Show H.- H. c i A 1 WASHINGTON BYSTANDER I I IBy By HERBERT C. C PLUMMER I The WASHINGTON four big State receptions held helI each year ear at atthe atthe the White House blouse probably occupy the most Lant ant place on social social so- so cial calendar The president and the first lady are hosts on these occasions occasions oc- oc to great numbers Many people who v h o otherwise 4 4 would not have haveth v fh th opportunity L Of ever meeting a v president have hao f their thell chance at 11 d one of these thee four v f- f li W receptions one i to to the diplomatic 4 I W corps One to the members of congress con con- gross gress one to the judiciary and oneto one oneto to the war and navy Each guest receives a a. specially engraved invitation delivered to his hisor or nr her hel home b by a a. White House mes- mes enger The malls mails are not used at all Through the years ears Interesting sidelights have come from flom these functions There Is the stor Story of how after ono one of th tiuS postwar receptions more thu thi heavy sliver silver plat d White WhiteHouse House spoons bearing the official engraving Presidents II house use I were missed when check was was made after attel the guests departed The souvenir souvenir sou- sou venir had been busy that n night hL TAFT FED THEM President Tart Taft alwa always s 's Insisted that food tood be served Accordingly everyone eeron attending hall had th the opportunity opportunity of partaking of good food at atthe atthe the expense ot of the president A Atypical typIcal menu for a a. reception In those days das was lobster a In Ia Newburg New New- w- w burg salad assorted sandwiches sand sand- ice cream cakes calces coffee an I 1 punch It was served in buffet style Since the Tart Taft days a guest is lucky it If ho he is able to assuage his thirst with a a. glass of water durIng dur- dur lug Ing the evenIng President Taft had to foot tit th bills' bills for aU all of this food too It was s not until the Harding that expenses for ordinary entertainment at the Whits lut House was charged to the presidents president's presidents president's dents dent's 2000 allowance for travelIng travel travel- lag Ing expenses NEWSPAPER MEN GO Newspaper men n Washington whose names appear In the Ional directory are Included in the thelI lI lIst t of guests at these four state receptions There are are however sO many of them here that It has been foun l Impossible to Invite aU all at atone one une time Therefore a certain number are Invited to at least one re If the name of n. n member of the press appears In the thc directory he Is practically assured of the opportunity or of attending one during the thereal year real But the they are slow in attending Unless hIs wife has a desire desire to m meet et the president and first lady OL 01 he has a great deal or of curiosity the average newspaper newspaperman newspaperman man Is seldom found at the Whitehouse White House on these occasIons |