked from the Murat residence down one of the principal boulevards, going first to a widely known American book store, where Mr Wilson was at once recognized. After making several purchases pur-chases there, they went to several shops that Mrs. Wilson desired to visit vis-it and spent some time "window wishing," wish-ing," as it is sometimes called in the United States. Many members of the temporary American colony in the French capital saw them and were genuinely gen-uinely envious at a scene bringing to mind reminscences of home at Christmas Christ-mas time. The show windows wore ablaze with lights and full of prettj thiugs and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson strolled from one to another, arm in arm, stopping to admire ad-mire and chat and often going inside to buy. They made remarkable progress pro-gress with French clerks who did not always recognize them. Few Parisians did know Mr and Mrs. "Wilson but all Americans w:ith whom the center oft Paris now teems gave greeting which the president and his wife returned with smiles and bows. PARIS. Monday. Dec. 23. William G. Sharp, American ambassador to France, called upon President Wilson this evening to bid goodbye as he has been unexpectedly called to America by the severe illness of a brother -in Ohio. He leaves tonight, going to Brest where he will sail for Now York on a transport Robert Woods Bliss, counselor of the embassy, will be charge d'affaires during his absence. LONDON. Dec. 23. Arrangements for the banquet to be given Friday night in honor of President Wilson are similar to these made for the king of Denmark during his recent visit to London. The banquet room in Buckingham Buck-ingham palace Is decorated In white and gold and has some of the finest tapestry In existence. It is the largest room in the palace. There is a throne in one end but this probably will be hidden by flowers. In the other is an organ loft which will accommodate the orchestra on the night of the .banquet. .ban-quet. The substitution of the dinner to be given by Premier Lloyd George for the banquet which was to have been given at Lancaster house on Saturday night, means that it will be a much smaller and more Intimate assemblage, the president meeting only a small body of men from the imperial war cabinet. It has been decided that Mr. Wilson will dlno with King George at Buckingham Bucking-ham palace, Monday evening. He will leave the palace at 0 o'clock Tuesday morning, pass through lines of troops on his way to the station and take his train for Dover. It was announced today that the reception re-ception at Guild hall, Saturday, will occur In the great hall instead of the library. This will enable a much larger larg-er company to witness tho ceremony Incident to the presentation of the address ad-dress of the president. oo- |
