Besashed

With the annual Presidential dinner to the Cabinet as a curtain-raiser, there is a short intermission—just one day—before the Diplomatic Reception, when it seems as if the White House becomes a setting for a Graustarkian novel, so bejeweled, besashed, beturbaned, and betiaraed are the guests.

The tone was definitely festive, save for one besashed and besotted celebrant who moaned, as he lunched past the statue of Queen Victoria, that “I’ve been barred.”

I recall a bevy of queenlettes, all besashed and bathing suited, observing the procession having already traversed the route.