Evening star., 1933-12-08

and Splendor was presented In the
White House last evening, when the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt were
hosts to the members of the diplomatic
corps. It was the first Of the annual
State receptions given by President and
Mrs. Roosevelt and, although many
changes were announced, the time-hon-
ored customs and traditional ceremony
were carried out. The glittering light
from the historic crystal chandeliers in
the spacious state rooms with the costly
jewels, handsome gowns Of the women
from many lands and the formal court
dress of q number of the representa-
tives from the more than so foreign
nations present made q dazzling pic
ture.
Members Of the cabinet gathered in
the small dining room, where President
and Mrs. Roosevelt greeted them at 8
o'clock. There was a delay OF some
minutes waiting. for the Secretary of
not arrive in time to accompany the
cabinet to the red room. She arrived
about 9:15 and was received by Mrs.
Curtis B. Dali, daughter of the hosts,
and escorted to the red room.
Several Absent.
For the first time. in many years the
Vice President the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of the Treasury, were
absent from the cabinet line. Vice
President and Mrs. Garner are in their
SeXas home until after Christmas Sec
reJ&ry and Mrs. Hull are In Uruguay
for the Pan-American Congress. and
Secretary and Mrs. 'Woodin are in Ari-
IONA for extended leave. The line last
evening was headed by the Secretary
of War and Mrs. Dern, followed by the
Attorney General and Mrs. Cumming,
Swanson, the Secretary of the Interior
ana Mrs. Ickes, the Secretary IF Agri-
culture and Mrs. Wallace. the retary
of Commerce and Mrs. Rope '-e Act
ing Secretary Of State and Mrs. Phillips,
and the Acting Secretary of the Treas
ury and Mrs Morgenthau. Also absent
from the cabinet circle were the Post
master General and Mrs. Farley, who
are abroad.
There was a delightful atmosphere
at the reception last evening and COM
ments were made on all sides of the
thoughtfully and carefully planned ar
rangements. The long, tiresome wait
on the steps or in the long corridors
was obyiated by the new arrangements.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt are
giving Siaoilct fcCCPtIoilS tildh eiiooe
given IN other administrations, and
this is, in a measure, responsible for
the improvement
The dean of the diplomatic corps,
the Ambassador of Turkey, Mr.. Ahmet
Muhtar, was the first to be received,
and the Ambassadors in the order of
their length of service followed, the
Ministers and charge d'affaireS follow
ing according to their length of service.
Following these the Speaker of the
House and Mrs. Henry T. Rainey with
the members of the Foreign Relations
Committee Of the Senate and the mem
bers Of the Foreign Affairs Committee
of the House, and their wives were re-
ceived, followed by former officials, the
clergy and large number Of resident
society.
For the first time since the World
War, Russia had a representative at
a diplomatic reception, the charge
d'affaires and, Mrs. Boris E. Skvirsky
finding their place in line after the
charge d'affaires of Cuba. Mrs. Skvir-
sky was in a smart gown of gold satin
made with train.
The Speaker of the House, members
of the Foreign Relations and Foreign
Affairs Committee, former Ambassadors,
Assistant Secretaries of State and a
limited number of other Government
officials with their wives, were shown
to the green room upon their arrival.
They were received by the President
the diplomatic corps.
Mrs. Rainey, wife of the Speaker, wore
gown of pale blue satin made on
simple lines with, tiny puffed sleeves
which were trimmed with touches of
lace
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt had
warm greeting for each and every
guest who was presented to the hosts
by the Presidents military and naval
aides.
Mrs. Roosevelt was a striking picture
in gown Of rich white brocade fash
ioned on the graceful, simple lines
which become her most. The bodice
of the gown was cut low at the back
and in a straight angle fashion across
the front. At each shoulder small dia-
mond clasps were caught, giving the
only trimming to the gown, and the
very full skirt fell into a moderate
train at the back
Black and white predominated in the
gowns worn by the wives of the mem
bers of the cabinet, with Mrs. Homer
Cummings, wife Of the Attorney Cen
eral, wearing the only gown Of bril-
liant hue. Mrs. Cummings gown was
of red moss crepe, made on fitted lines,
with large rhinestone buckle marking
the waistline in the front and match
ing rhinestone clips caught at the
shoulders.
Mrs. George H. Dern, wife Of the
Secretary of War, was in a very pale
pearl gray satin gown, the bodice fin
tshed with touches of garnet satin and
the train lined with the garnet satin.
She wore garnet slippers and pearl ear
rings Secretary and Mrs Dern were
accompanied to the reception by their