Evening star., 1923-08-26
Social Secretary Is" Vital Factor DR
In Activities of the White House

Of the past-was in full social bloom.
q White House dinner party was
thrown into state Of absolute panic
by the sprightly Baroness Hengel-
muller, wife of the then ambassador,
who refused to be the dinner consort
of the Mexican ambassador, because
OF her strong feeling on the Maximil-
liam incident in his country some
ply which could scarcely be foreseen
and after the irate baroness changed
partners with an amiable woman, the
food of state was served.
That little incident was when state
dinner parties were seated at a mar
red corridor just. without the suite
OF state parlors. and divided from the
main entrance hall by Tiffany glass
screen which afterward mysteriously
disappeared.
The mansion was not such an ex-
elusive abode in those days and So
ciety reporters gathered 20 take note
Of the beautiful gowns of the women
and uniforms OF the men after they
DOTTED their wraps. and later. the
famous stained glass screen afforded
numerous peep holes. where one
might view at close range the gath
cred company and likewise catch
spicy stray bits Of gossip, themselves
passing behind this sacred screen for
dinner party. and while some great
financial issue was on, that the late
Pierpont Morgan shook his finger
under the very nose OF the late Pres
ident Roosevelt.
Flood Of Letters.
One might picture Mrs. Coolidge
sitting in comfortable chair per-
sonally debating an answer to each
letter in the bulging mail pouch
Not so. She could not possibly do IT.,
even If she did nothing else. The
wiTe of Presiden. outlines her
policy to the White House social
secretary. That Is, she makes it
clearly known to what causes she
VIII subscribe her name or lend her
patronage. Her policy in reference
to the thousands of requests which
come from all parts of the country
is also clearly explained. for every
thing that human mind can invent is
asked of the first lady OF the land.
There is, in fact. general outline
o. what she can and cannCt DO,
given TO the secretary. After that
answering notes becomes d simple
matter. The wife of the President
sees only the most personal mail,
and II may be said for the White
> ~
that they have seldom ever made d
mistake In judgment or given offensc.
The cards left at the White House
and II is the duty of every woman in
official life, and out, too, il she SO
desires, TO leave her own and her
husbands card at the door OF the
mansion-are recorded and care
fully perused Their index forms the
invitation list for social affairs at the
mansion.
1t is also the task of the social
secretary to arrange all meetings
with the Presidents wife. The notes
asking this honor are carefully gone
over. and as II would be a physical
impossibility TO receive the visitors
individually, they are cleverly group
cd as to rank or social Importance. or
general interest. and when the day
and the hour is set. they are re-
ceived as at small tea or reception.
the length of the visit>depending upon
the number received, but at best the
call is brief.
Mrs. Harding Generous.
Mrs. Harding was more generous
In this favor than were any of her
predecessors, but it was at a terrible
cost. The public could take from her
her time, but they could not give
her back her health Once in a while
fContinued on Nineteenth Page.)