The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-21
is CROWDED AS ASH WEDNESDAY LOOMS ON

ways are. and great fun. The
dancing class at the Playhouse,
the renaissance Of an organiza.
ton which flourished eight years
ago and which seems to be having
all the success Of the revival Of
some perennial favorite on the
stage. The Congressional Club
dance for the debutantes, which
was slow in getting under way,
but which ended up in q blaze Of
glory. The British bachelors
dance, which was given for Miss
Betty Baldwin and turned out 70
be Hamlet without Hamlet" rs
she was III and couldn't be pres
ent. And last, but not least, the
dinner dance given at Rauscher's
last night by the young Cornelius
Vanderbilts.
TOR the last week President
Harding has been rather un-
der the weather, as wen as Mrs.
Harding-not sick enough for
even HIS physician to be worried
about him, but enough to feel
thoroughly miserable and sorry
tor himself, without making any
enc else particularly sorry for
him. OF course, everyttme the
White House is mentioned some
enc leans forward and asks ear.
nestly. "well. really, and ON the
level-how Is Mrs. Harding, any
how?" And really. and on the
level, the few who know just how
Mrs. Harding 10 are not inclined
60 falkland If they do, nobody
feels at all constrained to believe
them.
Early in the week, I heard q
woman ask q well-known Sena-
torial what she heard as to Mrs.
HaFdine's progress. She quoted
another, who Is known IS one Of
the First Lady's buddies, as feel
Ing that she had reached q stage
where Il might be good for her to
try to do O little more than she
was doing-that she had been 50
very III that everybody was scared
stiff II she tried to lift q finger
for herself.
Another woman In the group
who often has inside information
said that she had talked TO DIR.
Sawyer. and he didn't seem at all
optimistic. Undoubtedly the two
people who know most about Mrs.
Harding's condition are General
gawyer-and Miss Ruth POwderly,
the nurse who has been In charge
OF the case right along, and who,
I believe, was also In charge Of
the late Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.
But, I should say, that any nurse
who has been in command during
the serious illness Of two First
Ladies, would be az easy to set
anything out Of as an oyster. I
haven't the pleasure Of Miss Row
0eriy's acquaintance, but III be
sworn that. asids from being q
capable NURSE she was picked
largely for her discretion, and
would be about as communicative
~ the Sphinx.
PERSONALLY, haven't seen
any one who was likely to
really know" anything Of Mrs.
Harding's progress or lack Of
progress, except Mrs. Harry New
ana Miss Harlan. And L didn't
mention Mrs.. Harding to Mrs.
New, and to Miss Harlan simply
Confided . message Of friendly
greeting, which she probably
quite forgot to deliver. So don't
pretend 70 "rea1ly know"
My very strong impression IL
that the Mistress Of the White
House II getting along-not very
fast, but, On the whole, she IL
getting along. Probably she will
not be able to undertake another
such strenuous. season a. her
first In the White House-and
there were many days last win
ter that she spent in bed gar
nering up her energies for some
evening function to which she
was committed, and not infre-
quentiy much Of the next day in
bed recovering from it. I think
no one that knows anything Of
Mrs. Harding will accuse her Of
unduly coddling herself. For the
present she would seem to be
drifting on the tide, Of what
every one hopes, and most people
believe, is returning health. Presi.
dent Harding seems to have taken
O leaf out Of his predecessor
book, ana to be "watchfully wait
ing" till he IL sure what Mrs.
Harding will be equal to, before
making any personal plans.
IT seems probable that IL she IL
well enough, they will make q
little trip South in March after
the end Of the present Congress.
And Mr.. Harding seems to be ap-
plying Coue methods to the spe-