The Washington times., 1938-01-01
Gala Function
Celebrates
New Year
Another Mclean
New Year Eve has
Bv HELEN EssARY

of Washington. The most re-
markable assortment of Cap
ital celebrities ever gathered
under one roof-it really was
Washington in the flesh and
the spirit-has dined and
wined and danced and raised
its glass in Happy New
Year" greetings at Friend
ship. that big old place out
on Wisconsin Avenue. To-
day national headliners, New
Dealers, economic royallsts,
bankers, publishers, journal
lists. bosom friends. the hunt
ing crowd from Warrenton
and Middleburg, diplomats,
cave dwellers and hundreds
of fresh young things, with
their way yet to make are
vaguely wishing that the dis
cretion of the morning after
had attacked them the night
before. However, it would
take a deluge of remorse to
turn last night into even a
small regret.
For in no place but Washing
ton could such a party nave
been given. And under no 1ntlu-
ence but the amazing PERSONAL
ity of the nights hostess, Mrs.
Evalyn Walsh Mclean, cou'' so
many persons of great 1mpor-
tance have been inspired to
break down their lofty public
manner and crinkle up their
public faces into a truly good
time as they ushered in an un-
certain and solemn New Year
with horns and whistles.
300 DINNER GUESTS
The dinner guests were 300.
seated if you please with 1ndivid'
ual place cards at tables fra
grant with great clusters of red,
white, and yellow roses and
white chrysanthemums. At 2
o'clock the dancing crowd was
still arriving by the dozen. A
stern gentleman seated at
door-side table covered with
"lists" was checking up arriving
guests. Plain clothesmen, police
men and coveys of buffers and
footmen were eyeing suspiciously
every stranger who entered the
evergreen-hung front door. After
dinner the hostess went up
stairs to take a little nap. Mean
while, Miss Beale of Philadel-
phia received the guests. And
the two orchestraS in the i'm
provised ballrooms-h aven
knows how many rooms there
were-alternated with light-step-
ping tunes. Walters edged their
way through the crowds every
few minutes with fresh cases
of champagne. A supper table
was loaded with a variety of hot
and cold buffet, and an extra
bar for highballs, lemonade
and milk. More champagne
appeared like food in a fairy
tale. About l o'clock. Mrs.
Mclean came downstairs again,
looking as rested as if she hadn't
a care in the world and as if
planning the details of this ex-
traordinary party were some
thing quite new to her.
MEDLEY OF THINGS
To me the evening was a
medley Of so many things and
so many people, can only tell
you a few little mixed-up i'm
pressions. First, the flowers,
the gorgeous poinsettas, were
considerably handsomer than
even the best Of the people. Il
always think human beings
are embarrassingly plain and
clumsy when you see them side
by side with flowers.D And that
exquisite improviSed corridor
made out of veranda just for
the night. This enchanted pas
sageway was draped in pale
green linen, painted in Vene-
tian scenes - pretty ladies in
flowing dresses, gondolas. and
such-hung with silvered elem
ats, holly and dropping clusters
Of white flowers. After the din
ner many persons of great i'm
portance seated themselves on
sofas here and turned the place
into a Peacock Alley, from
which they surveyed the pass
ing throng. Mrs. Earle, wife of
the Democratic governor of
Pennsylvania, passed with Will
liam Fletcher. There were the
Secretary of War and Mrs.
Woodring. She was in a mar
velous white satin gown, with a
gold-embroidered Hungarian
jacket, and they looked lots
happier than two turtle doves.
Mrs. Homer Cummings, in
bright red chiffon Qt may have
been her British coronation
gown, went by on the arm of
tall, white haired Rumanian
Minister Davila. And Madame
Prochnik, wife of the Austrian
Minister, in the most enticing
strapless off-the-Shoulder gown
Of black. with brilliant red flow
ers on the corsage. was waited
along on the bright speeches
OF Admiral Adolphus Andrews,
Chief of Navigation at the Navy
Department.