The New York herald., 1921-11-20
Mrs. Harding Again Lessons
Social Duties at Capital
Reception at White House for Wives of Representatives
to Meet Ladies of Cabinet Goes Step Further
Toward Establishing Collective Calling.

included Mrs. Hughes. Mrs. Weeks. Mrs.
DENLY, Mrs. Wallace. Mrs. Fall. Mrs.
Hoover and Mrs. Davis. with Miss Ailsa
Mellon. daughter OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury, at the end. Miss Mellon
is not assuming the responsibilities OF
a Cabinet hostess, but welcomed this
opportunity to make the acquaintance
with the women OF official life. Mrs.
Daugherty. an invalid, and Mrs. Hays
were the absentees. neither being at
present in Washington.
1t wasn't a formal party any more
thap Mrs. Harding's reception for the
Senate ladies had been. In each in
stance the hostess mingled In friendly
fashion with her guests once formal
greetings were over, and the company
waxed merry as tea was being served in
the state dining room. This time Mrs.
Frederick II. Gillett, wife of the Speaker,
presided at the tea table, assisted by
Mrs. Frank w. Mondell, wife OF the
majority leader, and Mrs. Finish J.
Garrett. wife of the minority leader.
Mrs. James r. Mann, wife of former
leader of the House.. was pressed into
service upon her arrival. and poured tea
most of the afternoon. When the Senate
and the Cabinet were entertained the
wives of the four oldest members of
the Senate in point of continuous SER
vice did the honors at the tea table.
In asking the Senator's wives to re-
oeive with her Mrs. Harding extended
her invitation to the Ladies of the Sem
ate--an organization of the wives of
members of the upper House. through
Mrs. Coolidge, wife of the Vice-Presi-
dent, who is ex officio their president.
The letter was read by Mrs. Coolidge at
the meeting Of the Ladies' Of the Senate
and copies were sent to the absentees.
1t was signed by Mrs. Harding, and ran:
"My Dear Mrs. Coolidge: After the
luncheon with the Ladies Of the Senate
last Tuesday It occurred to me that per-
haps they would be willing to cooperate
in lessening the stress of social duties
in the coming season Owing to the
presence in Washington Of the members
OF the conference there doubtless will
be unusual demands. and l would be
very glad If you would present this sug-
gestion at the business meeting, which
1 heard you say would be tomorrow.
Briefly 1t is this: There are so few
wives of the members OF the Cabinet
who will be in Washington this winter
that the duties devolving upon them will
be particularly strenuous, and it oc-
CURED to me that If the ladies of the
Senate would agree to receive with me
some afternoon in the near future, when
the ladies of the Cabinet might come to
make their calls at the same time, It
would be a solution for all. i am leav-
ing town on Tuesday and shall not re-
turn until late in the week, which pre-
vents me from suggesting that, mas
much as Thursday is Senatorial day,
that day would be my preference. How
ever. ] would like to have this meeting
take place as early as possible. It so
happens that must be away from town
the following Thursday, so would be
glad to have the ladies of the Senate
receive with me at the White House
Saturday. October %, at half-past T.,
when the ladies Of the Cabinet will be
presented to them"