The New York herald., 1922-02-26
British ENJOY
H0nOrS Memory
of Washington
Celebrates Birthday by Giving
a Reception for the Con-
gTess in Washington.


TIME reception at the British EN-
bassy for the Congress of the
United States was the biggest
Washington's Birthday party in the
capital of the United States, and the
hosts were Sir Auckland Geddes and
Lady Geddes. the representative in
this country not merely Of the British
Empire but-being an Ambassador
Of the person Of his sovereign, cele-
brating the birthday of an arch rebel
against the person of that sovereigns
two or three greats grandfather by a
brilliant reception for the personnel
Of the legislative branch of the Gov
ernment, whom no one but the Presi-
dent ever dreams Of entertaining en-
masse. One is not sure whether it
coniures vision of George III. and
George Washington squirming in their
| separate graves, or doing smiling
hands across the sea" act somewhere
up aloft. Certainly it indicates an
amazing growth of Anglo-American
clubbiness! And further cry from
George III. to George v. than would
on the surface appear.
Aside from that interesting and para
doXial party there has been as rather
the storm center of the weeks enter
tanning meeting of delegates Of the
American Bar Associations. Don't
make the mistake that I made of leav-
ing off the IS" there and thinking that
1t means the same thing as the Ameri-
means a meeting of delegates of the
various State associations.
Receptions Postponed.
For once Washington has varied it's
activities bit this week Even with
the White House reception for the army
and navy officers stationed in and
around Washington eliminated-as it
was at the eleventh hour because of the
tragedy of the wrecked Roma, in which
two score army officers and men lost
their Misconceptions rather than din
ners have been the events Of the week.
AS originally scheduled. interest was
about equally divided between the Brit
ish embassy with its novelty of a Con-
gressional reception in diplomatic en-
vironment. and the White House, which
had two receptions on its program.
The first, set for Thursday evening.
should have been the army and navy
reception, which would have closed the
regular official program" of White
House events; the second, on Friday
afternoon. was a special reception for
the delegates to the Bar Associations
meeting, an dthe ladies of their parties.
1t was not until Thursday morning
| that the announcement was made that
the army and navy reception set for that
night would be postponed out of respect
to the victims of the Roma disaster and
would be held on the night of Wednes-
day. April 19-about as late as any one
Of the regular official receptions" has
ever been held. The Ohio Society recep-
| tion in honor Of the President and Mrs.
| Harding, which was to have been held
on January 80 and was postponed be-
cause of yet another disaster which,
| brought grief to many Washington
holds-the Knickerbocker Theater
crash--will be held on the evening o.
| April II, also considerably later than
the Ohio Society usually holds its meet
| ings.
| Also belated announcement comes that
| the Postmaster General will entertain at
dinner in honor of the President and
| Mrs. Harding on the evening of March
! 3-just before Mr.. Hays's resignation
takes effect the following day. 1t had
been rather supposed that there would
be no Postmaster-Genera dinner In the
Cabinet series. since Will Hays has
scarcely been in Washington since the
middle of December, and it has beer
known for a couple of months that he
was leaving the Cabinet. ! am not quite
clear whether Mrs. Hays, who has never
! taken UP her residence in Washington, Is
| TO come here for the Joy of entertaining
| the President at dinner or whether MT
Hays will "go it alone" at this dinner.
as he has for the last year since the IN
auguration and his own taking up OF
the Postmaster -Generalship. So FAR no
date has been set for the Attorney-Gen-
erals dinner, which was originally ser
for February /, and was postponed. ike
most other large functions, because OIL
the Knickerbocker disaster.
Indirectly also the hnickerpocKer
Theater crash was responsipie lqr an
| other unset to the plans OF the WASH
ington Theater Company, for produc,.
ton here of the Samson and Deliiah
which they gave with such acclaim
In baltimore last Monday. thlnk
told YOU how after many trials ana trip-
ulation. and all sorts OF setoaoks they
had arranged for a single matinee per
formance which was to have been given
Yesterday at the National. We'll the
| National was one Oh TIE thcatSio 49,
last Saturday by the District Commis.
sioners following an Investigation OF
the condition Of all Washington thea
ters. after the terrible catastrophe al
tho Knickerbocker. And so the Albions
we're once more without place IN
which to present their really remark
ab,e production of Samson and
Delilah."
Evening Performance Arranged.
Really II seems that that was case
where seeming misfortune ts llkely 10
prove IN the end benefit-for they have
now arranged an evening performance
IN be given In the fine auditorium OF
the Central High School next Monday.
And somehow it seems as II opera ought
70 be given in the evening-.when the
house can be 80 much more brilliant
than IL could possibly be in the day
| time.
There were two rather more than
usually interesting receptions on Mon
day. The first In the afternoon. when
the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and
Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt. Jr.. were AT
home to the officers of the navy and
marine corps and the ladies OF their
household and the other In the evening
when the Southern Society received in
honor of the French Ambassador and
Nine. Jusserand using both bathrooms
| Of the Willard. Mrs. Roosevelt had
Mrs. DENLY receiving with her. and
section of the navy band making music
/ ~ n