d 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 fo
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