The sun., 1919-08-31
WASHINGTON. Aug. 80.
IS. WILSON has given her

den party, such as the lovely White
House gardens never before furnished
a setting for in all their century or
more of existence. 1t was all much as
usual--the wide stretches of lawn, the
large misty fountain in It set like a
great white aigrette in a green velvet
hat; the Marine Band. a great splash
of scarlet and gold: the tables in the
trees to the right
The guests. 800 or moro Of them.
were soldiers all-yea, moro, they were
wounded soldiers all-the boys" fropn
Walter Reed Hospital and from the
Naval Hospital
It was the most wonderful party
ever. 1t blew UP all of a sudden. The
idea came one day-a group Of recon-
struction workers who were received
at the White House brought it, and
the party the next Never, I fancy,
was a White House function so keenly
enjoyed. Never viii one be so long
remembered.
Nobody was invited but the men
from the hospitals, and no one else
was admitted except the attendants
who came to look after those who
needed looking after. Never before
was there a party so full Of pathos.
and of inspiration, and of keenest en-
joyment withal.
Along between and s In the after
noon the guests gathered in the great
hack yard" Of the White House.
Those whose condition required trans
l. l..
Red Cross ambulances, in Hmousines
and in jitneys-the ever ready Motor
Corps doing duty as usual. Some,
alas! came in wheeled chairs.
1t was the most Informal and the
most unusual party ever gathered un-
der those historic trees on the south
lawn. Probably 50 per cent. of the
guests had crutches or canes: many
were fitted with "pegsticks" They
were SCARED and MANNED, but cheer
full withal-and expectant-and dubi-
Gus.
"star spangled Bannerr Heard.
Then the strains Of ''The Star Span
glad Banner" and they were all
scrambling to their feet, or crutches
getting up somehow to greet their
III NIllcl anu lIlc ldQy
a. they stood. also at attention. where
the national anthem had caught them,
emerging from the house to greet
their guests.
With them were Mrs. Marshall. Mrs
Lansing and Mrs. Lane. the only ones
OF the Cabinet circle in town. and Mrs.
Rolfe Boiling and Miss Benham.
Mrs. Wilson looked lovely. Wash
ineton has seen many OF the afternoon
gowns that she brought from Paris,
and verify 1t seemed as II she had
saved up the prettiest to do honor to
tho "blesses." It was a gown Of white
chiffon, soft as a summer cloud, grace
fully draped and trimmed with lace
and tiny bowknots of pink and French
blue ribbon. Her hat was a picture
shape of black satin faced with black
velvet, and for its only trimming
knots of pale pink and French blue
ribbon.
She and the President took their
stand under the great trees skirting
the west drive, with only Mrs. Mar
shall besides. The others who had
come out with them were out on the
lawn, each one helping to make things
go" And then the pathetic and he
roic Zine" was formed.
Introductions were made by Irving
II. Hoover, head usher at the White
House (who accompanied the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson to France, both
trips, serving as sort of sublimated
courier: who got their marriage IL
cense for them and for each of the
other White House bridal couples of
I,,,f ,4e4,-., ~,
most severely wounded men were at
the end of the line, some who were out
of the hospital for the first time in
eighteen months and some in wheeled
chairs propelled by nurses. And these
last received just little more atten-
ton from their distinguished hosts
than those who were able to march
bravely down the line unaided They
were a gallant crew, smiling cheerfully
at their Chief, making light OF their
injuries, even as they in some in
stances apologized for not being able
to shake hands because they had left
theirs behind them over there"
With the formal reception over and
the men gathered in picturesque
groups on the lawn. eating White
House cakes and ice cream (and oc-
oasionally surreptitiously slowing a
tiny cake in blouse or pocket-to send
later TO some one of the home folks, a
child or perhaps a mother, who would
admire" to have q fragment of cake
from a White House party) and par
taking of white House punch--no, in
deed. only fruit punch or grape Juice
with neither stick" nor "kick' to 1T
for most of them the real enjoyment
bean.
Any shyness or constrain' that may
have oppressed the visitors az first
was soon forgotten when the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson began threading
their way among them, stepping care
fully over crutches and avoiding canes
but managing TO stop at each little
group and give 1t a few kindly words
OF personal welcome. And when the
President himself, seeing that some OF
his guests were waiting over long fol
service. began foraging for them anc
waiting on them himself. their cur
overfowed. 1t was too much!
Gets Picture of President.
They wouldn't really feel sure Il
happened except that fortunately they
have photographic proof For Private
Joseph Rychard Of New York brought
his camera along, and when he saw
the President crossing the White
House lawn carefully halancin0 Z