The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-15

II. Is more OF less a ndDit IN
Washington to invite oneself to
parties. II one fails 10 receive an
invitation one calls up and asks for
t-or goes anyway even without an
Invitation Nor Is the fashion-an
ugly one-conhned TO large public
parties of an of1cial nature.
PROVES HARD TO
FIGURE ON GUESTS.
Hostesses everywhere are COM
planning that they can never be
sure how many guests are going
to arrive, for almost any party but
a dinner. Invited guests call up
and ask that they may bring din
ner parties or house parties with
out regard for number. And I'M
invited guests have no scruples
about asking for an invitation or
Just going.
But, Of course, they would not
dare go without a card to a White
House function, for they would not
get in. Then II one transfers an
Invitation to a White House enter
tainment or uses one sent to some
other person, both parties are
henceforth removed from the White
House lists for all time.
The White House reception for
thee Diplomatic Corps Is necessarily
limited. There are some forty-four
heads Of missions In Washington and
each Is surrounded by innumerabls at
taches. secretaries and counselors
and their families and 1t grows into
the hundreds-though. perhaps, 1t Is
the smallest of the official recep-
tions at the Executive Mansion and
certainly the most colorful and in
teresting TO attend The court uni
forms of the diplomats add SO much
TO the brilliancy of the scene all
ways. The Write House is deternin-
ed not to permit it's oficial parties
to degenerate into mad brushes
such As have seen there in the
past. when you had to stand for
hours in a jam waiting for your
turn and women would faint and
men drop out 81 line.
NEW GOWNS NOT WORN
To THE WHITE HOUSE.
In other days one hesitated, with
good reason, to wear q new gown
to a White House reception for
more than likely II would be ruined
in the crush and q few minutes af-
ter ones arrival, no one would sus-
pect the gown being new. So this
year the guests are being limited
TO a number that can be comfort
ably accommodated
At least that was the announce
ment made ahead of time. but there
were several hundred more there
than could be comfortably accom-
modated and. II the early guests
had not left shortly after being re-
ceived, there would not have been
room for the late guests to have
squeezed in any place on the main
floor. As It was. they were soon
packed in everywhere like sar-
dimes and Il was most uncomfort-
able and I think such jams are
rather undignifed- overheard .
foreigner say, II overheard several
including one or two touching tete-
amusing things during the evening.
a-tetes-"Really, / don't see what
the ideas is; one comes and stands
in line for ages and ages and then
just shake your hosts by the hand.
be frightfully crowded and then
leave" They did not even serve
any supper Thursday night; not
even q punch. I've almost forgotten
now. but ! don't think the Roose-
velts served any supper on similar
occasions, but I recall rather elab-
crate repasts and delicious cham
payne punch which he used to have
at the receptions given by Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson. 1t was very
refreshing, too, after standing in
line for so long.
Then the party worked" just the
opposite to what they did during
the Wilson administration. when
the guests assembled in the East
Room and passed through the Green
Room to the Blue Room where they
were usually received. then into the
Red Room and the state dining
room. where supper was served
from a large buffet table Then
the guests of honor entered by the
big front door. Last night the
guests assembled in the dining room
and moved In exactly the opposite
direction, the guests Of honor en-
terinE BY the southern doorway ana
going. to the main floor by the ele-
yator-
1t was fun to stand in the Blue
Room; the Salon Bieu," as heard
several Americans, apparently
proud of their French, refer to I,
during the evening, and watch the
guests go down the line" L felt
SO sorry for the Hardings and the
Hugheses having to shake hands so
: constantly; IL almost made me dizzy
to see those four arms go up and
down; up and down and up and
down. Mr.. Harding shakes hands very
well indeed: does % slowly and dig
niflediy and as though he really
meant IL. II was interesting, too.
to see how the different people
greeted their hosts; some bowed
very low. too low; others did not
.-bow at all Many looked rather i'll
at ease The foreigners almost with
out exception kissed the hand OF
Mrs. Harding. Admiral de Bon did
lit so cute, for one. / thought Col.
John ouekemeyer greeted them bet
ter than any one else I saw; did
N with dignity and grace. Dear old
Gen Miles stopped for a word or
two with each of his hosts. He Is
q remarkable man for his years, I
think Secretary DENLY seemed to
be very much Interested in watcn-
Ing the line OF guests, too. He Is
very charming. human man: very
likeable. indeed.
The short receiving line was an
Innovation. Secretary Hughes, who
- sort of father to the Diploma tic
Corps. and his wife, being the only
ones IN line with President and Mrs.
Harding. whereas In past admins
uatlons the wife Of the Vice Presi-
dent and of the Cabinet officers
have all been in line In order of
their rank with their husbands
standing back Of them. The hosts
usually stood &C the other door Of