The New York herald., 1922-02-12

Ia meeting personally ana race 10 lace,
this brilliant unmanag geable lady who
has so long been the enfant terrible OF
the British aristocracy.
She was to have arrived "Wednesday
(, ON New York along with her daughter.
Princess Bibesco, wife of the Rumanian
Minister. who went up to New York
to meet her ten days ago. She was to
have delivered her first lecture on Thurs
day afternoon and the Princess B.besco
had announced an lat home" in her
honor on Friday afternoon, and dinner
for her Saturday night. There was a
dinner party planned ito meet Mrs.
Asquith" at the British Embassy on
Thursday evening.
Those who happened to know of the
plans for the Embassy dinner had smiled
at its extreme discretion. 1t was to be,
a very small party, only twelve at the
table including the British Ambassador
and Lady Geddes, and six of the twelve
were members of the Embasv staff.
Then there We're Mrs. Asquith and Prin-
cess Bibesco, and of outsiders only Rep
resentative and Mrs. Longworth. Gen.
Pershing and Mrs. Borden Hartman.
Then suddenly II was all Off Every
body was suddenly notified that Princess
Bibesco was ill at the Hotel Ambassador
in New York and could not get to Wash
ington to play hostess for her mother, so
the visit was postponed. She is ex-
pected on Monday.
Mrs. BroOlxs's Wedding.
In its intervals of being interested in
other things Washington is really very
much interested in Louise Cromwell
Brooss's wedding plans. and what she
and Brig. Gen. Macarthur propose to do
afterward.
Next Tuesday, st. Valentines Day, is
the day set, and the Stotesbury Palm
Beach villa the appointed place, with
Mrs. j. Kearsley Mitchell and jamie
Cromwell as the only attendants. After
that, of course, a wedding trip, but no.
a very long one, and then back to West
Point. where they will live until Gen.
MacArthur's service there ends with the
graduating OF the present senior class
late in June. Mrs. Brooks has been
greatly interested in fitting up their
quarters there to her liking, and has
really spent more time and thought on
them than would seem worth while con-
sidering the short time they will occupy
them.
Thursday night brought the one big
official party Of the week, the Hardings'
reception in honor of ''the Congress OF
the United States" at the White House.
1t was probably the biggest of the State
receptions, and it was on the whole a
beautiful and interesting affair. Because
the group in whose honor the President
and Mrs. Harding were receiving was so
very large all the entrances of the
Executive Mansion were in use. Mem
Lers of the House of Representatives
and the ladies of their parties were in
structed to come in through the big
front door, the north entrance on Penn
sylvania avenue. Senator's and diplo-
mats used the south entrance. and all
the rest of the Washington world invited
to do them honor used the east en-
trance as usual.
The Administration family circle-the
President and Mrs. Coolidge and
the members of the Cabinet and their
wives-were received upstairs, and at
$50 precisely the fanfare OF trumpets
announced that the party was about to
descend. Surely not more than sixty
seconds later the usual little procession
came down the lovely flower decked stair
way. -, .~s4. ~
pie cannot see THAI stately descent. Only
about ten or fifteen favored holders Of
little green cards are so placed that
they can see it at it's best as 1t comes
down the enclosed marble stairway.
which Mrs. Harding's love OF flowers
has converted into a perfect bower on
these occasions.
One evening before one of the state
dinners she stood at the foot OF the
stair and told little group of women
what a picture q purity OF diplomats IN
full uniform, with clanking swords and
all their glittering accouterments, had
made On that stairway, and found my
self wondering whether, she had any
idea what a picture she and the Presi-
dent leading the Administration party
made on that same stair.
1t was gracious and entirely charms
ing figure that came down Thursday
night on the Presidents arm, in lovely
gown Of delicate pink and silver bro
cade, slightly draped and with short
train. Somehow TIE costume seemed to
repeat Mrs. Harding's own soft, attrac-
tive coloring, crowned with the bur-
nished silver of her hair.
Following her on the Vice. Presidents
dress of deep coral colored satin bro
aded in gold, a color combination that
made O wonderful setting for her bru-
nette vivacity: Secretary and Mrs.
Hughes, the latter in black and silver
brocade; Secretary and Mrs. Weeks
(and really all the impression I got OF
Mrs. Weeks was of a purple cloud float
ing past): Secretary and Mrs Denby,
Mrs. DENLY in an attractive costume
which combined a greenish turquoise
with embroideries blending bright and
dull silver; the Hoovers, Mrs. Hoover
in a black jetted gown and wearing a
lovely Gu. jet bandeau which was quite
stunning in her thick white hair; Sec
retary Fall and Secretary Davis. with
out their wives, and Mrs. Wallace with
a.t her husband. And then as they
disappeared in the Blue Room the party
was on.
In the Blue Room.
BY the time one reached the Blue
Room door the President mad Mrs. Har-
ding had taken their places and had
smilingly received the vice-President
and Mrs Coolidge, functioning for the