The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Welcoming of Newcomers t,
Be Taken Up With Hardly
a Pause.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S.

Il II duSCs
WASHINGTON, Feb. rs.
Wv r HEN it comes to welcoming the
NV coming guest--and speeding
the parting-the most expert
observer. after having been years on
the Job. is forced to admit that Wash
ington does them both so well puts
so much of genial good will and con-
vincing enthusiasm into both greet
ing and parting, that the dear depart
ing have at least as much reason to
be assured that society is simply desc
late at their loss as the newcomers
have to know that Washington is
simply dee-Iighted! to see them. and
Is perfectly sure that there's good
time coming and that they are bring
Ing It.
And really people seem to be on
tirely sincere in the Joy that rings
through their "Ave:" and the regret
that steals into their "vale!" Even
those who have criticised the outgoing
Administration most severely are dis
tinctly sorry to have to say "goodby"
to individual members Of 1t, and while
there Is the usual buzz Of expectancy,
and plans are merrily making for
after the 4th of March," society is
simply running around in circles in
its efforts. individually and collectively,
to assure the officials who are about
to cease to be official OF it's entirely
distinguished consideration. That, for
the moment. is both the chief industry
| and the favorite indoor sport of Wash
ington society,".
Breakfasts. luncheons. receptions and
dinners in honor OF each member Of the
Cabinet in turn and, now that the time Is
growing short, of several of them to-
gether. In their excess OF zeal they
even are entertaining one another. At
any rate Secretary and Mrs. Baker are
giving what undoubtedly Will be their
last official dinner next Tuesday even
ing in honor Of the Secretary Of State
and Mrs. Colby.
Presumably after Thursday the busi-
ness Of welcoming the newcomers will
be taken up without q pause for breath.
And IL Is q distinct pleasure to realize
that most Of the newcomers are really
old friends--at least the majority of the
new Administration family are! Jus
tice" Hughes and his family were not
merely part OF official Washington for
half dozen years but were OF the one
small official group that Immediately
takes Its place with the most exclusive of
the residentials, for the members of
the Supreme Court circle are at once ac-
cepted as permanencies in Washington
society.
And yet it is not quite the same
Hughes family, for the member of 1t
whom Washington knew perhaps the
best in a personal and social way was
Helen. the eldest daughter. and she, alas,
does not return. She was one of the
many victims of the influenza epidemic.
Miss Katharine, now the eldest daughter.
Ks remembered as a schoolgirl. Both she
and little Miss Elizabeth were pupils at
the Cathedral School for Girls, which In
their time both Helen Taft and Ethel
Roosevelt had attended. Indeed it was
in an apparently casual statement in the
course of an address at the Cathedral
School at Miss Katherine's graduation N
June. 1916. that Justice Hughes fret
definitely let 1t be known that he would
accept the Presidential nomination which
the Republican convention. then sitting.
wanted to give him.
Miss Katherine was then entering
Wellesley. from which Helen had gradu-
ated. and of which Mrs Hughes was also
an alumna. Katherine should be
through college by now and ready to
take her place--a young lady out IN
society--as one of the Cabinet bellies.
AS remember, Katherine had distinctly
the making of a real, sure-enough belle.
She should be really good looking, and
unless she has changed a whole lot she
Is an eager. enthusiastic sort of some
body-interested In things and people
not merely "in' on everything that's
going, but leading spirit among her
mates
Little Miss Elizabeth has probably
quite outgrown being the family baby.
She must be along about fourteen or
fifteen---still q schoolgirl of course, and
quite probably looking forward to col
lege. but not too serious minded to enjoy
all the fun that comes TO official juniors.
And of course there is Charles Evans
Hughes. Jr.. but he LIS married and has his
own little family. and while, naturally,
they may all be frequent visitors, they
are not necessarily to be reckoned with
as part of the Administration circle.
Sold His House to Mr.. Weeks.
Probably Mr.. Hughes is wishing he
had net been quite so precipitate about
selling his house up at 2100 sixteenth
street to one-tine Senator and pros
pective Secretarys of War John Weeks
For ii was house that suited him and
his family, one which he had bought
when 1t was half built. and had 1t COM
pleted to meet his own family needs and
tastes. and he will be put to IL 20 find
another that suits them anything like
80 well.
1t is a delightful house with a big
library on the first floor as one enters
from the street, and the drawing room,
directly over IL on the second floor, a
room with Ivy framed windows on two
sides and the sunshine pouring into IL
much OF the day. There IS n pleasant
sort of living room hall. sun flooded
and filled with growing plants. connect,
Ing IL with the dining room-altogether
q pleasant, dienified American home.
thoroughly adapted to official entertain-
ing, but primarily a place 70 live in
and to express ones personality In.
One recalls that the one impression the
big library left was books, and deep
cushioned chairs, and solid comforts,
and II memory serves. smoking Access
sories--a mans room. While Just above
1t In the drawing room one recalls the
big piano and the effect OF light and