The Washington times., 1921-06-12

SSCoME party. Ell boysg" ques-
~ TONED a pretty girl in a
nurses aide uniform as she
helped pass plates of ice cream
and cake at Mrs. Harding's .
last garden party. And the
rPll say It is." WHICH came back In
a swelling chorus from her psrticu-
lar group OF charges would, have
been echoed by every one .of the
President and Mrs. Harding's soldier
and sailor guests.
For every one OF the 1.400 or ] 800
patients from the military and naval
hospitals in and near Washington
who were the special guests at this
most picturesque of fetes had good
time. Each was made to feel. as
far as was humanity possible, that II
was his party, yes, that IL was his
White House. and that while he
might be paying heavily the price Of
liberty, his sacrifice was not unap-
preciated.
But they were not thinking OF sac
rinces, these boys in olive drab or
navy blue. For there was music and
laughter. and color enough to keep
anyone entertained. let alone a man
who had been shut up in a hospital
for months. And the nurses whom
the boys liked and the Red Cross
workers with whom they had made
friends were there to see that their
patients got what they Wanted. And
there was all the ice cream and cake
that a fellow could possibly eat. and
sandwiches and punch and other ak
ms. And the garden looked so pretty
all decked out in red and white striped
tents with the fountain playing and
the Marine Band stationed nearby and
pretty women in gay garden party
frocks rubbing elbows with equally
pretty women in becoming service
uniforms. And the glee club sang
war songs and campaign songs and
old familiar airs. And the President
and Mrs. Harding, when they greeted
everybody all round, started strolIing
about just like anybody else and chat
ting with anybody who wanted 20
chat And there was something doing
every moment. And-well. II was
some party that's all! Ri
THE BOYS SOON
WARM UP
A little quiet at first the boys soon
.cst all sense of restraint and before
long they were seated about picnic
fashion on the grass enjoying their
ice cream or had settled themselves
where they could hear the music or
we're strolling about in congenial
groups or were watching the line as
II passed the President and Mrs.
hsrding-were doing, in short, what
ever the spirit moved them to do.
Eefore the afternoon was over some
we're comfortably installed on the
south portico of the White House,
looking down with interest upon the
picturesque, colorful scene: and
groups of soldier and sailor lads were
strolling through the state apart
l:eenest tnterest1and asking questions
" ~hich not even the habitues of the
White House could answer.
- +
Col. Clarence Sheriff.. the .Presi-
dents aide, was on duty quite ready
to make the presentation" but he
didn't have much of a chance. The
Hardings were so anxious to speak
to the boys" and the bows were
so anxious to speak to them, that
formal introductions seemed rather
superhuous. One did not know
whether to laugh or cry as one
watched that wonderful line work
its way past the President and his
wife. The boys themselves went
bravely. smiling. even though they
WINGED at the effort. Then there
were those who walked sauarely,
but made joke of Offering their left
hands. or of not offering any! There