Evening star., 1925-01-18
,Brilliancy Attends
Formal AT Homes"
of Cabinet Hostesses
Mrs. Hoover Pleases Guests
With Decorations Com
posed of Farm Products.

That the cabinet hostesses propose
10 make their two formal reception
DAYS each season almost epochal
events instead Of the former dreary
routine and but sparsely attended
affairs was evident on Wednesday
afternoon. For those who were un-
daunted by the difficulty of getting
about either in motor cars or atoot'
the visits to the various homes par
took of all the enjoyments which ac-
company a journey into the States
which the distinguished chatelalnes
call home.
This was emphasized most, perhaps,
IN the spacious residence OF the sec
retary of Commerce and Mrs. herpefL
Hoover, a wide, Neutrality-suspicious.
house set in grounds which take on
the proportions Of n park and where,
within, pictures, furnishings and
embellishments are all typical or the
West For her first reception Mrs.
Hoover had strengthened the western
note by the unique quality of her
decorations. in the vast hall, In the
drawing rooms and in the great
dining room one Of the noblest in
proportions which Washington can
boast. For the massive centerpiece
on the mantels and on the great eN-
tension table where every dainty was
served was composed OF ears of red
corn in their golden husks, as sort
of supporting fringe, and then mighty
punches of purple grapes, glowing
grapefruit. vivid tanEerines and pale
yellow oranges were heaped high
Then adding a superb bit of color
were highly polished eggplants, just
the shade to offset and bring out
the Colors Of the corn and of the fruit
and a selection which proclaims Mrs
Hoover. who arranged all of these
herself, an artist with almost touch
of genius. Few flowers were in evi-
dence instead big heads Of dried
sumac in plumy Western grasses
filled vases and spaces in the corn and
fruit pieces No woman save a West
erner and possibly Californian
would have selected these splendid
masses of color for her decorative
scheme when hothouse flowers so
luXuriant and abundant might have
been used with far less trouble and
expenditure Of time. But Mrs
Hoover must have felt repaid to have
heard from so many aiding her and
from her hundreds of callers that the
entire effect was the most beautiful
which could be expected even from
that home Of beauty, California.
Mrs. Hoover received her guests
alone in a great ffre-lit room just
off the main hall, and the big logs
drawing room. and, save that which
was furnished from the clustered
windows so plentiful all over the
mansion, the dancing flames from
the burning wood gave all the light
which was needed. She wore tunic
effect gown of cream color and EN-
broidered crepe with touches Of rose
and green. Assisting her were the
officers of the Girl Scout council.
Possibly the first and only formal
reception which Mrs Harlan Fiske
Stone will give as the wife OF the
Attorney General was that OF last
Wednesday, and which, while show
ing something of the fcrmalfty which
would naturally mark similar
function in New York City, neverthe-
less resembIed a campus reunion un-
der the happiest. auspices. For both
in the aides to the hostess and in
the guests were many who had fire.
quently been entertained at the home
OF the dean of Columbia University
Law School less than a year ago.
Like Mrs Hughes, another hostess
with traditions Of the metropolitan
city, ices and cool drinks were more
plentifully dispensed than tea or
chocolate. Mrs. Stone had some
lovely table decorations of spun
sugar, and her flowers We're sugges-
tions of the CHEEKY Christmastide,
ana the CAKES ana connections
Elowed in green and red. and under
the soft beams of crimson shaded
candles. Mrs. Stone received in
black velvet with yellow lace at the
throat and forming q corsage adOrn-
Inent She was assisted by a large
group Of women.
The utmost formality marked the
reception Of Mrs. Frederick J. Gillett,
wife of the Speaker, though her prep
arations were of the simplest kind.
Mrs. Mayhem Wainwright poured tea
and Mrs. Warren Delano Robbins pre-
sided over the chocolate urn. This was