The Washington times., 1922-03-05

able to take literally the
church's dictum that Lent
should be devoted to prayer
and fasting. But Ash We'd
nesday is usually followed by
a lull in social activities and If
it lasts but four days instead
of the traditional forty-why,
even that is so much clear
gain.
SERIOUSLY, although only the
Catholics and the Episcopalians
keep Lent"-and they not nearly
so generally nor so strictly as they
used-there is always a falling OF
in the number of "crushes," char
ity balls, semi-public receptions
nd the like. And this gives added
time for the smaller and less formal
festivities which are not so firing
and which everybody enjoys more.
not to mention such characteristic
Lenten diversions as lectures and
musicales, to which not even the
strictest church people AXE excep-
ton.
The White House Is setting the
pace this year by eschewfhg pretty
nearly all formal entertaining dur
ing the six weeks Of Lent, and II
this example is followed the result
ing slowing down Of the social pace
will be doubly grateful after the
hectic gayety of the last three or
four months.
Mrs. Harding has never been
very strong woman, although
blessed with indomitable energy.
Watched over by General Sawyer,
for years her family physician
she has come through this strenu-
Gus winter with rather less sacri-
flee of health and strength than
her friends had dared to hope. But
she has certainly earned a rest. for
the demands Of her lob" are heavy
and she never neglects them; and
one can imagine that she Is look
ing forward to the next few weeks
as a period of training for the fes-
tivities Of the spring season.
MONG the official folk, how
ever, the keeping Of Lent will
be for rest rather than for relig-
ious observance. You see. this u
a Baptist ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Lent means nothing to its young
life. The President and Mrs. Hard
ing are Raptists. The Vice Presi-
dent is a Baptist-at least he
comes Of Baptist stock, although
he most frequently attends the
Congregational Church, to when
his wife and sons belong. The Sec
rotary Of State and Mrs. Hughes
are Baptists--and active In the
work Of their church-and be-
lisye most Of the other members
OF the Presidents official family
are either Baptists or Presby-
ter,ans or Methodists, belonging
TO denominations which do not OBJ
serve Ash Wednesday.
There was no reason In their re-
lisious philosophy why the vice
President and Mrs. Coolidge should
not accept dinner invitation
from Mrs. John b. Henderson for
Ash Wednesday. But I'll admit L
WAS a bit staggered at learning
that the French Ambassador ana
Nine, Jusserand and the Spanish
Ambassador we're among the guests
invited to meet them. The leading
Roman Catholic diplomats OF the
whole corps and the dinner given
on a day devoted to penitence and
fasting.
Suddenly it dawned upon me
that the answer TO that lay in
the fact that Mrs. Henderson Is
famous for her vegetarian dinners.
For years she has been preach
ing vegetarianism, and practicing
IL, too. She has elaborate. many
course dinners, to which she
invites the cream of official
and diplomatic society, and serves
"rossts" and "filcts every
thing-all same like everyone else
apparently: but in reality never
serving meat in any form. My
kid brother used to sing at tho
top of his powerful lungs n NOV.
ing little ditty which set forth
that Nobody knows what the