Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-10
Society Seeks
"SWinannin'
NOoks
Bureau of The Bee,
Washington, July 9.


Vacationists and pleasure-seekers
who returned reluctantly to Wash
ington after the last week end, one
of the hottest almost everywhere in
many years, were glad they were
here by Wednesday morning, which
dawned cloudy and cool. Wash
ington in cool weather is one of the
most delectable spots in the world,
And now that the people here are
learning to be comfortable in hot
weather, this much-abused city is
not bad place at all to pass the
summertime, especially when one
has good and interesting company.
The young people have taken to
swimming picnics for their afternoon
parties, sometimes morning ones,
too. They have chosen several
charming "swimmin' holes" in cool,
shaded places in Rock Creek park
and up the river, where there are pa
vilions, or lovely knobs, to spread
the hamper lunches, with thermos
bottle attachments. The greatest
comfort of these parties, though one
to be deplored, is that the party, al
ways chapercned, to be sure, go in
their bathing suits. This is neces-
sary, for the swimming holes are
not augmented by lighthouses or
hotel accommodations. 1t is quite
the frequent thing in motoring in
the suburbs to pass automobile loads
of young people in bathing cos4
tunes, usually without linen busters
or motor coats, bound for their fa-
vcrite haunts of cool waters and
grassy banks. The moonlight nights
are the busiest, although the dinner
hour is often chosen, to avoid the
sun and to drive home in the cooler
hours.
The favorite and most fashionable
of these swimming holes is near
Silver Spring, a beautiful and hiss 8
toric hamlet of Maryland, only about
six miles from Washington. The i
youngest of the smart social circles,
particularly the sub-deb sets, have
usurped this place for their own.
Another is in Rock Creek park, one
of the most isolated and thickly4
wooded spots, and still another pops
ular, though less fashionable, is
certain spot in Potomac park. This
is conveniently near the Girl ScoutS
Tea Garden.
The President and Mrs. Harding
adopted an alfresco plan for break
fastS and dinners, and sometimes
have these meals on the west ter
race" which is the roof of the ex-
tensions to the White House on the
east and on the west. They are de-
lightful elevated gardens, for Mrs.
Roosevelt had broad boxes of flow
ers placed upon the broad ba1ustrade
making real border of bright bios
SONS. The terraces have been left
much as she arranged them. Groups
OF palms and small patches of other
bright flowers dot the narrow con.
creted roof and innumerable com.
Portable benches and chairs are all
ways there. The terrace on the east
opens from the great east room, and
that on the west opens from the state
dining room. Just outside there tho
presidential table is laid. Latticed
screens with overc1imbing vines and
roses hide the table and the party
from the public gaze and they ara
further protected by the Office build
ing at the extreme and of the west
terrace. From the south side of the
terrace one looks over the lovely
lawn, the tennis courts and Just be-
meath them, the old fashioned flower
gardens. To the north the branches
OF the great trees along the front
and sides of the cid mansion, give
feeling of rusticating in veritable
forest, until the changing of the
gongs Of passing street cars and au4
tomobiles dispels the idea
Mrs. Harding invariably has tea
on the south portico and seldom has
it alone. She is keeping up her
daily receptions and incidentally
thoroughly enjoys the pretty south
lawns and gardens of the White
House. She and the president walk
in them every day and eveninT. She
and the president seldom have a
meal alone. If there are not special-
ly invited guests, some old friend OF
PASooohh oS4udiHtdhSC 10 SUI G 10 uIOp
in just before lunch tea or dinner,
and is apt to be asked to remain fo1
the meal.
If straws show which way the
wind blows, then the private doings
of diplomats disclose the forthcom-
ing activities of their sovereigns and
governments. Thus, the purchase of
the splendid home of Franklin Mac
Veagh, former secretary of the treas
ury, by the Mexican government,
shows that relations with the little
country to the south of US are about
to be restored. The sale of the
house has been consummated though
all concerned had expected to keep
it secret until such time as the gov
ernments announced a settlement of
difficulties.
The MacVeagh house is one of
the most elaborate and pretentious
of the modern mansions in Wash
ington. The drawing room of the
house has walls and ceilings covered
with gold leaf, and $4,000 pipe
organ is built into one end of the
music room, also used as ballroom,
and which Is an exact replica of one
of the rooms at Fountainebleau.
This was correctly copied by Mrs.
MacVeagh, who, although she had
heen MANY times ,nada +, eoar,,1