The Washington times., 1931-01-30
NEWS, VIEWS AND GOSSIP OF SOCIETY IN T.
Congressional Reception
At the White House Is
A Brilliant Affair
BY ANNE PATTEN

House reception to the members
of the United States Congress
into two feteS, one for the Sen
ate and one for the House.
Guests at the party last eve.
ming, given for the members of
the House of Representatives
and their families and friends,
remembering the old days when
Senate and House trod so
closely upon each others heels
that comfort for either was out
of the question, were delighted
with the change. It was one
Of the prettiest parties given
at the historic Executive Man
sion this season and one of the
smallest. Less than 1900 guests
were present, giving those hon.
ored by invitations an oppor-
tunity not only to greet the
President and Mrs. Hoover, but
each other as we'll.
Former Plans Cancelled
The President and Mrs.
Hoover had planned to divide
the original one big reception
last season, but the party for
the House was cancelled at the
last minute, owing to the ill
ness and, later, the death of
the former Chief Justice, Will
liam H. Taft.
Not the least of the charms
of last evenings affair was the
fact that everyone seemed to
know everyone else. Politics
forgotten, Republican, Demo
crat, and Progressive chatted
and laughed, strolling through
corridors and reception rooms
gorgeously decorated for the
occasion in a profusion of palms
and flowers from the overflow,
ing White House Conservatives.
Many Are Ill
Illness had made inroadS into
the Cabinet procession" which
! followed the President and Mrs.
Hoover down the stairs-a stair
way starred with great clusters
of scarlet carnations. Mrs. Ed
ward Everett Gam, sister Of
the Vice President, who is i
usually his companion on such
state occasions, has an attack
of the grippe, so Mrs. Hurley,
wife of the Secretary of War,
made her entrance on Vice
President Curtis arm-Secre-
tary Hurley being in Texas on a
speaking trip, Mrs. Adams, wife
of the Secretary of the Navy,
was also on the sick list, and
the Secretary of Agriculture
and Mrs. Hyde we're absent
from the Cabinet group.
= Wearing a costume of heavy
eggshell satin, severely plain
and depending for it's beauty
on grace of line, Mrs. Hoover
looked unusually we'll last night.
Her gown was made with a
short train and with bertha
Of the material, the two ends
of which we're tied in a bow in
the back. She carried long
white gloves and small hand
bag of eggShell satin beaded in
gold.
Wear White Gowns
Several of the Cabinet host
esses had taken their cue from
the First Lady, Mrs. Wilbur,
Mrs. Lamont and Mrs. Doak,
all wearing white gowns. Fash
ioned of creamy velvet brocaGed
all over in a small design, the
model chosen by Mrs. Lamont
was particularly chic. Mrs. Will
bur was in white and silver
brocade and Mrs. Doak's taffeta
frock combined with tulle, was
brocaded in a design of gold.
Mrs. Stimson, always eXcep-
tionally smart, wore Burgundy
velvet gown, made with a long
draped skirt and with the decol-
tage cut in a deep V. Mrs.
Mitchell's costume was of rose
colored velvet, with deep hem
of tulle of the same shade. Mrs.
Brown wore a taffeta gown,
with close-fitting bodice and full
skirt, its color being green or
blue according to the light. And
Mrs. Hurley presented charm
ing picture in gold net, the
bodice and flaring skirt beaded
all over in tiny beads. She had
a necklace of heavy gold about
her throat.
LOngwOrths Head Guests
The Speaker of the House and
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth led the
group of guests from the Con-
gress as they were presented to
the President and Mrs. Hoover.
Afterward they held court
through the evening, most Of
the congressional group seizing
the opportunity for word with
the genial Mick" and President
RooSevelt's dynamic daughter.
Mrs. Longworth wore a gown of
eggplant-tinted taffeta shot with
lavender threads, its skirt puffed
over the hips. a
COngresswOmen Present
Three of the "gentlewomen
of the House" were present.
Mrs. Ruth Bryan Owen wore
a stunning costume in black,
her favorite color, with a en-
veloping Spanish shawl of black
and corSage of orchids.
Representative Edith Nourse
Rogers wore white crepe with
a corsage of green orchids, and
Representative Ruth Hanna
Mccormick, arriving a bit late,
was attended by her debutante
daughter, Miss Katrina McCor-