Evening star., 1921-06-12

In the four memorable garden fetes
given by tho President and Mrs. Hard
ing there were among the 5000 and,
more guests Eome of universal ce-,
Ilebrity, and this recalls that the White
House has never followed the custom
of European and eastern capitals in
having a visitors book. In twenty
Il years the autographs of guests at
( these al fresco amenities would be
commercially most valuable, and in
the course of a half century absolute
lly priceless. For instance, during the
war, when Queen Mary and other
members of the British court were
driven to their last resource to raise
funds for hospitals and homes. an On
terprising antiquarian offered the
king $4,000 apiece for the visitors
books at Windsor Palace. which date
back to the reign Of George ~. The
king, however. had no authority to
dispose of them. oven to raise several
millions, which he needed sorely. But
the PREMIER Lloyd George. allowed
him to permit the dealer to trace the
most famous signatures and for this
privilege alone Queen Mary received
funds enough to carry on nursing
homes in various parts OF England
and northern France. Now a time
might come WREN the mistress Of the
White House would have veritable
sold mine at her command. for cha-i-
table or patriotic purposes. just for
introducing visitors volume for
private calls as we'll as for large re-
ceptions like those of the past four
weeks.
From President Harding to the last
of his official advisers. MIR. Davis OF
the Department Of Labor, all may be
counted as good sportsmen In some
special line. Golf. being dign. ned
game. appeals to every one or them:
though the President. the Secretary OF
War and the Secretary of Agriculture
are the most fervent devotees. The
Secretary of the Navy likes his game
and he is frequently seen on the
course at the various country clubs
He joined the Chevy Chase when he
was serving in Congress and remains
faithful to it. The Secretary of State
was frequently seen on the golf course
when he was in the Supreme Court.
but since his return to Washington
he has rarely enjoyed the opportunity
!of rla ying a game. He Is. however.
lat Greystone, the country seat recent
lily leased, within easy distance Of sew
eral good greens. The Postma ster
General. who is young and boyish in
looks and disposition. likes a game OF
hand ball and also handles a tennis
racket skillfully. He confesses. how
ever. that keeping up with the needs
of the Post Office Depa TT nj ent' has fur
nished all the athletics he needs. The
Attorney General likes golf. but he
does not play habitually. He prefers
cross-country riding and takes an
early morning canter as often as he
can find the time. The Secretary of
the Treasury belongs to scores of ath-
letic associations and is one of the
directors of the foremost country
clubs about Pittsburgh. He has his
own particular green for golf and he
has not yet settled to preference in
Washington though both he and his
daughter. Miss Ailsa. often appear at
the Columbia Club. both for tennis and
golf.
None of the cabinet officials nor their
wives show decided preference for
horses. either for riding or driving. and
olG-fs shioned landau and surrey fur
nj he'd by the government. Mr.. Wallac ce
used = landau. which is one Of the
perquiSites allowed cabinet officersf for
some weeks after taking over the He-
lace and their daughters found that
time is fleeting and precious and they
sent to Des Moines for their cars. The
Secretary Of the Interior and Mrs. Fall
use motor cars in Washington. though
the Secretary owns one of the finest
stock farms in the southwest and hab-
itually has more than one hundred sad
die horses on hard: Mrs. Fall is as fine
a horsewoman as may be found in her
hundred mile ride to attend social
affair. She may send for her favorite
horse and inaugurate the fashion of the
morning canter, SO popular during the
Roosevelt regime.
President and Mrs Harding's visit to
the Valley Forge country will without
doubt increase the popularity of that
Ion, ~, ,irH hn .asa NJ
Pennsylvania has acquired in the inter
ests of patriotism. Although the Valley
Forge Park lies on the direct road OF
travel from Philadelphia points little
the motorists include it in the itinerary.
although a much wider detour would be
entirely worth while.
The park is one Of the most care
fully marked spots in the world. and.
| sweeping in from the excellent pike
which leads off from the old York
road, it is possible to follow the foot
! steps of Washington and the conti-
mental soldiers through that awful
winter. The headquarters of the COM
I manding general have been preserved
with incredible accuracy. and visit
to this building alone is worth long
and arduous trip instead of pleasant
ride Then in the Memorial Church
which crowns an emincnce overlook
ing the valley and the memorable
Gothic edifices on this continent. with
cloisters and gardens reproduced from
Westminster Abbey. and the general
interior, though much smaller. a
worthy replica CT that Valhalla.
| Senator Knox some twenty years
ago bought one of the outlying farms
in the valley and his land lies near
the northeast boundary of the state
reservation. The park is beautiful
nd romantic and the rugged hills are
now clothed in wonderful flowers
which. though wild. have been train
ed into garden areas and lend a charm
| which is indescriba BILE. There are no
fees whatever attached to visiting
| every part of Valley Forge Park. On
the contrary. there are guides on hand
to awaken slumbering. memory and
to point out every sacred spot. all
paid by the state and no tips allowed.
In this season of garden fctes none
could be in more glorious surround
| ings than those given by MIR. and Mrs.
| Charles J. Bell in Twin Oaks Those
who have recently visited their rose
garden will not soon forget the vision
| which Ereets one after passing under
trellis after trellis of roses into the
lower garden, where a superb bed of
deep purple petunias raise royal heads
| almost four feet from the ground and
some gold and white columbine f1ut-
ter in the breeze like flock of but
terfiies. And straight through the
trees the Cathedral of SITS. Peter and
Paul looms over the scene. Mrs. Belts
rose garden is one OF the popular