Peiping saw the New Year in' very. Jcheerfully.. Christmas Eve is usually Jspent in private houses in the old feapital, but New Year's Eve secs ncareveryone in one or other of our two large hotels. "This year, too, rather last year, the Peking Club had jo Fancy Dress Dance, 30 that there Was celebrating in every direction. The largest crowd of all goes to the Grand Hotel de Pekin, because this is, the hotel the smart young Chinese sot prefers. There must have been over six hundred persons there on the thirty-first and they included every nationality in Peiping. Everyone was heartily welcoming the Spanish JMinister and Madame Garrido who) had returned from Europe only the previous day. Tt will be remembered that for many years the Spanish Minister acted as "doyen" to. the Diplomatic Corps before many of the legations were raised to embassies. Among other prominent residents who Jalso "there were BIN. Barboso, the Brazitian Charge @'Ataires, and his. [charmingly pretty wite who is Amer! can, Baron Plescen of the German Embassy, Miss Grete Trautman. the Jdaughter of the German Ambassador, Mr. end Madame Lauru who always have a large party on New Year's Eve, the American Naval Attache and Mrs, Shock, Dr. and Mrs, Dieuaide of the P.U.MLC. Colonel and Mrs. 1ixey who were with a large party from the Mrs, B, Lardy, Mr. and Mrs. 1.1. Spit~ vance, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, Me. jand Mes. J. Van den Berg, Mr. ani Mrs. Osborne, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Brady, Mr, V. H. Loureiro, Mr. Lieut. "Butler and Bz. ight the guests will include Baron and Baroness Georges Weydenthal, Dr. and Mrs. Ed Birt, Mr. and Mrs, E. Vega, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Alves, Mr.and Mrs. E, A. Long, Mr. and Mrs_ A. de Gherardi, Mr. and Mrs. H. 8, Peake, Mr. and Mrs.
E. J. Coustourler, Count Tarnowski, Mr. 'A. Stokkink," Mr. Wysoehi and Mr. R. D'Anjou, American Embassy Guard, (Colonel! Rixey is Commandant) Major and Mrs. Constent. M. and Madame di [Renzo of the Ballan Embassy and also IM. and Madame Poletti, he is Commissioner of Postes here, Miss Frances Reilly and Miss Cathio Bawn, an very many prominent Chinese inelud-Ing Mfr. C. '7. Wang, late Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was in Peiping fora few days, Mrs. Sam Young. whose husband is Chinese Minister [Mexico and whose daughter is one of the prettiest and smartest girls in Peiping, Mr. S. G. Cheng, Special [Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, and Jso many others that It is Impossible! to mention them all, Atthe Peking Club'one of the largest parties was that of Miss Agnes Black who had invited many members of the young British set first to her home for dinner, Major Chesney, the new Commandant of the British Guard, sise had party and ho took his guests on to the Grand Hotel des In Johnson Hall 'One of the last, and largest, funetons of the end of the year was the ball' given by" the Commandant. and Omecers of the "American Embassy Guard in Johnson Hall on the night of December 27. The Halt which is enormous, belongs to the American Guard and is in the compound of the American Embassy and was named after Mr. "Nelson Johnson,—_the American Ambassador. Tt was very prettily and gaily decorated with live Christmas trees sparkling with the ight of electric candles and from the centre of the ceiling beautiful festoons Jot red wore suspended. The floor is tone of the best for dancing in Peiping fand with the splendid band a most delightful evening was spent. Again guests of all nationalities had been invited, among them Mr. and Mrs, C. F. Wang. Mr. 8. G. Cheng, the ofoers of the British Guard including Major JChesney, Major and Mrs. Court, Mr. Jand "Madame Szabo, Mr. and "Mrs. Danby. Mrs. Fitzgerald, who has been staying with Mrs. Calhoun, and att the members of the American' Embassy.
Point to Point Cocktails A number of the riders in the Point to Point Hunt last Sunday, as well as many of the followers, met ater in the afternoon for cocktails Jat the home of Mr. John Walters and Mr. A. F. "Nobby" Clark. Among those who met to toast the winner, Mr. If. M. Spence, were Mrs. Spence. Miss Ethelwynne Spence, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Hickmott, Mr. Roger Gain, Mr. Alex White," Mr. and Mrs. [Trenchard Davis, Mr. Wally Hughes, Mr. Jack Kay, Mr. Angus Ferguson, Mr. ° George." Stewart, Mr. Peter Strickland, Biss Eileen Parkhill, Mr.
JJohn Clifford, Mr. N. Dermott, Mex 'AR. Ricketts, Miss Daphne Rogers, Mr. Buzz Brown, Mrs. Wooley. Mr.
Marshall Bolton and others.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.