During his first year, President Harding gave orders to permit as many people as possible in the daily line to be received by him. Some days there were fully three thousand to file by and shake hands, and rarely less than four or five hundred. Some of his associates urged him to discontinue this custom or make it weekly, thinking it too much of a strain. “Not on your life,” he answered, when the idea was broached to him; “the only big bright spot of my day is seeing those admiring and kindly faces. I love to meet them. They have nothing to ask. They are typical Americans, and it is merely their way of showing reverence for their President. Besides, it is a treat to meet someone at the White House who is not seeking executive favour.” He often expressed the view that he belonged to the people and it was his duty to grant every wish in reason. His wife shared his views in this respect, as in most others, and their social régime was planned to give the greatest pleasure and include at the big official functions as many people as the size of the house would safely admit. Their first New Year’s reception was notable in that for the first time in many years a President’s wife went through the hand-shaking ordeal. Six thousand, five hundred and seventy-six people went through that line in five hours, and to each one the President and his wife gave a cordial greeting and a hearty hand-shake. True, Mrs. Harding’s right hand became so swollen that she had to use her left, and when the hour for the end of the reception came and people were still passing at the rate of about thirty to the minute, with a long shivering line outside, the President decided that every last person should be admitted, and for another hour these two kept up the pace without flagging. Mrs. Harding’s gloves became so discoloured that she changed several times in brief lulls. After that, she quickly developed a little efficient swing that made her right arm and shoulder stand the strain of the daily receptions as well as did her husband’s golf-trained muscles. The ability to perform the prodigious hand-shaking was due to her years of piano practice and the strength of wrists that horsemanship gave. President and Mrs. Harding endeared themselves to the disabled soldiers, for neither of them ever wearied doing things for them, and none who witnessed the reception which they gave to the wounded men of the Great War will ever wonder why these boys were so devoted to them and mourned their passing so deeply. They were idolized by the children, and with good reason. At Easter, Mrs. Harding reopened the grounds for the annual egg rolling that had been so long abandoned, and then she and the President called Laddie Boy and walked about, mingling with the youngsters, giving and getting a full measure of fun out of the day. Her love for children was very deep.