Evening star., 1925-06-07
GARDEN FETE GIVEN
At SOLDIERS HOME
Party Held for Benefit of
Widows and Orphans of
Spanish War Veterans.

An elaborate garden party, attended
by many persons high In the Capitals
social and official circles, was given
at the Soldiers Home yesterday after
noon and evening as benefit for the
widows and orphans of men who died
In the Spanish-American War. The
party and lawn fete was the first of
its kind to be given by the Army Re-
lief Society, which has for many years
cared for. the Spanish War widows
and orphans, as a means of raising
funds to continue their work.
The grounds of the Soldiers Home
were transformed for the occasion
with electric lanterns lighting artistic
ally arranged booths where pro-
gressive lawn supper was served.
There were many unique features to
the party, including exhibition drills
by troops of Boy Scouts and a circus
The decorations and booths were pre-
pared by residents at the Soldiers
Home, assisted by Boy Scouts.
Band concerts were given during
the afternoon by the United States
Army Band and by Soldiers Home
Band. In the evening there was dane
ing in Stanley hall for which the
Army Band Orchestra played.
The party was under the general
direction of a committee headed by
Mrs. Walter l.. Finley, who is presi-
dent of the local chapter of the Army
Relief Society, and including Mrs.
John w. Noyes. Mrs. Hugh Drum,
Maj. Parker West and Capt. G.. w.
Armitage.
Directs Balloon Sale.
A booth where balloons were sold
was presided over by Mrs. Charles
Burnett, who has achieved distinc-
ton as the authoresS of Chinese
poetry, and she was assisted by the
two daughters of the French Ambas-
sador and Nine. Daeschner, and by
Miss Natalie Hammond and Miss
Nellie Carusi.
Tea and sandwiches were dispensed
to guests at booth conducted by Mrs.
Thomas Z. Hopkins, and a cake booth
was presided over by Mrs. D. n. GILL
man.
The ice cream booth was in charge
of Mrs. Fox Connor, the candy booth.
Mrs Edward Sturges. assisted by the
ladies of the finance committee of
the Relief Society; the hot dog"
booth, Mrs. Stewart Elliott; the ham
and salad booth, Mrs. Frank Coe, as
sisted by the ladies of the Coast Ar
tillery group of the society; coffee
booth. Mrs. Eldridge Jordan; flower
booth, Mrs. Parker West; soft drinks,
Maj. j. NJ. Wainwright and Maj. R.
L. Maxwell: the circus and the trick
horse booth, Capt. Reid Witprecht;
membership booths. Mrs. Robert E.
Allen, Mrs. Merritte w. Ireland, Mrs.
w. ]. Snow, Mrs. Herbert Crosby
and Mrs. Robert c. Davis; cigars and
cigarettes, Mrs. Albert Dalton and
Mrs. H. H. Sheen; fortune telling
booth, Mrs. Clyde Parker and Miss
Marion Grimes, and a silhouette
booth, Mrs. Frederick van Duyne and
Col. F. s. Foltz.
Mrs. Coolidge Sends Flowers.
Flowers for the party were sent by
Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, who is a pa
troness of the society. but who was
unable to attend. Regrets were also
received from embassy people who
had already left Washington.
Thirtytwo Boy Scouts, selected for
their perfection in Scout drills. gave
a performance which was staged un-
der the auspices of Col. L. L. Mat
tice.
The Army Relief Society was or
ganized 25 years ago to lend much
needed aid to widows and orphans
of soldiers who died in the war with
Spain, who were inadequately cared
for by small pensions. Many chill
|dren of the widows have been assisted
In educational matters by the society
The president of the organization is
Mrs. Henry L. Stimson The work
is carried on entirely by volunteer
workers.