The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-25

WEN. AND MRS. THOMAS
" HOLCOMB, Of the United
States Marine Corps, are an ex-
ceedingly popular couple and for
Mrs. Holcomb TO come back for
a sojourn Of duty here was SIM
ply returning home, for she was
the daughter Of Admiral and
Mrs. Richardson Clover and
made her debut in Washington
during a season that was noted
for the brilliance Of its enter.
taiaments and boosted the most
impressive group Of debs (of
which Mrs. Holcomb was one)
that has bowed to this town in
many ! day.
Mrs. Holcomh has tremendous
charm, a lovely mellow voice
and laugh, and is determined
to raise gardenias in her green.
house at the Marine Barracks.
A greenhouse which is no
bigger than a large meat platter,
but which she does wonders
with and raises an occasional
gardenia which she very proudly
pins on the shoulder Of her
coat or gown. Mrs. Holcomb,
who had a tour of duty in China
and loved it, has a store Of in
tereSting and amusing tales
about that country. Particularly
the night a few days after her
arrival there. It seemed she
must give an elegant dinner
party for unexpected visiting
celebrities. Her own lovely china
and silver had not arrived.
The Chinese number one boy,
head of several other Chinese
house boys, begged her to leave
everything to him. Mrs. Holcomb
learned shortly that unless she
left everything to the number
one boy, nothing would get done.
She did! The night arrived,
the celebrities came and the
Holcombs went into their own
dinner table with fear and
trembling as to what they
might find. Everything was per.
feet, china, silver, flowers and
service.
Her number one boy had
simply gone out and collected
what he needed from other num-
Der one boys at various houses.
It is a custom, nothing can be
done about it, and while on
China station you are quite
likely to go into dinner and
recognize, not only your own
things, but those of friends.
But, as Mrs. Holcomb remarked,
1T saves the day for many a
h~rassed hostess"
MRS. JONATHAN M. VAIN.
w WRIGHT, wife of Colonel
Wainwright, commandant at
Fort Myer. Is a real person.
Small and slim with a quiet, gra-
cious manner and a smile that
begins with bit Of curve about
her mouth and then goes quickly
up to her eyes, she meets one
and, a second later, makes them
feel so completely at home that
they are RECALLING her with their
life history. She is most acceS-
sible-especially to a phone call,
and 1t is usually her own soft
voice that answers the ring at
the commandments house.
Mrs. Wainwright's sense Of
humor is very alert and further.
more, which Is rare, she apprecj-
ates a joke on herself. AS the
time when, after much prepare
ton for a luncheon at which she
was to be hostess shortly after
arrival here. she, instead Of ap-
pearing at the luncheon, was
detained in bed with a severe
cold. And do you know" she
told a friend, II don't believe
anybody even knew wasn't
there, for I was told that things
went off Just as well as If I had
been" At the moment, Mrs.
Wainwright is delighted over the
arrival next Monday Of her son,
Jonathan, who is coming to visit.
and also recuperate from a
broken arm, under her watchfuI
eyes. This son, whom Mrs. VAIN
wright always speaks Of as my
boy" is in reality a very big boy
he is "a and is associated with
the Grace Steamship Line.
NOMDR. AND MRS. LESLIE
" STEVENS, he was formerly
Air Attache at the American
Embassy in London, are, as we
have told you some time ago.
now back here and settled in
an apartment that is a veri-
table treasure house Of beauti-
full things from all over the
world, and busy renewing friend
ships here in Washington.
These two are loads Of fun,
entertain delightfully."- and usu-
ally have a celebrity or two
reposing in their drawing room.
Mrs. Stevens, If she had chosen
to, could have achieved some
thing with her pen. for she
writes occasionally with a prose
style that is almost poetic, and
she can make an excellent
speech, with the ease Of a real
orator.
Young Steve, their son, is a
very regular fellow with an
amazing collection of British
phrases, picked up from his long
residence in London, and when
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