Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-27
An Unusual Garden Party-By Frederick j. Haskn

Hughes, and they watch with amusement the
group of camera men who are following him
about, swapping him as he talks to row of
men in wheel chairs or as he poses with his
wife. They are keenly interested in recognize
ing and pointing out to one another Vice Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge; the Cabinet officers
and their wives; Brigadier General Sawyer, the
dignified little doctor, who guards the PreSi-
dents health; Theodore Roosevelt, Jr, Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy; and Mr. Christian,
the Presidents secretary.
large audience gathers around the receiving
line to watch the other guests meet the PreSl-
dent. 1t is sign of the informally of the oc-
caSion that number of snapshots of the PreSl-
dent are taken. One young woman leading
sightless soldier receives permission from an
aide and goes up to the President and snaps a
picture for the boy to send home.
1t is more than an hour before the last vet
eran in line has been received. Even then not
quite all the guests have been greeted. The
President and Mrs. Harding go back to drive
way where two automobiles are standing. In
each car is a group of veterans who cannot
walk and have come without wheel chairs. They
have been ON the outskirts of the party. Now
they are the center of it, for the President
stands by the two cars and talks with the boys
in them for some time.
The Presidential Autograph
There is a final furry of excitement after
this when some soldier is inspired to have the
Presidents autograph. Each man is wearing an
Identification tag, labeled with the name of his
camp or hospital and under it "White House
party, June T." Different colored tags for each
contingent enable the President and the nurses
to place the boys quickly. They are from
Fort McHenry; Soldiers. Rest at Culpepper, Vr-
ginia; Walter Reed; St. ElizabethS Hospital;
Naval Hospital; Evergreen Institution for the
Blind, Baltimore; Silver Spring training center
and he luh
1t is one of these tags that is presented to
the President for his signature. The President
signs it and at once dozen more tags are Of
fered him. In three minutes the crowd around
the President is so deep that the outside row
knows only by hearsay what is going on. Mrs.
Harding and General PerShing are also beSieged
for autographs. The news continues to spread.
Eventually Mrs. Harding suggests that some Of
the tags be marked with the owners name and
address and given to her to be signed later and
returned. 1t is 600 o'clock and the party is
over.
The afternoon must have been one of great
emotional stress for the President and his wife.
These men, so many of whom had to be led,
assisted or wheeled in chairs, are the heroes of
war that is over, but they are still fighting.
Zen the most boyish of them is not young and
exuberant. At White House party in their
honor, on brilliant June afternoon, they are
quietly happy
Even to stand apart and see so many of them
together-the men who are paying for the war
is an affecting sight. To greet 1000 person.
ally and to see at close range the endless pos
sibilities of war injuries and mutilations must
necessarily be an overwhelming experience
At sight of one boy who had no hands to
offer in greeting and no eyes to help him bear
his other Affections the President was almost
overcome. He could only put his hand on the
boys shoulder and say, Courage" Another
sightless young man came along the line, led
by his three year-old child. The baby carried
an American flag in its other hand.