Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-26
AN UNUSUAL GARDEN PARTY
By Frederic J. Hnsk'n.

Washington. Juno 2e,--Ths garden
party season In just opening. but the
White House has already hnd it's only
affair Of tho sort that In scheduled
for this year. Two thousand wounded
war veterans. some rolled In wheel
chairs. some limpins on crutches. some
guided by other eyes. have pasaed In
a long line and been greeted by tho
President and Mrs. Harding on tho
White House lawn.
Garden parties aro moro or less
alike when private citizens receive
out-of-doors. A. presidential affair.
however. Is different Whether tho
President be a Washington with a
leaning to courty ceremony OF n JEFF
ferson with bluff disregard for pomp.
an official atmosphere surrounds all
functions at the Executive Mansion.
They are as distinctive In their blend
ing Of tho formal and tho informal -
any court cersnonies OF Europe A
veteraps' garden party Ii no different.
except that tho contracts are moro
striking and human interest IL moro
dominant.
! The endless limo OF veterans, accom-
panied by their nurses, and the young
women invited 10 help entertain them,
must wind in long serpeptinc
through the corridors OF the White
House, out into the gardens and across
tho lawn to tho oak tree beneath which
tho Chief Executive and his wife are
receiving.
Everyone must be presented for
rnalIy to tho President by white clad
aide. The President speaks a word
OF greeting, and listens, perhaps. &C
a brief speech tho veteran tries Il
make A. another. big reception the
guasts would find II extremely diff
cult to murrnur moro than a hasty
how do you do 10 tho President. The
limo is long. and each person is shut.
tied 10y as quickly as pol'teness per.
rnits
But veteran with only a sturnp o.
a right hand 10 offer his Chief Fl
, different. Hs may hold up tho lin
moment or two. Mrs. Harding theI
shakes hands, and General Psrsh'ng
the last in tho receiving line. grseti
: each OF the veterans.
: Aids stand about 70 see thet a srnsl
> clearing Is kept around tho recefvinr
, line. There formslity practically end,
The veterans can wander as the
, please about the shady grounds Fo
] most OF them II Is a great event, an
even for the Cabinet ladies' ard higl
8 officials this particular function Is a
3 unusual experience in tho round c
IT. f.&- SF
: Tho scene IL unusually colorful. tn
D closely cropped grass. red rannble
2 roses on the fence. gay red and whit
{ and striped marques where refresh
y ments are served, IN marine band
a summer uniforms, tho white portic
= Of the mansion and the blue sky {
. a perfect summer afternoon, make
striking picture. These arc typici
Q Of any White House garden part
7. The unusual feature this tina is Il
y crowd
Il There is a sprtnkiins Of WOMAN .
= organdy and silk and a rsw n,ddl,
q aged government officials. But y
y blue, gray, and whitA OF nursing IN
II forms. and the khaki Of the servfc
2. and tho rolling chairs. crucches, ar
bandaged arms and heads dornina
d the scene
). There are chairs all about N q
h shade SO that tho boys for who
II this affair means unusual exertiC
can rest Ono nurse says that eve,
man who could possibly walk or
safely moved left her hospital. Son
Of them tried desperately 20 ma
enough progress 20 be able 20 CON
and there was great disappointme
n among those who were pronounc
g. not quite we'll enough for so Tnu
II exertion.
re Some ot the boys sit q1etly in o
place. For the most part however, {
re guests OF this occasion move abo
ed trying TO see as much as possible. Tn
recognize Secretary OF State Hugh
nt and they watch with amusement
y. group Of camera men who are folio
O. ing him about, swapping him as
. talks TO a row OF men IN wheel cha
OF as he poses with his wife. Tn
are beenly interested in recognizi
Mt and pointing out 20 one another Y
L. President and Mrs Coolidge; the ca
s. met officers and their wives; Brigad
at General Sawyer. the dignified III
10 doctor, who guards the Presider
st health: Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.. Asst
,r. ant Secretary OF the Navy; and
g. Christian, the Presidents secreta
, i" A large audience gathers around
- receiving line 70 watch the otl
guests meet the President. It is
sign Of the inforTnality OF the ocr
,la sion that number Of snapshots OF
O. President are taken. One young wo
n, an leading a slshtless soldier recel-