Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-26
The HaSkin Letter 81 e : %:s3
AN UNUSUAL GARDEN PARTY.

For most of them it is a great event
end even for the cabinet ladies anC
high officials this particular function
is an unusual experience in the rounc
of administration entertainments.
A ColorfuI Scene
The scene is unusually colorful. The
closely cropped grass, red rambler
roses on the fence, gay red and white
and striped marques where refresh.
ments are served, the Marine band in
summer uniforms, the white portico OF
the mansion and the blue sky of a
perfect summer afternoon, make q
striking picture. These are typical OF
any White House garden party. The
unusual feature this time is the crowd
There is a sprinkling of women in
organdie and silk and a few middle
aged government officials. But the
blue, gray and white of nursing uni.
forms and the khaki of the service. and
the rolling chairs, crutches and ban
ldaged arms and heads dominate the
scene.
There are chairs all about in the
shade. so that the boys for whom this
affair means unusual exertion can rest,
One nurse says that every nan who
could possibly walk or be safely moved
left her hospital. Some Of them tried
desperately to make enough progress
to be able to come, and there was
great disappointment among those who
were pronounced not quite well enough
for SO much exertion.
Some of the boys sit quietly in one
place. For the most part, however,
I H. 80. e H.. oh~-A
trying to see as much as possible.
They recognize Secretary of State
Hughes. and they watch with muse
are following him about, swapping him
| chairs or as he poses with his wife.
They are keenly interested in recog-
nizing and pointing out to one another
Vice President and Mrs. Coolidge; the
| cabinet officers and their wives; Gen
eral Sawyer, the dignified little doctor
who guards the presidents health;
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.. assistant Sec
rotary of the navy; and Mr.. Christian,
the presidents secretary.
A large audience gathers around the
receiving line to watch the other
guests meet the president. 1t is a sign
VI inc L bdlIts VI INV NthSiOh eh"t
a number of snapshots OF the presi-
leading a 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 veteran in line has been received.
Even then not quite all the guests
have been greeted. The president and
| Mrs. Harding go back to a driveway
| where two automobiles are standing.
In each car is a group of veterans
| who cannot walk and have come with
out wheel chairs. They have been on
the outskirts of the party. Now they
are the enter 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 in
spired to have the presidents auto
graph. Each man is wearing an iden-
tification tag. labeled with the name
of his camp or hospital and under it
White House party. June G.. DIFF
ferent colored tags for each contingent
enable the president and the nurses to
DldCt tue ttic IuiI My" NY az
from Fort Mci1enry; Soldiers Rest at
Culpepper, Virginia; Walter Reed;
St. Elizabeth's hospital: Naval hos
pital: Evergreen Institution for the
| Blind. Baltimore: Silver Spring train
ing center, Mt. Alto hospital; and the
Carry-on club.
1t is one of these tags that is pre-
scented 10 the president for his sigma
ture. The president signs it and at
once a dozen more tags are offered
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 ano
General Pershing are also besieged for
autographs. The news continues tC
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. II Is 8 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. SC
MANY of whom had to be led. assisted
| or wheeled in chairs. are the heroes OF
a war that is over, but they are still
fighting. Even the most boyish OF
them is not young and cxuherant. Al
a White House party in their honor
on a brilliant June afternoon. they are
quietly happy.
Even to stand apart and see SC
many of them together-the men who
are paying for the wars an affect
ing sight. To greet 1000 personally
and to see at close range the endless
possibilities of war injuries and mutt
lations must necessarily he an over
whelming experience.
At sight Of one boy who had nc
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
hoy's 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.