The New York herald., 1922-04-02
President and Mrs. Harding
Seldom Dine Alone-Social
Notes of Washington.
v,As.rxagow. D. c. April |.

V.4BiI-N1roS. ID. c., April /.
N IlTH Lent drawing rapidly to
M a close Washington seems to
be settling down into a fairly
sedate sort OF a Lenten jog trot, which
will be continued until the Easter
gayeties. At the White House the jog
trot has been perhaps a little more Sc
date than anywhere else in town
There hasn't been anything approach
ing formal entertaining there since the
beginning OF Lent. Even the usual
series of White House Lenten musi-
Gales haven't happened this year. And
BAPTIST though he is, the President has
been glad to cooperate with the gov
erning board OF the Ohio Society in
calling off the deferred reception which
had been planned as joint Mckinley
and Harding Ohio gloriflcation be-
cause of the Knickerbocker Theatar
disaster. but which when postponed
from the original date on Mckinley's
birthday, in the end Of January, was
found to have been set for date--the
first that the President could promise
which fell within Holy Week.
The society had made great pr'para-
lions to celebrate the birthday OF Nc
r<inley, its patron saint. by very oiS
reception in honor of the next Ohioans
10 occupy the White House, the FRESH
dent and Mrs. Harding OF course rs
disappointment, but they couldn't have
such a party the day after that horri-
Tie crash. which left the whole city
stunned, and In which several OF their
own members had been killed. lt was
deferred the President consenting most
cordially, until April II. no one at the
moment apparently realizing that that
date fell within Holy Week. Now, with
the Presidents advice and consent the
whole celebration has been called off
TIL next January. O whole year later
than originally planned, and will be
real McKinley's birthday celebration, and
the Ohio Society Is determined to Lave
II then.
Informal Events Mt White House.
That disposes of about the only really
big social event the Hardings had
planned till after Easter and while they
seldom dine alone. Just for the mo-
ment there is mercifully little OF So
cial nature going on at the White
House. even though there has never
heen such open hearted hospitality. with
the latchstring out for all comers. as has
distinguished the present regime at the
historic old mansion. There is constant
more or less impromptu entertaining
there. and there are informal receptions
for the delegates to the endless succes-
sion of conventions that meet ar the
national capital. This week 1t was the
Rotary Clubs that were meeting here.
and Mrs. Harding received the dole
gates and their wives and daughters at
the White House Monday afternoon. And
on Monday evening she and the Presi-
dent (himself. l believe. q Rotar.an)
occupied box at the conventions big
.Eeater party at keith's.
Probably the nearest approach to
real party-prearranged and all that
was the luncheon on Tuesday at which
Gov. and Mrs. Sproul of Pennsylvania
were entertained. They had come down
for the ceremony of breaking ground
for the Meade Memorial which is to
be erected in the Botanic Gardens near
to the Grant Memorial which is nearing
completion. The President turned the
first spadcful of earth and the Governor
turned the second, and the Chief Justice
and Mrs. Taft were there and a number
Of other notablcs. The Secretary Of
War presided, and Gen. Nelson Miles,
VIII oas very young "ofiicer boy" had
served under Meade and could give a