Evening star., 1923-08-26

CONTINUED from Third P2ge)
some letter from abroad brings up a
question which is referred to the
State Department.. but that is not
often.
A task quite out Of the usual duty
of = secretary Is the pleasant one of
accompanying the mistress OF the
White House on her visits Of mercy.
Miss Harlan frequently went with
Mrs. Hs riding to. the veterans hos
pitaIs in and near Washington, some
times appeared at baZaars and bene-
Ats for her, and after Mrs. Harding
became ill. Miss Harlan occupied the
White House box st concerts. enter
tanning women OF the cabinet or such
other guests as Mrs. Harding wished.
Again. the box would be turned over
10 Miss Harlan for her personai
friends. when II was nearly always
flled with those from the judiciary or
music lovers.
To be prepared for sll these emer-
Kencies In the way OF costume -
not jnconside-able matter. and when
the country wakes up to It's full duty
the White House social secretary WIN
be given a larger salary. Sot only
must she make the necessary sPptai
ances with the mistress OF the hltr
House. but she must atteno al. az
evening affairs IN suitable dress con-
pat;bie with the enviroEs OF the man
sIon. She must ningle with dipio-
MATS and high officials In the blue
room and watch her opportnhi'f ca
adding TO the comfort OF guests. one
makes no introductlons. OF e0ul m.s..
ings a White House aide Is present 10
DO this
ArranEes seatfnEs.
when a state dinner is 10 be given
or dinner with much importance
the diagram OF the table is MADE IN
the White House and the seA''hs
arranged with great care. one might
bring on a political brawl instead OF
adding oil TO the troubled waters
were rot this feature given deicate
consideration Then the table decora
lions are 20 be discussed. and "hhe
the main points are left to the eN-
,crienced men Of the Botanic Gar
dens and Propsgsting Gardens, whence
the White House flowers come eacn
first LADY OF the land adds her inui'!oUai
touch to the arrangement.
Mrs. Harding used more flowers
than had any other mistress or tne
mansion except In the Garner ua!
before the White House was restoreu
when state dinners We're serNer ~
the east room or red corriaor lnIN si
not infreauently evea tme i.t,b bo1 t1.iling
vines which hid almost every Fes,!ge
NJ yraN and were banked about the
room so as TO almost IMPEDE prog
while the table was arranged VIII
least a sufficient bare space on W.,
- m
elaborate decoration are yet IN n.uoe
evidrnce Of the taste of some admin
Lfter the White House was re-
s.ored Mrs. Roosevelt used ies
flowers. compatible WIN Ine ~ :
rn0r1s One so favored as TO De IN
mo mansion a. that time Will feme!n-
her Archibald Roosevelt and MS ht,le
coiored playfellow. who always IN,
spec.ed the table after ~ was ,a'G
for state dinners. and seldom failed
~ surreptitiously carry away few
sweets. Their heads boooed Jus,
! .hoye the stately board. and tolo OF
! the rharming domestic life or rhe
| roosevelt family behind the scenes
Problems at Dinners.
The real program Of state cere-
monies adjusts itself, the only dina-
cu,ty being In the rapidly gro" ins
number TO be disposed OF, so IL Ia
other or lesser entertainments tha'
have to be watched most closely.
Diplomatic dinner. Supreme Cour'
dinner OF any other dinner Whefe
,be Guests are chosen from one body
/ Is easy to seat. II adjusts Itself se'
! cording to priority of service ana u
| ROYALTY ia to be entertained that mat
ter IL discussed between the state
| Densrtnent and the master OF cere'
! mony OF the royal suite.
! The New Year day reception at ths
| White House opens the ufilciaI season
and Just as in the courts OF Europe
where an edict Is given TO the mem
bers of the diplomatic corps as &C
their form Of procedure on stS.e os;
! ,.s:ons so President Roosevelt mac
/ such a circular letter sent to Inembe RI
i ~ the corps. II left no doubt in the
F.; mind OF even the newest envoy ol
| member Of his staff as 10 what Wa'
, to be done. such information neces-
| sarIly coming from the master oi
| ceremonies of the State Department..
The list Of guests for the severaI
state receptions is compiled from the
| diplomatic list, the Congressional III,
rec,ory. Army and Navy lists and
CARDS LETT AT the w hfte nouse' ny
! are much-abused institutions. these
state functions. and even the most
! astute White House social secretary
! ir fact nothing less than mob rule
could stralghten them out. Years ago
| invitations were issued TO the diplo-
matte reception. the judicial recep-
ton. the Army and Navy reception
| the congressional reception and the
reception for the people all at once
President Mckinley instituted the
custom Of sending out the invita- ations
| for each event separately. and the
plan was a good one. but not yet good
enough. II one received an invitation
| for the one reception ana preiefreo
| To 90 70 another, he did so. .As the In
the making. include a number of lone