The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-18
CLUBS BREAKFAST
HEADLIIVER AMONG
WEEKS GAY EVENTS
Mrs. Harding Present
I'm Spirit if Not Inn
Material Form

faSt was the merriest sort
Of q party and Mrs. Mondell's
innovation-Mrs. Frank w. Mon
dell, chairman Of the enter
tainment committee-in arranging
for an advance showing Of Omar,
the Tent Maker" instead of the
usual "home talent" program, was
a success, Judging from the en-
thusiastic comment one heard on
all sides as the guests filed out:
The film, presented through the
courtesy of Will Hays, sometime
Postmaster General, and now
Gear Of the Movies" was both
thrilling and artistic. but it owed
a large part of its appeal to the
incidental music--a score which
was worked out most artistically
and which was beautifully played
by the string section Of the Ma
rine Band.
It has been the custom for the
First Lady to attend the annual
Congressional Club breakfast when
ever possible, ever since 1t was
started a dozen years ago, but Mrs.
Harding, Of course, was not able
to be present in the flesh. How
ever she showed that she was with
her old friends and former asso-
ciates-she was a member of the
club when President Harding was
in the Senate, you known spirit,
by sending cordial word of greet
ing and regret and a great basket
of fragrant blossoms from the
White House Conservatives with
which the table for the honor
guests was decorated.
In Mrs. Harding's absence, Mrs.
Coolidge. wife Of the Vice Presi-
dent. and Mrs. Gillett. wife Of the
Speaker Of the House, shared the
distinction Of being honor guests.
Mrs. Joseph s. Frelinghuysen, the
present president of the organiza-
ton, presided, making the only
speech OF the afternoon. A few
words Of welcome and farewell
her husband goes out on March 4
1t had the rare distinction Of
being brief and to the point, as
well as graceful. Brief, too, but
marked by genuine feeling was
the one toast, proposed by Mrs.
Horace Mann Towner and drunk
standing, to Mrs. Harding.
THE breakfast was given at
4 Rauscher's, and I never saw
the familiar rooms look prettier.
They had used something quite
new to me, slim trees of green
bamboo, and in the small ball
room, which was used as a recep-
ton room, it's feathery branches,
silhouetted lace like against the
creamy walls, afforded the only
decorative note. In the large mir
rored ballroom, where the lunch
con was served, the bamboo was
supplemented with smilax, and the
more usual palms and ferns, while
gay yellow jonquils bloomed in the
center Of each table.
Looking down the long room 1t
was borne in upon me what an
assmblage Of good looking, we'll
dressed women 1t was, with a
pang at the thought Of losing so
many of them after March 4.
But that's Washington for you.
A little while and we'll be well
coming the influx Of newcomers.
Yet another little while and Wen
be lamenting their departure in
turn. And that, again, is Wash
ington.
IMPOSSIBLE to go into the list
- Of "those present" Space IS
lacking and besides the guest
list included pretty much the
whole membership of the club,
with a few conspicuous absentees.
Mrs. Harding, of course. "ac-
counted for" by illness. Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson, who had been
invited, but had sent regrets and
Mrs. Marshall. wife of the former
Vice President, who had ex-
pected to be present but who
had been obliged to withdraw a
few hours before the luncheon.
And Mrs. John B. Henderson,
good angel Of the club and re-
Gently elected an honorary vice
president for life. There is al
ways q place for her among the
honor guests of the Congressional
Club, as well as in the hearts
of it's members, but poor lady,
she is in deep mourning for her
son and naturally has no heart
for festivities.
I missed, too, Mrs. Nicholas
Longworth, whom always ex-
pect to see at a Congressional
Club breakfast and whom / can
always recognize down the long
room by her characteristic ges-
ture in slowing her hat under
her chair. And Mrs. Stephen B.
Elkins, daughter, wife and mother
of a Senator, is another "regu-
lar" who seemed to be missing.
They might have been present,
either or both of them, for the
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