The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03
Gowns, Mostly Imported, Which Show
aNewDepartures, Are Wornby Guests
at Mrs. Wilson's Tea -Resump-
ton of Social Activities in
Capital Is Not Speedy
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.
Y WASHINGTON had a mad idea
"A that .xxhen the Preaident

comes home" all Its ques-
lions were to be answered. In that
happy time 1t was to know where 1t
sswas at" socially as well as politi-
caily. The President has been at
home for nearly four weeks now and
never was Washington so completely
''up in the air." To the casual out
slider, and, to a certain extent, to those
Of the innernost circle, everybody
seems to be running round in rings.
It's bit bewildering.
Socially, when the President came
home, there was to be an orderly pro-
cession Of royalties and notables from
the nations of the earth, returning the
visits which the Wilson's had paid
them. They were coming as guests OF
the nation and were to be entertained
at the White House first and then by
a series of brilliant official fetes.
After Washington had welcomed
them, these distinguished visitors
would probably travel over the coun-
try and be entertained publicly and
privately wherever they went. There
was a good time coming-and a brill
liant and a gay one. 1t was to begin
in mid August, with the arrival of the
Prince of Wales, for which the State
Department was definitely laying
plans.
Well, they're all still coming; but
like most good times, not so soon as
had been expected. And as for any
thing like a resumption of social &C.
tivities at the White House, there
seems to be no indication of it until
- =. a. AI.N
jected 10000 miles swing around the
circle in the interest of the peace
treaty and the League of Nations.
The nearest the White House has
come to entertaining of any sort was
q little afternoon tea that Mrs. Wilson
had last Tuesday afternoon, chiefly
for the women of the Cabinet, and a
few who had been in France with the
peacemakers - Mrs. Benson, Mrs.
Franklin Roosevelt. Mrs. Hurley and
few wives Of Senators.
1t was not a big party-and only
notable as the first White House enter
tanning that was anything more than
a strictly family affair since Mrs.
Wilson's return. And after all, 1t was
"family" in a way-official family.
AS might have been expected. there
were some rather interesting gowns
in that little group. Mrs. Wilson her.
self was in something cool and
cloudy, gray, in the nature of geor-
gette, with little transparent glass
beads, like drops Of dew" That is
the way it was deseribed-not very
definite. but attractive on hot day
Tea I'm the Green ParIor.
Tuesday was so hot that tea, which
in summer is frequently served out on
the lovely mi-circular south porch OF
the White House. was served in the
Green Parlor. That is, next to the oval
Blue Room, the stateliest Of the State
apartments. 1t Is a room that sug-
gests shade and GOODNESS even when
the Thermometer registers we'll up in
the nineties.
Miss Margaret Wilson wore a most
attractive and Frenchy gown of green
organdy with embroidered powderings
and all sorts of little frills by way OF
trimming. 1t was a most fetching lit.
tie frock, and as cool looking, in quite
q different way, as Mrs. Wilson'S.
Mrs. Marshall has not been abroad
had. 1t was a curious and tremen-
dously becoming and unusual costume
OF ecru lace. with touches of rather 8
strong blue showing through here ant
there, and forming a girdle, also un-
der the lace instead Of outside of it.
Mrs. Lansing wore about the hand
soonest costume in the little gathering
an obviously French creation" o.
creamy white tricolette, with long ant
heavy fringe that was knotted so a
to give an effect of pearls. Mrs. Dan
iels wore a simple summary dress O
gray wolfe, that looked lust exactly
like Mrs. Daniels"
OF the Cabinet women who were II
town, the only one who did not g
was Mrs. Baker She was sorry L
miss 1t; 1t was a distinct disappoint
ment not to be at Mrs. Wilson's frs
little party after her return; but Mrs
Baker had a previous engagement 70
that afternoon. AS between her owl
disappointment and that of a lot o
sick and wounded soldiers there coul
be but one choice. She had promises
to sing for the boys In the army hos
pital at Fort McHenry. so she mad
her excuses to the First Lady. an
motored over to Baltimore to keep he
enlargement with the soldier boys.
Game Excites Young Marshall.
There seem to be few thrills in tn
Administration circle at present. TIL
only person in any way connecte
with II who has been observed havin
at all an exciting time was youn
Morrison Marshall at the ball par
early In the week. 1t was really
pretty lively game and the grand stan
was cheering and shouting Justify. TIL
Vice President, who Is by way of bein
q fan" was there with Mrs. Mar
shall, and they had brought their littl
adopted son with them. The genera
uproar was infectious, and the young
ster got so excited that he had to b
taken out.
The President and Mrs. Wilson seer
60 have lost their taste for baseball
It will be remembered that It was tn
frequent appearance of Mrs. Norma
Gait in the Presidents box at the ba
park that gave Washington its fir,
hint of (which way the wind blew
back in the summer of 1915, befor
his intention of marrying had bee
announced, or was generally even su.
pected. And in the intervening sun
mers they have been quite frequent
In attendance. But they have n,
been out there as yet since their r,
H,xrn ax-tIU M dnt,ht Iooayno A.