The Snowflake herald., 1921-11-04

wants to do honor to each and in order to culti
vate acquaintance in familiar way gives series
of muSicales, teas and mall recentions some
times In the afternoon and again in the evening
Luncheon at the White House is usualIv an in
formal affair to which the President invites guests
frequently without much previous notice The in
Vlted are more often than not outof-town friends
VINO nave come to Washington for a few days
and have business at the White House It is only
occasionally that the White House luncheon be-
comes what the society editor calls n function
1t would be difficult to estimate the extent of the
entertaining which is done in year at the White
House through the small and informal and semi
INFORMAL affairs. The probabilities are that every
DAY when the President and his wife are at home
In Washington guests partake of the hospitality
of the historic house. This sort of entertainment
without doubt is the most effective 1t enables
both hosts and guests to become better acquainted
1t becomes possible for to say "The President
and his wife know me-" instead of II know the
President and his wife"
Great State Functions
In saying word for the small and Intimate
affairs there is intention to minimize the i'm
pOrtance of the great state functions which in their
way amalgamate for the time being the various
circles which form Washington society One is
able to determine to some extent what these huge
assemblies accomplish from the fact that from
two thousand to three thousand persons attend
each of them To be sure there is or less
crowding when they indoor affairs, but it is
amazing how well they handled by the Presi-
dents army and navy aids.
1t has been the custom to hold four great recep-
tions each season. The first is in honor of the
diplomatic corps. the second for the Judiciary
the third for congress and the last for the army
and navy. They take place after the Christ
mas holidays and are given two weeks apart Each
administration chooses the day of the week on
which they shall be given. Thursday for some
reason seems to have been the favOrite day
is he ita
ties. These affairs also the special province
of the mistress Of the mansion for the invitations
are sent out in her name. However, the President
. always is present and receives with his wife, 1t
is perhaps needless to say that the parties are
large ones, for there is no reason to leave out
anyone who is eligible. The White House grounds
are spacious and beautiful and no finer setting
could be found.
There as a rule four garden parties
a week until the series ends. In case of rainy
weather the party must be given in the White
House, much to the disappointment of everybody
The affair then becomes like of the
winter receptions There is, however, a marked
difference in the receiving line. Whereas only
the President and his wife receive at the summer
partis the wives of the vice president and cabinet
officers in the line at their left at the winter
receptions. Everyone living in the capital city
wants to be invited to White House garden par
ty, but 1t is the old residential group who from
time immemorial have considered the garden fetes
at 1.-The Presidents house" as their special festal
privilege.
Entertaining the Diplomatic Corps
An administration circle affair which has de-
veloped into one of the most important during the
season is the luncheon to the diplomatic corps at
which the secretary of state is host. AT one time
the secretary of state held the luncheon in his
home but the expansion Of the foreign corps has
made private house impossible a banquet hall
and SO the Pan-American Union building, of which
Washington justly is proud, is used each New