The Washington times., 1922-07-30


gagged in arranging and cata-
loguing the splendid library,
mostly Latin-American worSs,
which he presented to the Cath
Ole University.
TT is one OF the irritating things
about Washington's always
Interesting society that 1t is
everlastingly bobbing up and do
ing interesting things somewhere
else. Not only are Washington
ians trotting off now to San Fran
cisco or Williamstown, but a num-
Der Of highly official parties are
being made up to go to Brazil
for the coming centennial cele.
bration and exposition, which
opens IN September.
or course, there's Uncle Sans
official representation. headed by
the Secretary of State as proxy
for the President, and Maj. Gen.
Robert Bullard-and isn't 1t Rear
Admiral Hilary Jones? And then
the other nations are drawing to
some extent on their. embassies
and legations here in making up
their official parties. And, OF
course, all sorts of specialists and
experts of one sort or another
are being sent to assemble and
look after exhibits, SO that most
Of us, who hardly knew month
ago that Brazil was having Il
centennial, Rre now on glib and
familiar terms with 1t.
On top of all this comes, news
that the two weddings in which
Washington feels the keenest sort
OF proprietary interest and which
It was looking forward to with the
keenest anticipation, as events
which would be real "occasions''-
one next fall and the other next
spring-are to take place almost
immediately-one Of them in
Massachusetts and the other in
Michigan!
THE Institute of Politics seems
to bear sort Of ludicrous
analogy to what some one called
"Best.minding on the front porch
ut. Marion" 1t seems as II DR..
Garfield-another perfectly good
0hioan. had taken a leaf out of
President Harding's book, and in
Vited the whole worlds best minds
to come to Williamstown and sit
on the porch and talk things over,
fully and freely, every one to con-
tribute of his wisdom and ex-
perience-not with any more defi-
mite object in view than the gen.
eral enlightenment which one
might reasonably expect from such
q conference, wonderfully interest
ing and Observation-Disclosures.
informative, perhaps-but does
It. get anywhere"
Meanwhile President and Mrs.
Harding are really keeping up
their best minding" here in
Washington. even more busily
than he did in Marion. He has
been calling everybody who could
by any chance be expected to
throw any light on the problems
with which he and the Cabinet
have been wrestling to come to the
White House, and bring their
illuminant with them.
In time past he has been ac-
cused Of being indolent-I don't
think any one has ever had the
temerity to call Mrs. Harding
lazy!-but the White House is not
q good place to loaf just now.
And not within the memory of
the oldest inhabitant. certainly
not within the memory of the
eldest attache of the White House,
has there been a Chief Execu-
tive who kept his nose so close
to the grindstone Of his official
duties. all through the heat of n
Washington midsummer as he
has for the last month.
And his best minding IS not
done to the placid creak. creak,
creak Of big porch rockers. and
the leisurely and more or less
academic discussion of theories
. Of government. 1t is a question
Of actual conditions and stub
born facts at present-and condi-
: tions and facts can be most dis
concerting.
Mrs. Harding seems to be
: really resting-and, faith, she
: needs It! Tho only thing 1 have
, heard Of her doing for week
: past, was her spending an hour
pr so out at Walter Reed Hos
. pital, with the war wounded. who
tiasi are still there. The boys
enjoyed her tremendously for
Mrs. Harding's visits are never
: formal. II there's any stand
. offishness It's on their part. not
: hers. why she's as easy as an
/ old glove" as one of them, who