The Washington herald., 1921-05-22
White House
GardenParty
Wednesday
By EVELYN C. HUNT.

isn't IL fine to have such a hu-
man couple in the White House?
or again. Aren't President and
Mrs. Harding just the best sports
ever"
Such remarks were heard on all
sides in the East Room of the Ex-
ecutive Mansion last Wednesday
afternoon when the guests at the
garden party were enjoying the
dancing and enjoying having Pres
ident and Mrs Harding dancing
with them. for they danced several
dances and seemed to be thoroughly
enjoying 1t. too.
The garden party was the first
formal entertainment Mrs. Hard
ing has given since she became
First Lady of the Land and society
has been anticipating il with great
interest and pleasure. And they
were not one bit disappointed the
day was perfect: couldn't have been
prettier. and the grounds were at
the heighth Of their beauty. About
1000 persons, Including the mem
bers of the Cabinet and their wives;
the heads of the diplomatic mis-
sions. with their families and the
members of their STATS; with many
of the members of both houses of
Congress, army and naval officers
and officers of other nations, and
many of the smart set in residential
circles, strolled about the lawn,
gathering in ever-shifting groups
The maids and matrons in their
new spring gowns and fower-laden
hats and the scarlet and blue and
gold uniforms of the Marine Band,
which played from a raised plat
form in the center of the lawn, all
made a picture that will linger long
IN the memory of Washington
society.
This was the first of a series OF
three garden parties which Mrs.
Harding has planned, the second to
be given next Thursday afternoon.
1t was the first garden party given
there since before this nation en-
tered the great war. so. altogether.
was enjoyed greatly by those who
were fortunate enough to be asked.
Those who have to wait until the
second or third party are quite i'm
patient and were frankly envious
Of those whose names are at the
top of the White House list, which
is arranged alphabetically. 1t was
amusing to greet your friends ana
realize that all Of them had names
that began with A, B or C-I no.
tiCed people with names in G. 1
don't think the list for Wednesday
had reached the HIS at all, but 1t
stopped thereabouts some place. OF
course there are always lots of peo-
pie who get invited to them all.
usually official people or very close
" n = II
announced that the hopes of society
were to be realized: that there
were really to be some garden par
ties at the White House, cards have
been left in great numbers at the
Executive Mansion. for the list is
made up more or less. you know.
from the cards of those who call
upon the First Lady. of course.
they are all passed upon very care
fully by Mrs. HardinE's social sec
retary, Miss Laura Harlan.
The party was so typical Ameri-
can AS at all functions here, no
matter how important or formal. one
always sees such a conglomeration
Of types OF people and costumes
well. there was every sort of a cos
tune from a plain. tailored suit and
sailor hat to the filmiest of after
noon creations that would have
passed for a dinner party even while
the men wore frock coats and silk
hats: frock coats without the silk
hat. business and sport suits and
even the soft collar was seen occa-
sionally. Tne President, of course.
had on the conventional frock coar
and Mrs. Harding had on a verr
handsome gown of ecru colored
italian lace made on a hne founda-