Evening star., 1934-03-04

the various formal social functions at the
White House she has been reserving an hour
in the late afternoon four or five days
Of each week for an informal tea-reception
when she receives and chats with hundred
or so women personally invited.
The formal White House receptions under
the Roosevelts noticeably different from
those Of previous administrations. In the first
place the number of invitations to these
functions have been reduced, and there has
been a decided air of informality associated
with them. Even the routine of these affairs
has been changed.
FORMERLY at such functions, the guests,
with the exception Of the members Of the
cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps and
others ranking very high in official life, q
those very close to the presidential family.
assembled in the basement corridors and ct
the given signal walked in a long line, two
persons abreast, up the broad stairway, across
the main lobby and then on to the state
dining room at the far western end of the
building and from there on through the red
room and thence into the blue room, where
the President and First Lady and those as
sisting them were standing to shake hands
and extend greetings. From there the line
travelled on through the adjoining green room
and into the historic east room at the eastern
end Of the house. After that most Of the
guests went below for their wraps and left,
while some few remained for half an hour Of
dancing In the east room, while the Marine
Band played. The President and First Lady
after the last person in line had been re-
ceived, always retired to the private quarters
on the second floor, where the more intimate
friends gathered and chatted for half an hour
or 30. Even this post-reception in the private
quarters was dispensed with by Calvin
Coolidge. He was through when the formal
reception on the main floor was finished. and
with Mrs. Coolidge's arm through his he
walked in formal manner, with aides in his
wake from the blue room across the main
lobby and up the marble stairway to the
second floor.
The receptions during the Roosevelt ad-
ministration have been different. Instead Of
assembling in line in the basement floor the
guests assemble in the east room. The mem
bers Of the cabinet, very close friends and
certain others join the President and First
Lady in the family sitting room on the second
floor. The line which has formed in the
east room at a given signal walks two abreast
through the green room and into the blue roOn
where the President and First Lady are stand
ing, and then on through the red room, into
the state dining ROOM where the line
breaks. Along one end of the room there is .
decorated table with sandwiches, cakes and q
Notwithstanding punch.
From then on the guests make themselves
at home. They mill around, renewing ac-
quaintances and chatting, and finally the
band strikes up in the east room and the
dancing starts Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs Anna
Curtis Dali, the only daughter Of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt, join in the dancing.
The President always comes to the doorway
and smiles on the thIong Of dancers before
retiring to his study on the floor above,
where he chats with intimate friends. The
dancing comes to an end before midnight.
On more than one occasion during the year
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt have given
q big party dance for the young folks'-Mrs.
Dali, Franklin, jr and John, at which about
200 young men and women are invited Also
there have been several childrens parties for
the two children of Mrs. Dall-Sttie and
Buzzie.
THE matter Of assigning the bed rooms 70
the various members Of the household was
. very easy matter. It was attended to By
Mrs. Roosevelt . week or two before the
Hoovers moved out Of the White House. and
It proved no problem at all Besides the
members Of the immediate family rooms were
assigned to Col Louis McHenry Howe, prin-
cipal secretary to the President, who has
been an intimate friend Of the family for
more than q quarter Of . century, and Miss
Margaret LELAND, who has been confidential
secretary to the President from away back In
his early days in Albany. room Was
assigned to Mrs. James Roosevelt, the 82-year-
old mother Of the President. and Is ready for
her frequent visits to Washington.
During the past 20 or Is years the Presi-
dents have usually used the bed room suite
ut the southwest end Of the second floor Of the
White House. Franklin Roosevelt, however.
selected q smaller room adjoining the oval
room, which he turned into q study, and In
sisted that Mrs Roosevelt take the suite ut
the southwest corner. Mr.. Roosevelt made