The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-27
! ashton Notes OF
Smart Society
~ At Capital
BY MARGARET WADE

= While everybody, so to speak, ex-
pected gay post Lenten eason, no one
anticipated the round of brilliant enter-l
tainments that began last Sunday and
are likely to continue until the adjourn
nent of Congress--date unknown.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge re-
snnied the interrupted program of last
winter by giving a state diner on Thurs
day evening in honor of the Speaker
and Mrs. Gillette, which was enough
T in itself to give the spring season full
Official status. 1t is not, however, ex-
pected that these same hosts will give
either of the evening receptions that
were cancelled with the diner, by rem
sen. of the official mourning for the late
President Wilson. These receptions
were planned in honor of Congress and
the army and navy, respectively.
The speakers dinner in addition to be-
ipg. one of the four state dinners given
in compliment to the cabinet, the diplo-
matte corps, (meaning only the chiefs
Of missions) and the supreme court, in
th3s instance was much appreciated
compliment from one old friend to an
other, both former students of Am
herst, and native New Englanders, to
J achieve great distinction in national af-
fairs
The President and Mrs. Coolidge also
attended the gala performance of
America" on Monday evening, while
Mrs, Coolidge continues to be at home
nearly every afternoon in the week to
some particular group of women repre-
senting some patriotic or civic organi-i
cation, or merely ambitious ladies who
ask for an opportunity of meeting the
popular First Lady
.st0n with the dance has always
been the cry of Washington where ev-
erybody dances, including former Speak
er Cannon and Mrs. John B. Henderson,
both of whom have passed the four score
milestone of life, but never until We'd
inesday, April %, did the Congress of
the Emitted States fall in line as spon-
isors for classical dances in their marble
halls. This was when a well-known
health expert introduced by, the Sena-
tor copeland of New York, presented
his six beautiful daughters to a large
audience of law makers in the majority
room of the House office building.
In addition to Senator Copeland, the
promoters of this unique exhibition in
cluded Senators Mckinley of Illinois,
Capper of Kansas, Representatives
Longworth of Ohio. Dallinger of Mas.
sachusetts, Young of North Dakota and
Nelson of Wisconsin. with former Rep
resehtative Bear of Wisconsin and
Frank Goodwin, the artist.
The dress parade of Easter Sunday
which. is never spectacular in Washing
ton, was even more conventional than
in recent years as Washington women
of established social position always
dress simply for church. and nobody
who Is anybody ever walks abroad on
Sunday afternoon.
Even the large midday breakfast at
Friendship, where Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
ward Beale Mclean resumed their
place as leading non-official hosts, the
majority of women guests wore dark
one piece gowns suited to the hour and
the informality of the occasion. This
Easter party was inaugurated some 20
years ago by the late Mrs. John r. Nc
Lean and has been continued by her
young daughter-in-law with few depar-
lures from the original program which
called for waffles and maple syrup
for the last of three simple courses, and
no order of precedence in the seating of
the guests who frequently numbered
two hundred.
q Mrs. Coolidge's gown of white satin,
worn for the dinner of Thursday night.
is of much more than passing interest
IS this is the gown she has consented
to give to the costume collection of the
national museum, where visitors may
view gowns worn by every mistress of
the White House from the time of
Dolly Madison to Mrs. Woodrow Will.
son. Mrs. Harding has consented to
present a e~wn but this addition has
not yet been placed. Mrs. Coolidge's
white satin stain is in the prevailing
straight line of the present year, sleeve
less and with a train. 1t follows prac-
tically the same lines as the red velvet
gown shown in the new portrait of the
present First Lady which has just been
hung in the east room of the White
House, otherwise bare of all pictures,
since the removal of the Washington
portraits to the red room. ,-
This placing of the new portrait is
not permanent, but for the convenience
Of the hundreds of tourists who daily
visit this one state apartment open to
the public. Later Mrs. Coolidge pro-
poses having the picture placed with
the portraits of her predecessors in the
long gallery on the ground floor. While
Mrs. Taft, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and
Mrs. Harding were all painted while in
the White House, their portraits are
their personal property and were. re-
moved at the expiration of each admin
istratton. The last portrait of First
Lady previous to Mrs. Coolidge's to be
presented to the government and find
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