The Washington times., 1920-03-07
Nru. Baker still o
CnnGs To Custom.

Mrs. Baker stiIi .
Cnngs To Custom.
Mrs, Baker still clinEs TO the GUS
tom OF receiving quite informally on
Wednesday afternoon, but she is the
only one of the Cabinet women who
continues to observe her day at home.
Mrs. Burleson did have a tea party
this last Wednesday, but she was
functioning not as a Cabinet hostess,
but as president of the Washington
Center of the Drama League. Her
guests were the members Of the
Drama League, with the humorous
Miss Carolyn Wells the bright partic-
ular star. and Prof. Algernon Tassin
among the other shining literary
lights present.
Prof. Tassin, who Is on the faculty
OF Columbia University. is spending
his sabbatical year--isn't that what
they call the one years leave in seven
which is granted university profess
sors for study and improvement?-in
Wash ington. and has Mrs. Tassin, a
very young and very pretty and very
charming Mrs. Tassin. with him. His
newest play. 1.-THE Craft OF the Tor
toise." which Is yet to be produced.
is being very much discussed, and CD
scNeT6I OCCdSIOuS
readings therefrom. He read one act,
the third. at the Arts Club two or
three weeks ago. and later on. one
Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Herman
Gasch Invited q group OF her friends
to hear the fourth act. with tea to
follow.
1.-THE Craft of the Tortoise" deals
with the wiles of women through the
ages and propounds the theory that
woman, who has so long been forced
to gain her ends by craft and the
force of her feminine appeal, will not
relinquish these powerful weapons
because she has been given the vote
and equal opportunity with man.
It's play that's bound to start
something-pardon the vernacular--
when 1t is produced, for there's a
Shavian quality about its sparkling
dialogue and it's positively uncanny
the way the man strips the veil Of
illusion from the ladies. I don't be-
lieve there's a single feminine foible
that gets by him.
Guests At Party
or Literary Tread.
Mrs. Gasch's party was particular
ly delightful. for the company was
made up of the congenlal group OF
literary and scientific folk with
! whom she is affiliated She's a writ
ing person herself. as, OF course, you
know and her maiden name, Marie
Manning. is signed to many a cork =
ing short story in the current periodi-
calls.
Mrs. Burleson was there to heer
Mr.. Tassin read his play and others
| one noticed we're DR.. and Mrs. Har-
vey Wiley, Miss Ellen Hale, Mrs. Msr.
garita Spaulding Gerry, Mrs. Kincaii.
and that very delightful French pre-
late, Able Dimnet, who was in Wash
ington for a week or two. He has
complexion to make a debutante en-
vious. the bluest eyes, the whitest
hair and one of the keenest and moss
intellectual faces / ever looked into.
And he's perfectly charming to talk
to.
On Friday afternoon--to get back
to my tale of the weeks activities
interest seemed to be divided between
the Congressional Clubs weekly TO-.
party and the League of America
Penwomcns reception also a weekly
event
The Congressional Clubs program
took the form OF musical, win
Elizabeth Reside, soprano, and RoA.
ert II. Flagler, pianist, giving the
program. Mr.. Flagler, who is wide
ly known as composer as we'll az
q musician, is a nephew OF Senator
Calder. The singer Is a Washington
girl, the gifted daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Howard Reside, and when sing
ing in her old home she rather pre-
fers to be known by her maiden
name, although in private life she is
Mrs. Victor 'Whitside. She Is the
widow OF a young army officer, who
was stationed at Fort Myer at tho
time Of their courtship and marriage.