The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-02-05
Err SPREADS GLOOM OVER SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON

her white and black evening gowns. and
INDUCED herself in the pleasure OF
wearing them. She had been under
the weather for few days, so much so
that she had not attended the plenary
session of the conference the day be-
fore (the first one she has missed), ana
felt entitled to a little self indulgence.
though she was feeling entirely ut that
night. The orchids would have fitted
beautifully so far as color went, win
the white lustrous satin but they woulu
have spoiled 1.-The lines of the lovely
gown, so they had to ornament the
wonderful gold piano which had no
Zines" to consider.
The artists of the evening were the
young Hungarian cellist. Mile Rozsi
Varady, whom Mrs. Lawrence Townsend
has been entertaining and WHO gave
recital at the Hungarian Legation one
night last week after the Hungarian
Minister and Countess Szechenyi had
given their first official dinner-Vladl-
mir Rosing. q tenor, with Charles Gil
bert Spross. most sympathetic and
artistic accompanist. at the piano. The
program was delightful, and wound up
with Carrie Jacobs Bonds PERFECT
Day." for which Mrs. Harding has an
avowed penchant.
her, part as the nations. hostess is evil
dent at every turn. Lingering in the
Green Room for a few moments she re-
arranged lovely white enameled bas-
ket filled with roses--one of the new
super-tearoses that have been evolved
during the last few years-and orchids
that stood on the center table. And any
thing further removed from ones idea
OF center table" that very teautiful
piece of white marble. with its flawless
octagonal top and its graceful carved
pedestal, would be hard to imagine. They
say it Is Lincoln table--meaning that
the White House acquired 1t in Lin
coins time--but it certainly has not
been in that room during the years that
I have been IN Washington.
Guests See state Apartment.
Having arranged the flowers to her
liking, Mrs. Harding commented quite
simply on the pleasure she had in show
ing her guests through the/state apart
ments. and mentioned having person
ally conducted Mrs. Andrew Carnegie,
whom she had received the previous
day through her domain, and the In
terest the latter had shown In all the
details. (Mrs. Carnegie has been here
Mrs. Lawrence Phipps, and there has
been quite little entertaining for her
in a quiet way.)
Then q moment later Mrs. Harding
had passed into the Blue Parlor and
with little exclamation Of admiration
was calling on the little group to look
at. that lovely mantle. And the man
who had arranged 1t was fairly pink
with pleasure! 1t was lovely pale
pink roses and delicate orchids, banks
of primroses shot through with silvery
spears Of pussy willows! And then they
called the First Lady into the dining
room to approve the changes she had
suggested, and In a few minutes the
guests began to arrive.
That same night the British Ambas-
sador and Lady Geddes were giving r.
dinner-rather a. smaller one, but a
brilliant company and an interesting oc-
casion--their first formal entertaining,
SO far as / remember, in honor OF Mr..
Balfour-and likely to be their last, as
the conference is winding up and the
Britishers, having once more set a "ten-
tative" date for sailing early next week,
seem likely really to get away. Tho
company included the Belgian Ambassa-
dor and Baroness de Cartier and the
Hungarian Minister and Countess Sze-
chenyi. Mrs. John A. Logan, Mr.. and
Mrs Warren Delano Robbins. Mrs.
George w. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Maxim,
Princess Lubomirski, Senator and Mrs
Pearce OF Australia, Sir John Salmond
OF New Zealand, Mr.. Sastri. who has
been representing India at the confer
ence. and dozen or more from the en-
bassy staff. to fill in where they would
d0>the most good. The next night the
Ambassador and Lady Geddes took their
turn at entertaining In honor of the
Chief Justice and Mrs. Taft.
The last two sessions of the confer
ence came In swift succession this week.
Wednesdays session, 1t is said. had
the biggest and most absorbed
the most interesting and the most
interested = gallery" that has at
tended any of the plenary sessions
since the opening. Mrs. Harding
had assembled most interesting little
box party, including Mrs. Coolidge. Mrs.
Tart, Mrs. Gillett, Mrs. DENLY, Mrs.
Marshall Field and Mrs. Longworth
She herself did not at the last moment
feel equal to going. but her guests sat
there giving the proceedings their clos
est attention from IL o'clock until 8, so
interested that they did not know that
they were hungry or realize that lunch
time had come and gone. Mr.. Hughes
Mrs. Fletcher, Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss
and Mrs. Warren Delano Robbins were
In an adjoining box. and the diplomatic
contingent, at least the feminine end Of
1t. was out in force.
Lesser Tragedy, This.
A lesser tragedy of the night OF the