The New York herald., 1921-03-13
Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Coo
lidge Show Genial Friend
Illness to All.
wAsHrNoroN. March II

WAsHIN0ToN, March IL.
A PPARENTLY the new Admins
~ tration has made a decidedly
pleasant impression-as far as
it's gone. One hears on all sides
pleased comment on the genial friend
liness and accessibility of the Hardings
and the Coolidges; on the elegance
and distinction of Mrs Harding, both
III manner and appearance, and OF
course lot OF speculation as to how
the new Cabinet is going 10 pan
out" socially, as well as officially-not
merely the Cabinet, but the assistant
secretaries and all the bureau chiefs
and their wives--especially from the
social viewpoint, their wives.
The Hardings seem to be distinctly
human-to desire above all things TO
get next to the world in general
witness the very first thing they did
after their arrival in Washington
their call on Mrs. Champ Clark, 70
express in person the sympathy they
already had expressed by wire. One
thought OF that Monday afternoon
when at the Press Clubs hobby party
the President responded SO pleasantly
and SO humanity, although he was not
on the programme. as one who would
put his hobby through it's PAGES for
the assembled company. TO the re-
quest OF Avery Marks. the clubs
president and of course master of
ceremonies for the afternoon-to the
general effect that to his way Of
thinking the finest hobby in the world
was holding out a friendly helping
hand to those who were down or in
distress.
But I'd better go back bit and tell
some OF the things that l left out last
week or course, you've read all about
the inauguration-and had a different
story in every paper you've read--differ-
ent, that is, as to the little details.
For instance there wero no two accounts
that agreed as to what Mrs. Harding
wore; and if you had been in Washing
ton and asked a hundred people-even
a hundred women--who had really seen
Mrs Harding on her way to the Capitol,
and even studied her at leisure while she
was there. you would have noted the
So me discrepancy.
AS matter of fact. ! wouldn't swear
as to her gown. 1t might have been
black or It might have been very dark
blue. AS It had been announced fully a
month before that her inaugural gown
was to be of dark blue charmeuse en-
broidered in steel beads. with touches
Of lighter blue. and as in the main
the costume that one saw in the Senate
Chamber when Coolidge was being
sworn in as Vice-President answered
that description, / concluded that she
was wearing the frock that she intended
to wear. OF course, on the way up to
the Capitol, and later on out on the east
front thereof, while Mr.. Harding was
being inaugurated and delivering his adj
dress. one saw only her wrap and her
hat---her outdoor things-the dress bein9
completely covered The Senate Cham
her, with its crossing lights, is no place
to match colors.
"President's Pew" vacant.
T The scene there however, was par
ticularly interesting, and from my place
in the gallery l was much better able to
give the celebrities "the once over than
l was later on the east steps OF the
stance, to note that the Hardings, sur
rounded by members of their family,
took their places in the second row of
the executive gallery, leaving the ''Presi-
dents pew" in the front row vacant !
and the members of the Vfce-Presidents
family occupied the adjoining benches.
The wives Of the incoming Cabinet
officers were grouped together, all ex-
cept Mrs. Hughes, who lost her way
and finally landed in the Senator'S card
gallery. separated from the other
women of the Administration family
in the adjoining executive gallery
(Which is executive only as to the first
few rows, and back of that is devoted
TO members of the Senator'S house
holds) Mrs. Harding's Gown-whether
il was blue or blacS-was cut square In
front. the square being outlined by a
collar which in that light seemed to be
pale gray and blue, and sne wore a
short string of pearls falling little
below the band OF black velvet with dia-
mond slides which she nearly always
likes to wear about her throat. The
sleeves were rather short, and were
met by long white gloves. Her hat
seemed to be a modified sailor shape OF
fine black horsehair braid, rather
high crowned and with about three
inch brin, slightly and becomingly
rolled, and with a thick outstanding row
rolled, and with thick outstanding row
OF clipped aigrets about the crown. As
she went out to the inaugural stand
she slipped on a very stunning wrap of
fine silky broadtail. with a broad,
square cut chinchilla collar-and one
noticed as she moved out from the
seats that her skirt was neither short
nor long, as skirts so nowadays-siA or
seven inches from the ground. / should
say. Altogether. while she was not ex-
travasantly dressed, one felt that tho
itors are some OF the companies Tor
whom she has been strilingly blonde on
the acreen.