The Washington times., 1931-02-12
By ANNE PATTEN


ing the reception at the White
House given last evening by the
President and Mrs. Hoover in
their honor.
Ninety-tWo-year-old Mrs. John
G. Walker, of Winchester, Va,
made a special trip to Wash
ington at the invitation of Mrs.
Hoover to attend the reception.
Mrs. Walker is the widow of
Mexican war veteran and was
accompanied by her two daugh-
ters, Mrs. Harrison Cassard, OF
Baltimore, and Miss Frances
Walker, also of Winchester. Ad-
mitted to the Blue Room imme-
diately upon her arrival at the
White House she was greeted
by Mrs. Hoover with gay little
wave of her hand as the First
Lady came down the steps with
President Hoover at the head
of the Cabinet procession.
Wears Satin Gown
Mrs. Walker wore trailing
black satin gown with a tiny
cap of lace and carried an old
fashioned bouquet sent her by
Mrs. Hoover from the White
House Conservatives. Her hus-
band, the late Major Walker,
served throughout the Mexican
war and later as Confederate
officer was a member of General
Lees staff. Her first White
House reception was during the
Cleveland administration.
Following her reception by
the President and Mrs. Hoover
Mrs. Walker held impromptu
court in the Green room where
many of the guests were pre-
sented to her by Capt. Joel
Boone, U. S. A., who acted as
her particular beau" for the
evening.
The reception, always one of
the most brilliant. of the an
nual series given at the White
House. was particularly pleas
ant last evening. Never has
the Executive Mansion been
lovelier, with grand stairway,
mantels and every available
nook and corner banked with
a profusion of spring flowers.
Setting Is Brilliant
Three thousand guests had
been invited and practically
everyone attended. The long
line of brilliantly attired SER
vice officers, dazzling in their
gold braided uniforms, accom-
panied by their ladies no less
resplendent in velvets and
Satins, seemed endless.
Promptly at 9 o'clock, greeted
by the customary Hail to the
Chief" the President and Mrs.
Hoover descended the grand
stairway followed by the mem
bers of the Cabinet group. The
First Lady was unusually charm
ing in a costume of lace in
orchid and gold. The gown
was made with a V-neck, smart
elbow-length sleeves { a fashion
that is rapidly taking the fancy
Of feminine Washington) and a
paneled skirt that swept the
floor. Her lovely white hair
was bound closely to her head
with two diamond pins, and
she wore the same jewel on a
platinum chain around her
neck. Early in the evening
she wore her long white gloves,
but later removed them to shake
hands with the passing parade.
Mrs. Gam Absent
Mrs. Gam was not present, :
having been ordered to remain
at home following a fall that
left her with a badly sprained
ankle. Her brother, Vice Presi-
dent Charles Curtis, however,
attended and followed the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Hoover down the
stairway, with Mrs. Arthur M.
Hyde, wife of the Secretary of
Agriculture, on his arm. Sec
retary Hyde came down with
Secretary of the Interior Ray
Lyman Wilbur and Mrs. Wilbur
The Secretary Of the Treas
Andrew Mellon, accompanied
the Secretary of War and Mrs.
Patrick ]. Hurley in the process
Sions
Wears White Chiffon
Mrs. Hyde wore a becoming
gown of white chiffon heavily
beaded in crystals. Mrs. Will
bur had chosen pale pink chif-
ton for her gown, the dress be-
ing simply made with the bodice
cut in a panel effect. Two pink
gardenias at the close of the
neckline in front completed her
costume.
Mrs Hurley was stunning in
eggShell velvet made on prin-
cess lines with a lengthy train.
The neckline of the gown was
outlined in rhinestoneS.
Mrs. Henry L. Stimson wore
cream satin made with a tiny
cape of ecru lace. An exquisite
necklace of diamonds completed
her costume.
Mrs. Adams Outfit
Mrs. Charles Francis Adams
wore bright blue faille with a
narrow band of silver edging
the neckline and forming the
girdle. The skirt was draped
in pannier effect about the hips
with touches of silver.
Mrs. Robert Patterson La
mont wore gold lace, the gown
being made with a short train