Evening star., 1934-02-18
Capital Social Activities
Share Large Part of
The Penitential Season
Luncheons, Teas and Dinners Are Numerous
Assistant Secretary and Mrs. Welles
Dinner Hosts

"Sack cloth and ashes" hang lightly
on society in Washington this year,
and the calendar continues filled with
luncheons, teas and dinners. Many
indulge in dancing only on Saturday
evenings, which, with Sundays, are
"oeses" in the desert" of the peni-
tential season.
Last evening the Assistant Secretary
OF State and Mrs. Sumner WelleS
were hosts at dinner followed by dane
ing, entertaining in the palatial home
OF Mrs. Welles' mother, the late Mrs.
Richard Townsend, for many years
the leader of Washington's exclusive
residential circle. Since the death of
Mrs. Townsend no large party has
been given in the Townsend mansion,
which was famous in Washington and
its vicinity as the house with a hun
dred rooms" and bears the distinction
of being the first of its size and i'm
portance in that neighborhood. 1t was
in this house that Mrs. Welles, then
the beautiful blond Mathilde Town
send. was presented to Washington
society by her mother.
Society women, commonly believed
to be women of leisure, even of idle
ness, are really among the very
busiest of the country. Very few of
them have no outside interests from
their homes and social duties. This
is exemplifled among the hostesses in
the diplomatic and official circles.
Just now, for instance, Mrs. Mac
White, the charming and gifted wife
of the Irish Minister, is having an ex-
hibition of her own paintings in New
York at the Roerich Museum on
Riverside Drive. She has upward Of
so paintings there, of landscapes, still
life and marine scenes, under the pro-
fessional name, Paula MacWhite. A
reception was held yesterday after
noon for the opening, when the Min
lister, Mr.. Morgan j. O'Brien and Mr..
Louis L. Horch were present with Mrs.
MacWhite. She expects to spend her
Summer in Ireland, painting in the
rural districts.
Nine. Veverka, wife of the Czecho-
slovakian Minister, also is an artist
with talent and industry.
Members of the congressional circle
as well as residential society received
the announcement of the appointment
last week of Mr.. Jack Marshall as su-
pertntendent of insurance of the Dis
trict with keen interest Both Mr..
Marshall and his attractive wife have
q host of friends in the Capital, where
they have made their home for a
number of years. Mrs. Marshall IS
the daughter of Representative TIL
man B. Parks Of Arkansas, and at the
death of her mother she acted for
some time as her fathers official
hostess. She is writer Of no little
note. AS her part of the George
Washington Bi-Centennial celebration
she wrote and published book known
as "The Martha Washington Cook
Book" which was accepted as one of
the official publications of the COM
mission and was indorsed by the Ma
tional Society, Daughters of the
American Revolution, of which she is
a member. Mrs. Marshall is a mem
Der of the Congressional Club and the
Newspaper Womens Club of Washing.
ton, being a member of the Entertain
rr1ent Committee of the latter organi-
zation. Mr.. and Mrs. Marshall are
making their home this Winter at the
Chastleton Hotel. their homs in