The New York herald., 1921-05-23
Chief Executive and First Lady
Also Attend the Washing
ton Horse Show.
WASHINGTON, u. c., May II.

r YEREAFTER when you want to
notify your guests pleasantly
and politely that the party's
over and it's time to go, do not send
word TO the leader of the orchestra
that Home, Sweet Home" is the next
number on his programme, just ask
him to play "Ihe End of Perfect
Day." That's what Mrs. Harding did
at her garden party last Wednesday.
The only trouble was that her COM
pany was bit obtuse. There had
been "a piece in the papers' about
"The End OF a Perfect Day" being her
favorite air, and SO when the Marine
Band cornetist who had played sew
eral solos during the afternoon started
on those familiar strains nobody paid
any attention to him. The President
and Mrs. Harding were still on duty
and the party was still going strong.
But presently the band tried it again
and then the President and Mrs.
Harding, Col. Sheriff. and another
man stood "at attention" right down
in front OF tho band. listening. But
even then--well, you know some peo-
pie are slow! Finally host and hostess
came UP into the East Room, where a
second banda nice jazzy one-was
playing for dancing, took a turn or
two. just to show that they could. and
listened reverently while tho band
again-the whole band this time-as-
sured the party that this was indeed
"The End OF a Perfect Day" and this
time, ! think. Il penetrated.
1t certainly was the end OF per-
feet party--and the President and Mrs.
Harding proved themselves perfect
hosts. Everything was perfect, even
the weather. When you think what
the weather has been doing TO the
would-be al fresco entertainments OF
the last three weeks. you will under
stand what perfect weather means.
1t was tho first big "crush" OF the
Administration-and big az IL was IL
wasn't a crush at all. For the White
House grounds are spacious enough to
accommodate a crowd that would tax
any drawing room or series OF drawing
rooms. There were probably $500 TO
1000 in the representative company that
gathered 10 greet the Chief Executive
and First Lady at this the first general
"at home" OF the Administration. And
while Il is said that they "only got as
far az the KS In the general list, of
course the diplomatic corps was invited
entire and the Cabinet set--the Ad-
ministration's family circle: and the
Supreme Court circle--though 1t at the
last moment stayed away out OF respect
to tho passing OF Chief Justice White
Also it happened that there were com
parativeiy few OF tho ranking diplomatic
the heads OF missions--as most OF
them were In New York for that inter-
national conference on world trade. and
many OF the embassies and legations
were represented by counsellors. Becre-
taries and attachA But their chieIs
will be on hand TlNsday for the sec
ond OF the series OF NNltc House garden
parties, or for the third on the follow
ing Wednesday, June j.
The grounds were at their best. Wen
out in tho middle OF tho lawn In front
of the fcathery spray of the big foun-
tain the Marine Band was stationed. a
great red splash on the green velvet OF
the turf, the jet of the fountain like
giant osprey behind II, and. an came
In, the stately strains of the Tannhauser
music, with the constantly recurring
Pilgrim motif, were puisating throu4h
the air. Over 10 the west side OF the
lawn under the trees small rug mao
been spread. and here the President and
Mrs. Harding took their stand, quite
alone except for the Presidents CHIEF
aide, Col Clarence Sheriff.. who made
the presentations.
Mrs. Harding I'm Black and Green
Mrs. Harding wore an afternoon gown
of heavy eoru lace mounted on fino
black net over sea green silk a small
sable scarf completed the costume, with
which she wore a rather large BLACK
hat OF transparent horsehair braid with
a soft black aigrette drooping over tho
brfm az one side. and pair OF rnodisil
black satin strap slippers. she carried
n small cluster OF lilies OF the, valley
She seemed 70 still have tho tag end
OF a cold, from which she has been
suffering for several days. and several
times had little paroxysms OF cough
ing. But che had a warm handclasp
ana in a surprising number OF cases
a few words OF personal greeting. There
wns nothing perfunctory about "
either, on her part or the Presidents.
The President laughingly told one at
trantiye woman. Don't bo In hurry
vou know like to hold your hand.
ana that woman Is sure he's the great
est President the United States ever
had. And Mrs. Harding, nno ntu'