The Washington times., 1922-08-27

newborn babe" in repose, shading
his eyes with his hand-dozing,
do you suppose. in that kindly
shelter?
In the rear of the chamber half
a dozen flappers, presumably
clerks and secretaries to some Of
the members. seemed to know
everybody, and flirted harmlessly
with anything in trousers that
would respond, from the youngest
page to the oldest senator. OF
course there were plenty of the
old time hardboiled members Of
both houses who frowned awe
somely at them. One knew that
they were signing for the good
old times before the war. when
congressional rules and traditions
still had some weight. The girls,
who frankly wanted to take in
the show, were the only repre-.
sentatives Of the eternal feminine
on the floor, for Miss Alice
Robertson had not yet returned
from Oklahoma, where she has
recently won her party's nomina.
ton. "r
TIP in the gallery It was differ.
ent, though there was nothing
like the turnout Of women usual
to such occasions. Mrs. Harding
arrived fully fifteen minutes be-
fore the President was due. but
she slipped into her place 80
quietly that her arrival was
scarcely noticed. She is one Of
those women who can give an
impression of trim coolness even
when It Is physically impossible
for her to be feeling that way.
She wore a dark blue silk. with
delicately striped inserts Of some
thing rather lacey. And her hat
Il think It was whitehead
rosettes Of blue silk lace edged.
You know the sort; one has seen
them on 30 many Of the smart
summer hats. 1t was one Of
those generally useful costumes
that every woman loves to have
in her wardrobe, but finds her.
self rather overworking "A
'when.in-doubt dress" II I'm
not greatly mistaken. she wore
the same outfit . few days later
when she stood with the President
a. he reviewed the soldier students
from the citizen training camp at
Meade early this week. 1t would
have been entirely appropriate at
Bar Harbor, where she and the
President had hoped to spend q
few days anyhow. as one by one
their other dreams for the sum.
mer went bloo-ey.
For once Mrs. Harding was the
only woman in the White House
party-and indeed the only woman
in the executive gallery-which
the White House party had all to
itself. Ut happened that all the
cabinet women were away. Mrs.
Hughes who has been here all
summer. had gone up to Canada
with her daughter Miss Elizabeth,
who is to spend the time that her
parents are in South America with
friends there; and Mrs. Hoover
who has been here off an on
must have been off, as I didn't
see her, and that is the sort OF
public occasion--not a mere func.
tion-in which she delights. The
diplomatic gallery adjoining was
{ equally bereft.
Chairman Albert Lasker of the
Shipping Board was with the
First Lady and Judson welliver
Of the White House staff-looking
rather grayer-and Major Ora
Ballinger, One of the White House
aides by virtue Of a friendly inter
est the Hardings have had In him
since boyhood. For it Is told that
he worked as a boy In the business
office Of the Marion Star. when
Mrs. Harding was that publica.
tion's circulation manager; and ne
was quite the best man" she had,
even II he was only a boy. So
when In later years he had won
a commission in the army II didn't
seem strange that he should have
been detailed as one OF the White
House aidesJ Just behind them.
all by himself. was General Charles