The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-22
NOW
Birthday Party
InfOrmality
REFRESHING
BY HELEN ESSARY

Troyanovsky, wife Of the Soviet
Ambassador, gave a gay and M
formal birthday luncheon at the
Soviet Embassy for Mrs. John Her
rick, well-known writer.
Last night Mrs. Evalyn Walsh
Mclean, one of the most famous
of American hosteSSeS, entertained
at a large formal dinner at Friend
ship in honor Of the Senator from
Massachusetts and Mrs. Henry
Cabot Lodge.
The fortunate guests on these
occasions enjoyed such entertain
ment as one may find only in
Washington.
Madame Troyanovsky's lunch
con has permanently taken the
curse off birthdays-come as they
may in the hurrying future. It
was one of those joyous events
that people go about Tor years
hoping to meet.
When we arrived in the small
drawing room Of the embassy,
we were neatly dressed for the
afternoon with the hat pulled
down we'll over the eyes and with
that indefinable daytime party
manner that one puts on between
lunch time and dark. The hostess
said, IT am so glad to see you.
And please, 1 beg you-take off
your hat"
Mrs. Harlan Fiske Stone, wife
of the Supreme Court Justice
whom no one wants to retire, made
the first informal step. Mrs.
Cordell Hull promptly presented
her smart new chapeau to a near
by butler. Mrs. Henry A. Wallace
and Mrs. Daniel c. Roper followed.
Soon all of us did likewise. This
gesture was practically equivalent
to letting the back hair down and
telling all. For from that minute
the way protocol and the deter
mined restraint that Stiffen many
official parties was gone on the
wings Of song.
Shall I say Song? Anyway
we gathered in a big group and
as Mrs. Herrick arrived we sang
Happy Birthday to You"
Next we marched to the dining
room and the long table set for a
traditional birthday party. There
were favorS at each place-horns
to blow and caps to be put on (now
we understood why our hats had
to be checked eutSide).
A yellow and green basket
bulged with enchanting looking
packages. Ever so often in the
center Of the table were silver
bowls Of red and gold roses and tall
epergnes piled with fruit.
On my butter plate I saw deli
cious looking roll. All! Perfect
for the caviar which was certain
to come. was just about to split
the roll when it squeaked.
It was q trick roll and just the
toy for grown ups who remain
lighthearted in their older and
wiser days.
Our hats were very frisky-
bright colored and queer shaped.
81 do hope I Shan't get a Ounce
cap," Mrs. william e. Borah had
said before we found our table
seats.
But she did get a Ounce cap.
Every other person did. And found
them becoming to the face and re-
taxing to the spirit.
Midway through the luncheon
Mrs. Herrlck opened her presents
stockings, hand bags, a toy dog,
toy boxing-gloves, stunning Rus
sian doll to be used as tea cozy.
books, handkerchlerS, cartons OF
powder puffs, perfume-marvelous
offerings all of them.
A birthday cake With sixteen
glowing candles was presented
Mrs. Herrick. With one large
whiff out went every candle while
ali of us made wishes.
The practical part of the lunch.
con over, we undertook a little
drinking of toasts, Mrs. Donald
Richberg offered a toast to the
most perfect combination Of
hostess, guest Of honor and guests
she'd seen in Washington in u
years I think it was 70.
Then Madame Saito, wife of the
Japanese Ambassador said she
would like to make a little speech
in japanese. Mrs. Herrick replied
brightly-in English.
Madame Ertegun gave her good
wishes in Turkish. Again Mrs. Her.
rick replied in English. It was
probably American by this time.
Madame De Los Rios, wife of the
Spanish Ambassador, had some
pleasant things to say in Spanish
and Madame Troyanovsky fin
ished the foreign languages with
words which I am sure were very
pleasant-in Russian.
Mrs. Sam McReynoldS, wife of
the chairman of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee of the House:
Mrs. Louis Caldwell, Mrs. Merle
Thorpe; Mrs. George Allen, wife
of the District Commissioner; Mrs.
Harry c. Butcher, Mrs. Warren
Wheaton and Mrs. Caldwell and
the rest of us collected our souve-
Mrs and gathered around to have
Miss Jackie Martin take our pic
lures, top caps Notwithstanding.
No one at Geno's Herrick's
birthday party ever had better
time I'm sure. Madame Troyanov.
sky's HOSPITALITY and Mrs. Her.
rick's warm friendlineSS broke the
official ice as I have never seen
it done in this Self-consciouS town.
Ara AFoT aa,,,. jin,,ar mos ,oar