The Washington herald., 1920-08-15
SOCIETY

Though the restrictions as TO
other buildings have been removed,
the White House is still closed,
though there is a little less red
tape to be endured to enter the por-
tails. Those who go to the White
House now on ordinary srrsnds
<such as the presentation of memo.
rials, or to ask executive aid or
clemency in some matter, must en-
ter at the small gate at the west
end Of the grounds, just a few steps
from the executive offices, and are
not admitted to the grounds proper.
Only Cabinet oficers. diplomats
or persons of special Importance or
specially invited are allowed to go
in at the main entrance and they
have to give their names to the big
policeman at the gate who looks
on list before the guest is al
lowed to enter. There is a story
that lady high up in social circles
was asked to tea by Mrs. Wilson
/ think 1t was while We were still
at war-and by some mistake her
name had not been given to the
guards at the big gate and she was
held waiting there while the matter
was looked into and Strengthened
out.
WHITE HOUSE SHRINE
LIKE MOUNT VERNON.
Even yet White House corre-
spondents, I'm told. may not walk
about the lawns north of the big
house where in other years the pub
lie was'admitted without question.
The White House to thousands Is
shrine as Is Mt. Vernon and equal
years the large lawn south of the
house has been closed to the public
but the smaller lawn on the north
side through which the main drive
way runs was always open until
1917. Tourists from far and near
visited the White House and took
photographs of it Now they have
to look at 1t or photograph ii from
great distance through the iron
pickets.
Once in a while some visitor. pre-
pared with letter of request for
special privileges, is shown the
Cabinet room and the President's
office, but no exceptions are made
about the White House proper. In
the good old days before the war
all visitors were admitted to the
White House at certain hours, where
guides conducted them through GER
tain rooms, including the big his
torical east room, where much So
cial history has been written; the
red room, the blue room. the long
corridor with the china collections
on exhibit and other rooms used for
formal occasions.
RESTRICTIONS FEW
DURING FIRST TERN.
During the greater part of the
first Wilson administration there
were only minimum restrictions in
force at the White House. In the
summer months II was the practice
to have the Marine Band play on the
lawn Just south OF the house. and
for a few hours the public was ad-
mitted to the spacious grounds
there, where they sat about and
listened to the music.
Frequently the President and
Mrs. Wilson would sit on the por-
tico. where the President now
spends most of his time, and would
enjoy the music with the public. 1t
was also there that the children en-
joyed the time -honored custom on
Easter Mondays OF rolling multi
colored eggs down its grassy slopes.
That has not been done, however.
now for several years. In fact, as
/ recall II, the south lawn OF the
White House was always open to
the public; that is, during the day,
at all seasons until the Roosevelt
administration. when the south lawn
was closed and at first caused some
grumbling among those who had
enjoyed roaming through there at
will.
HOUSTONS VISIT
At WOODS HOLE.
The Presidents official family was
rather quiet; in fact, half of them
are out of town. Secretary Houston
has gone up to Woods Hole to join
his family for a few days and Secre-
tary Daniels has gone to Raleigh.
n c., to join Mrs. Daniels, who went
down there early in the week. The
Burlesons are at the Robert Grain
estate in Southern Maryland and
Secretary Wilson and Secretary AL
exsnder haven't yet returned from
their visits with their families at
their respective country homes.
Secretary Baker will leave tomor-
row for the Middle West and Secre-
tary Meredith slipped away yester-
day for a short trip.
The week socially was rather
Cuiet; was rather like one might ex-
pect Washington to be during Au-
gust. The only party of any size
was the very charming reception
Thursday evening when John Bar
rett. Director General of the Pan
American Union. was host at a very
charming reception and dance at
the Pan American Building in COM
pliment to the members OF the
Summer School of Pan American and
Foreign Commerce, the faculty of
the school and a number OF invited
guests. 1t was to have been a gar
den party in the beautiful Aztec
gardens in the building but as u.s.
ual, rain prevented. John Barrett
has been unlucky about the rain and
his garden parties this season: the
weather has rather disarranged his
plans several times, though, with
Mr.. Barrett as host, his parties, rain
or no rain,y are always all that could
be desired. That garden is the love-
liest place in the world for a garden
party and 1t is always a disappoint-
ment when tt can't be used. Let's
hope Mr.. Barrett's successor will be
fond of entertaining and stage some
nice garden parties there too. John
Barrett has certainly given some
beautiful entertainments there; no
one can surpass them-that much is
certain.
BARRETT TO FINISH
HERE SEPTEMBER L.
Thursdays party was probably
the last OF very many longto-be-