The New York herald., 1922-10-29
Celebration Shares Interest With Garden Clubs Con-
vention and Informal Parties to Bring Seasons
Debutantes Together-Social Activity
in Diplomatic Circles
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 2s.
7 ASHINGTON society officially
celebrated Navy Day yes

terday. winding UP with tbs
brilliant annual dinner OF the Navy
LssSue OF the United States at tbs
Willard. where the Secretary OF the
Navy was the ranking guest. but LORD
Louis Mountbatten and his bride We're
the observed OF all observers.
Fer Col Robert NJ. Thompson, pa
iron saint OF the navy. was showing
fhe Mountbattens-it's a bit hard &c
accustom oneself to the unfamiliar
-Anglicized form of the once fan,ilia,
Battenberg--not merely tho Wes,
from a car window. but the whole
United States. He interrupted the
tour which they were making with
him In his private car TO bring them
70 Washington for the dinner. Then
he whisked them away again to re-
sumo their trip as scheduled and re-
turn to Washington on November 6
tor more extended stay, when they
will be properly entertained and made
much of.
Lord and Lady Mountbatten every
where that they have gone seem to
have made a genuine personal hi:
very much as the Prince OF Wales
did. They are in America quite un-
officially, and seem to be having the
time of their lives touring the coun-
try under Col. Thompson's wing. Mrs
Thompson has not been OF the party.
She has not been well. and was not
equal to playing hostess on a cross
continent trip. So she and Miss Hilda
Sykes. niece. 1 believe, who lives
with them, went down to White Sui
phur Springs to rally their forces for
the Mountbattens' visit to Washing
ton, and Mrs. Stephen II. P. Pell has
chatelained--is there such a word p
their party for her father
Col. and Mrs. Thompson were not Il,
Washington last winter. the house which
they had occupied so many seasons that
every one supposed they owned it having
been sold to the Rumanian Government
70 serve as legation. But now they have
taken the Thomas Nelson Page house at
New Hampshire avenue and r street
and will take possession next week.
Col Thompson wifi bring his dis
tirguished newly-wods with him and
They win put in a few days doing Wash
ington." Whether they will see Wash.
inston In the short Intervals between
parties or accept only such Invitations
10 they can squeeze into the intervals
between their sightseeing Is a nice oues
tion yet 70 be determined. SO far the
hospitalties announced for them include
parties in their honor by the British
Ambassador and Lady Geddes, by MT
and Mrs. Lawrence Townsend and by
Mrs. James Carroll Frazer. Mrs Frazer
has been one OF the stanchest pillars
OF the Navy League---which 1 believe
Col Thompson founded--and verify she
has her reward
But I'm getting rather ahead of my
story. which this week has chiefly 70 do
with gardens and girls. Much OF the
interest Of the week has centered in the
conference OF the Garden Club Of Amer.
lea, whk;h rather curiously chose tc
have its annual meeting In Washington
which has no Garden Club. But there
may have been method In their madness
for there are lovely gardens both in and
around Washington, some wondered
historic places whose gardens are prob
ably much better kept to-day than they
we're by their original owners In Colonial
and Revolutionary days, and some quite
modern, but none the less enchanting
And having the annual meeting here has
stirred the garden lovers of the capital
and they are many. TO getting their heads
together with view 20 forming a
Washington chapter.
Debutantes Active.
Then there has been considerable activ.
tty in the rosebud garden of girls. The
buds OF the coming season are preparing
for their blooming. Their preliminary
Al. II.
ing for one another. mostly lunchcons anc
bridges. TO bring the girls together. sc
that those who are going to play around
together during the winter shall know
one another before they are swallowed
In the maelstrom. or parties which the
buds OF last season, OF the season be.
fore. are giving by way of welcoming
their little sisters and encouraging them
to. come on IN. the waters fne I"
The American Garden Clubs meeting
has been particularly delightful and II
brought n perfectly charming group ).
women to Washington. II hasrnot beer
arN all o large convention, alongside o,
some that have been held there dur
ing the month. but it's personnel ha:
been 20 gracious and friendly. and it.
discussion animated without acrimony
IL has considered the Powhatan as It's
headquarters, but the delegates hav.
been pretty well scattered at different
downtown hotels, and In many instance.
at the houses of friends. And by tn.
way. the term down town hoter' :.
much less limited In Interpretation thar
81 used to be. To be sure the historic
old Arlington has ceased to exist. bu'
the others remain; and first the Pow
hatan was added TO the list; then the
Lafayette; down town was creeping up
town.
This season the Lee House has opened
its very ornamental doors on one u
tne pleasanteet hosteiries imaginable
with n very attractive Pompciian dinins
room, and a more than attractive Pom
bnt no. don't suppose he's Pompeilau-
chef, who turns out the pleasing foods
And the New Hamilton Is rearing rs
hardsone white mead many stories
higher than the old Hamilton ever as
pired. and all in tho down town dis
trict," within half a dozen blocks 81
the White House.
But TO get back TO the Garden Clubs.
They tell you quite seriously. the dear
ladies'! that they purpoeely avoided hav-
ing parties" on their program. But
.he~% are parties and parties, and "
seemed to me that they were having
the very incest sort; sven though tho
eorinitteo In charge Of the program
decided quite rightly that the delegates
could attend lunches and dinners and
teas anywhere. and at any time. whereas
they would not elsewhere have chance
- be IN close touch with the Govern
fncnt agencies that deal with horticul-
iure. So here their days, yes and the'r
evenings too were filled with meetings
At which gardens ard garden lore. and
garden pests too. were discussed from
every possible slant by Government