New-York tribune., 1921-06-12
President and Wife Shake
Eands With 1000 Veter-
ans at White House Gar
den Feie Given for Them
Cabinet Members ON Hand
Mrs. Coolidge Honor Guest
at Progressive Luncheon;
Women In Welfare Work
Special Dispctch to The Tribuac

day afternoon was DaTr2ckS Tor more
than 1000 wounded men of the army.
navy and Marine Corps, who arrived in
ambulances, army trucks and automo-
biles of every description and were un
loaded and ready promptly at o'clock
to greet the President and Mrs. Hsr-
ding 1t WAS soldier afternoon at the
White House, and the entertainment
viii undoubtedly go down in history
as the most unusual and interesting
event ever held there
In much smaller numbers the former
President and Mrs. Wilson received in
the same way, but Wednesday patients
came from Walter Reed, Mount Alto,
St. Elizabeth's, the Navy, Fort Henry.
Perryville and other hospitals within
reach of Washington. All of the de-
sails were carefully carried out as for
the three strictly social lawn parties
previously given by Mrs. Harding, the
only difference being the hundreds of
chairs strewn over the lawn for the
comfort OF the men and singing by the
Republican Glee Club, of Columbus.
Ohio.
Mrs. Harding wore her most charm
ing afternoon costume, g dress of navy
blue lace over satin of the same shade,
and broad -brimmed hat of tulle, the
outer brim being embroidered in deli
cate tracery Of gold, while the entire
back of the crown was covered with
closely set pink roses She wore a.
deep pink rose at her belt.
The reception was set or from 5 to T
o'clock, and before that time hundreds
of the wounded men had been con
veyed to the White House lawn,
many of them being taken from army
Wagons in their rolling chairs. Men
stretched on chairs, men on two
erutches, others on only one, some with
one or both arms missing, blind men
and sheil-shocked and nerve racked pa
tients were all there, winding down
from the White House in d picturesque
and continuous stream. The pathetic
company was interspersed with Red
Cross nurses in their gray uniforms.
canteen workers in their striped uni
forms and white aprons and caps, am
bulance and m otor car drivers, army
and navy nurses and, in fact. every
kind of attendant, to add to the
comfort of the men.
President and Mrs. Harding
Shake Hands With Every Man
Both the President and Mrs. Harding
took particular pains that not single
guest should pass without handclasp,
and when, several times, one man more
hewildered and excited than the others
got by Mrs. Harding she reached out
after him and called him back for q
greeting. They reached out. to take
the hands of the blind, and many times
when man On two crutches had to
luggle bit to shake hands Colonel
Sheriff. or Captain Roberts, the Presi-
dents aids, steadied them and started
them along down the line
After the guests were ali received the
glee club, which up to that time had di.
vided numbers with the Marine Band
on various parts of the lawn, closed
in about the President and sang q
number of the songs which helped on
during the campaign, and at last sang
THE End of Perfect Day" Later
they sang directly at the south front
Of the White House for the soldiers
collected there.
The President and Mrs. Harding
visited all parts of the lawn, stopping
TO talk to the chair patients and groups
Of others, Senator Pomerene, who, with
Mrs. Pomerene, was present, like Sec
retary Denby of the Navy, being con-
stantly in the midst of groups of men,
who talked freely. The flowers were
taken from the various tea tables and
distributed among the men and nurses.
The White House was thrown open,
and those on crutches or otherwise less
seriously manned walked up the steps
to the reception floor, while the cleo
trie elevator was used for those in
chairs, and they were shown the entire
lower floor Of the house. The guests
were leaving when the President and
Z. Mrs. Harding entered the residence,
and they walked up the steps that the
soldiers might use the elevator.
Members of Cabinet and
Few Other Guests Invited
Only members of the Cabinet and q
few other guests were asked, among
the latter being Miss Mabel Boardman
who was accompanied by Mrs. Whitelaw
Reid Of New York; Mrs. Nicholas Long
worth, who had with her Mrs. Theodore
Roosevelt jr.; Senator and Mrs. Willis
and few others from official circles.
Several women noticeable on the
lawn, mingling with and taking care
Of the soldiers, were Mrs. Harriet
Blaine Beale, Mrs. John Jacob Rogers
Mrs. Charles Warren and Frederic
Atherton, wearing their Red Gross
nursing uniforms.
One of the smallest but gayest par
ties Mrs. Harding has yet entertained
mat Tuesday afternoon when she took
about twenty guests to Mount Vernon
on the Mayhower. A visit was made
% the tomb of Washington and inside
tae mansion. Tea was served on board
the yacht On the return trip and Mrs.
Harding reached the White House in
time to take dinner with the Presi-
dent
Mrs. Henry C. Corbin has made her
nome at Highover since the departure
oI General Pershing, who took it as his
headquarters after returning from
france, and it is there that she enter
famed at luncheon on Wednesday for
mrs Coolidge and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid,
o New York, who was the guest Of
Irs. William J. Boardman and Miss
ooardman for week.
mrs Coolidge wasithe most gracious
q guests when the progressive plan
was carried out and instead OF ali the
guests at each table taking turns at
he table with the guest Of honor there
we're six tables for the thirty guests,
ana one vacant place at five tables.
atter Mrs. Coolidge had eaten the first
course she moved on to Table No. 2,
"here her place awaited her. After
oealIlon she progressed to Table No. 3,
sue 50 on down to coffee, thus meeting
u quite direct and conversational
manner all Of the party. She wore one
~ the most becoming hats she has been
ssa IN since coming to Washington.
US OF soft pearl gray braid, the broad
1.sm being gracefully shaped, and
naied beneath with blue georgette, with