The Washington times., 1922-12-24

~sfA~ssss~ Va CeA
fast will be held at the Pan
American Building, with the
Secretary Of State and Mrs.
Hughes a. hosts and the entire
diplomatic corps, with their
womsnfolk, ~ guests. The
Vice President and Mrs. Cool
idge will be at home informally
to the official world, as has
been the custom Of their pre-
decessors, and such of the
Cabineteers a. are in town
saving Secretary and Mrs.
Hughes-will be at home dur
ing the afternoon hours.
RUT-apropos Of New Year one
isapt to become reminiscent of
the good old days" when the
New Year reception at the White
House was an Institution a. un-
alterable a. the laws of the
Medes. and Rersians. When every
diplomat intoNn buttoned him.
self into his gold-laced uniform to
pay his respects-and his soyer-
eign's-to the President of the
United States and hastened
directly from the White House.
gold lace and ALTO the diplo-
matte breakfast When every
Cabinet hostess held q great re-
ception. with score or more of
pretty girls to assist her. When
every matron Of any social impor-
tance kept open house. When
every girl with any pretense to
position was invited to receive
some place-usually several places.
When every man In town who
boasted q morning coat-or could
beg. borrow or steal one-went
a-visiting. And when eggnog and
other holiday cheer could be
drunk openly and eegnog parties
actually mentioned in the papers!
pREsIDENT WILSON gave the
first blow to the good old
fashioned New Year celebration
when he cancelled the White
House reception. most picturesque
and American Of institutions. He
didn't seem to have any particular
reason except that he was never
given to glad handing" But
before long the war broke and
during war time. Of course, such
an assemblage at the White
House. officials rubbing elbows
with office boys. cabinet officers
with cabmen and diplomats with
debutantes, was quite out of the
question.
The war also put . stop to the
diplomatic breakfasts. Long be-
fore we got into the conflict,
the diplomatic corps was divided
into two hostile camps and 1t
would have been impossible to
entertain them both under one
roof at the same time. And nat.
urally with our entrance into the
conflict there came q cessation
of all official entertaining except
that which centered about some
varied assortment of foreign mis-
sionaries'' who invaded the Cap
ital from time to time.
After the armistice an effort
was made to revive the festivities
of New Year Day. but 1t was q
half-hearted sort Of an. effort.
President Wilson was away and
later he was Ill. 20 there was no
entertaining at the Executive
Mansion and the official world 10
prone to take its cue from the
White House. "a,
CONSEQUENTLY II was NOT un'
til last year-the first New
Year Of the Harding administra.
tion-that the official celebration
of the New Year took on any de-
gree Of briliiance. The President
and Mrs. Harding revived the
historic reception at the White
House. being at home during the
morning hours to the diplomaric
corps and the official world. retir.
ing for a bit of luncheon and rer
turning to their stations in the
afternoon to shake hands with
the long line of men and women.
regardless Of rank or station. who