The Washington times., 1922-05-21
Birthday Parties,
Alien and Domestic,
Are Long Suit Here
Celebrations at Span
ish and British
Embassies.

thing 50 many people are assem-
bied here whose being born is of
Importance to the world at large.
And for another we are SO given
70 helping celebrate the birthdays
OF foreign princes and potentates.
For example there was a party
at the Spanish embassy on
Wednesday. May II, to mark the
birthday OF King Alfonso of Spain.
On June 8 the celebration of the
birthday Of King George v, in
which the entire British empire is
interested, will find echo here and
that evening the embassy will be
en- fete. Moreover, later on. along
about October, when the chrysan-
themums are abloom. will come
the official celebration of the birth
day OF the Emperor of Japan. al.
ways q gala day at the embassy
here.
The Mikado was actually born
some time in July or August, I
believe, but that's the dull season
In Tokyo and so with the true
poetic feeling which marks the
Japanese, an imperial edict was is.
sued decreeing that the birthday
of the Emperor should be cele-
brated throughout his kingdom In
crysanthemum time.
All entertaining at the Spanish
embassy just now Is more or less
unofficial in flavor, since the
Spanish court is in mourning for
Queen Victoria's brother, one Of
the Princes OF Battenberg who
took the name Mountbatten dur
ing the war when their German
patronymic became unpopular.
And the birthday celebration took
form Of a luncheon, the guests be-
ing confined to the embassy staff,
members OF the Spanish colony in
Washington and a few Spanish
visitors from New York.
THE British Ambassador and
Lady Geddes are planning a
dinner In honor--of their kings
birthday and possibly therell be a
reception afterward.
The Britishers always make
great deal OF royal anniversaries.
The famous George III plate is
brought out for the dinner which
marks the Kings birthday, toasts
are drunk and altogether it's q
moro or less ceremonious occasion.
The anniversary of a nations
? birth may properly be included
In this category of birthdays, l
think; and last Thursday was
Norway's national independence
day In celebration thereof the
secretary of the legation, Georg
Frsderik Christian Collin, gave
dinner At the Purple Iris Tea
House for q group Of pretty
girls Elizabeth Hanna, Louise
Ross Todd. Princess Bertha Can.
tacuzene and Caroline Story-and
some Of the young men of the
diplomatic corps: while at the
same time and the same place
Capt. C. Froelich Hansen, tech.
nical adviser on special maritime
matters temporarily attached to
the legation, had a dinner for
members of the Norwegian colony
some of the legation staff and
IN Washington.
TO return to our domestic"
birthdays, Uncle Joe Can
non had one recently, his eighty.
sixth. and had dinner given
for him which was pre.emi.
nently his party although 4 sudden
indisposition prevented his being
present. A few days later, Senator
Carroll s. Page, Of Vermont, passed
his eighty.first milestone and had
O luncheon party at the Capitol for
q group Of his cronies IN Congress,
the average age Of the guests be.
ing somewhere in the neighborhood
OF eighty. Secretary Wallace, q
mere youngster, also had a recent
birthday and the chiefs of the bu.
reaus Of the Agricultural Depart
ment gave luncheon in his fonor.
And a little while before that there
was a collective celebration OF the
birthdays Of Secretary Hughes, Sec
retary Weeks, and Congressman
Samuel r. winslow, at which the
President and Mrs. Harding were
present.
Moreover, apropos Of collective
birthdays, there was the pictu-
rescue ceremony out at Fort Myer
on Friday which marked the sew
entysixth anniversary Of the Third
Cavalry. The regiment was re.
viewed by General Pershing; and
Gen. Anson Mills, who was its COM
mander many years ago, and was
attached TO the Third when Il re-
ceived its first colors back in New
Orleans seventy-siI years ago, pre-