Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-11-03

wants to do honor to each and in order TO culti-
vate acquaintance in a familiar way gives series
of musicales, teas and small receptions some
times in the afternoon and again in the evening
Luncheon at the White House is usually an in
formal affair to which the President invites guests
frequently without much previous notice. The in
Vted are more often than not outOf-town friends
who have come to Washington for a few days
and have business at the White House 1t is only
occasionally that the White House luncheon be-
comes what the society editor calls function.
1t would be difficult to estimate the extent of the
entertaining which Is done in a 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 one to say 1.-THE President
and his wife know me-" instead of 81 know the
President and his WIFE"
Great State Functions
In saying a word for the small and intimate
affairs there is no 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 more or less
crowdlng when they are indoor affairs but it is
amazing how well they are handled by the Pres-
dents army and navy aids
1t has been the custom to hold four great recep-
tons 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 soon 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
May is the month for White House garden par
ties These affairs are 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 reason to leave out
anyone who is eligible The White House grounds
are spacious and beautiful and finer setting
could be found.
There are 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 more like one 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 are 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 It is the old residential group who from
time immemorial have considered the garden fetes
at "the Presidents house" as their special festal
privilege.
Entertaining the Diplomatic Corps.
An administration circle affair which has de-
veloped into of the most important during the
season is the luncheon to the diplomatic corps at
which the secretary of state is host. At 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