Evening star., 1935-01-25
|HE President and Mrs. Roosevelt
were hosts last evening at the
annual state dinner to the

"HE President and Mrs. Roosevelt
were hosts last evening at the
annual state dinner to the
Il heads of foreign missions in
Washington. entertaining the
largest company ever invited to this
event. The guests last evening num-
bered 81 and represented every coun-
try with embassies or legations in
washington except Chile. Colombia
and Yugoslavia. The Ambassador of
Chile, Senor Don Manuel Trucco, and
the charge daffaires of Colombia, Sc
nor Alberto GonzaleZ-Fern
were unable to attend because of i'll
ness and Yugoslavia is observing court
mourning for the late King Alexander.
The last large dinner to diplomats in
the White House was that given in
1882 by President and Mrs. Hoover,
when the company numbered "a.
The guests were seated at a table
in the shape of a horseshoe, which
was along the south, east and north
sides of the state dining room. The
famous Monroe gold Surtout, COM
posed of epergnes and tall and low
compotiers, was used, the dainty vases
about the mirror filled with flesh-color
roses, and baby primula and low
mounds of pale pink carnations, flesh
color roses-the name given from the
White HouSe-and baby primula were
at intervals around the table. White
candles were in the candelabra and
the tall compotiers were filled with
tropical fruits, large punches OF
luscious grapes hanging from the
sides, and in the lower compotiers
were confectionS. Gold plate, first
made famous in the Buchanan admin
istration and more recently in the
Harding administration, when all the
fiat silver was plated in gold. was
used, with pearl-handled knives. The
large spoons bore Presidents House
engraved on the handles and the small
spoons had the presidential coat OF
arms.
The table was never more beauti-
full, the simplicity and elegance OF
the design of the new china enhanc-
ing the dignity of the other apper-
tenances for the table. The china
is palest cream color and about the
outer edge of the plates is band OF
dark blue about a quarter of an inch
deep, in which 48 gold stars, repre-
senting the 48 States, are at intervals
Breaking the circle of color is the
official coat of arms of the President
of the United States. the eagle with
his head turned to the left holding
a ribbon in his mouth which bears
ssT p1Ilrih1lS TTrI1ro'' o16 hefoiv06 his
head 13 upright feathers, each b9ar-
ing star. representing the IS original
States. Just inside the band of blue
Is another band about the same depth,
Of gold etching in a conventional de-
sign, the center of the motif having
q diminutive cluster of roses. This
motif extends about 4 inches and is
interrupted for three upright feathers
delicately etched in gold. the motif
IS repeated and again the feathers.
Three feathers and three roses appear
in the coat of arms of the Roosevelt
family. thus giving clue to future
generations as to the administration
to which the china belongs. Martha
Washington's china bears her initials,
rather large, in the center of the
plates, and some of the Lincoln china
has rather ornate L, while the Har-
rison china bears the signature of the
First Lady Of that day, c. S. Harri-
son, as the design was executed by
her and several of the plates painted
by her while in the White House.
Each set of china is of historic in
terest. being indicative of the taste
and styles of the times, showing even
the difference in dishes that are used
as style changes even in butter plates,
soup plates and even cups, not only
In size and shape, but in color.
At each place last evening were
three stem glasses, pale green glass
delicately etched, which in size was
between the two white cut glasses.
The glasses are cut in the diamond
pattern, fashionable in the Harrison
administration and again in vogue,
each glass having the presidential
coat of arms cut in it. and these
glasses matching the finger bowls
which were on the side tables. Amer
lean wines were served last evening