Evening star., 1922-02-10
RECEPTION AT WHITE HOUSE
TO CONGRESS BRILLIANT EVENT
Unusually Large and Representative Num-
Der of Guests sAttend-Comfortable Ar
raneements and Striking Decorations

Brilliant throngs surged through
the White House drawing rooms last
night to the number of more than
1000. when the President and Mrs.
Harding held the annual reception in
honor of Congress. An unusually
large and representative body Of SEN
ators and representatives were pres
ent. and with them their families.
friends and constituents. with diplo-
mats and several hundred officers of
both branches of the service in khaki
color uniform. The arrangements
for caring for SO large a company
waS there the slightest discomfort,
unless perhaps in the inevitable wait
lngibelow stairs. Mrs. Harding per-
sonally supervised the decorations
1heee being lavish use OF MOVERS
artistically placed. whlle ths ;ntn a'a a
beautiful picture with gay coiorea
flowers ranged as a border uo"n
either side, and palms filing the wall
inches. In the blue room. Where tho
guests were received, tneIe .
Charming arrangement of pink roses.
and two tall candelabra with many
lighted candles stood at either siue u
the room back of the receiving itne.
Adding much to the comfort Oh the
guests OF honor was the arrane einen'
for their reception in the s!ale u III
ing room, red room and corridors De
fore the reception opened, Wnle !.
seemed incredible that so large
bodv of guests could be received IN
so brief a space of time-soms even
lingering for a friendly woru-anu
yet have the reception carry on Win
such dignity.
Omcinl Family Privately Received.
The Vice President and Mrs. Coot-
fdgc, the Secretary of State ana mrs.
Hughes, the Secretary of the Treas
ury, Mr.. Mellon. the Secretary of war
and Mrs. Weeks the Attorney Cen
eral, Mr.. Harry NJ. Daugherty; the
Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. DEN
by, the Secretary of Interior and Mrs
Fall, the Secretary of Agriculture ana
Mrs. Henry c. Wallace. the Secretary
of Commerce and Mrs. Hoover, and
the Secretary of Labor. with the sec
retary to the President, Mr.. George
B. Christian and Mrs. Christian, nrst
were received in the private suite OF
the President and Mrs. Harding, on
the second floor of mansion
the ball.
The fanfare of trumpets was imme
diateIy followed by the appearance
on the state stairway of the four aides.
preceding the President and Mrs.
Harding, the Vice President and Mrs.
Coolidge and members of the cabinet
and their ladies. walking two ana
two.
Heads Of Both Houses Assist.
The President and Mrs. Harding
had intended receiving alone, but
later asked the Vice President and
Mrs. Coolidge to stand with them. ard
after the Speaker and Mrs. Gillett
had been received and passed back
into the blue room they. too, were
asked into line. it being the first time
Speaker and his wife ever stood in
line at the White House. After the
reception of the Speaker and Mrs.
Gillett the line became general, diplo-
mats, senators, representatives and
citizens being presented just as they
happened to arrive. There was no
barrier into the blue room, and
though at times the limited space
was quite too congested for dignity
and beauty, those who once entered
the sacred precincts for the first time
hesitated to leave, and the feeling of
democracy was truly American.
was great friendliness and an air of
unstinted hospitality.
MIR. Scott C. Bone, Governor of
Alaska, who is in Washington for
visit of several weeks, attended the
reception with Mrs. Robert l.. owen,
and received a constant welcome from
his friends.
While large number Of the woman
guests arrived at the White House
wearing hats and street coats, they
left, them in the corridor, where wraps
were cared for. The minister of Per-
sia, Mira Hussein Khan sAlai whose
splendid uniform, the coat almost COW
cred with gold braid and his breast
With medals and orders. was the only
pereon with covered head, his small
routd cap being part Of his court uni
BrOendes and Lace Worn.
Tts gowns worn during the evening
wer& mot excelled in elegance or beauty
at Rhy other reception. though, Of
cou$se, one missed the splendid1y at
tiree women from New York and other