Alice Roosevelts Coming out party

A ball was held in the East Room of the White House, with supper served in the State Dining Room.  Nearly 700 people were in attendance; the United States Marine Band played.  Even though the invitations were sent in the name of Alice's mother, which the New York Times noted was proper at the time, the guest list included many of the elite in New York and Washington society, and 'Princess Alice' was launched.  While Alice's blue eyes and her antics (she carried around a small snake, Emily Spinach in her purse), she also took up smoking. Four years later, the White House would also host her wedding to Congressman Nicholas Longworth.  (They became close on a peace delegation to Asia.)