Evening star., 1940-12-17
Democratic
Club Women
Hold Party
Speakers Describe
Holiday Customs
Of Other Lands

The goodwill policy between coun-
tries of the Western Hemisphere
was expressed in story and song
yesterday at the annual Christmas
party of the Woman's National
Democratic Club at club headquar-
ters.
Christmas customs practiced in
different parts of the hemisphere
were described by guest speakers,
friends of the club.
Senator Claude Pepper of Flori-
da, whose wife is president of the
club. offered toast to "the senti-
ments of goodwill of the Western
Hemisphere"
Mrs. Pepper extended greetings
in brief message. Nothing could
be more fitting" she said, than to
share Christmas JOY with our sis
ter American republics on a con-
tinent where the real Christmas
spirit still lives. We are grateful
for the friendship which binds to-
gether the American republics"
Countries represented included
Canada, Cuba. Panama, Mexico,
Alaska and Brazil
Mrs. Merchant Mahoney, wife Of
the Commercial Counselor and
Charge d'AffalreS of the Canadian
Legation. who was to have spoken
on Canada was unable to attend due
to the legations mourning for Lord
Lothian. Mrs. Franklin Kidd. a
member of the club, read a letter
from Mrs. Mahoney telling of
Christmas customs in Canada.
Descriptions of Christmas in her
country were given by Sonora de
Munilla of Cuba The wife of the
Cuban military attache made a
striking picture as, attired in a
colorful rhumba costume, she spoke
of Christmas in Cuba as a day of
family love and reunion.
Unable to attend to represent
Alaska, Mrs. Anthony Diamond, wife
of the delegate from that country,
sent Miss Mary Lee Council, who
was born and reared in Cordova,
Alaska. Miss Council spoke of some
Of the customs practiced among the
Eskimos and the Aleuts, handed
down from the period when Russia
owned that part of the world The
Greek Orthodox Church customs and
those Of the American population
OF today are both observed among
the natives of her country. she said.
Memories of her first Christmas
In Panama wer recalled by Mrs.
William D. Wrightson, who lived
there for several years while her
father, Gen. William D. Gorgas, was
making the Canal Zone safe from
yellow fever. Mrs Wrightson re-
called a merry Christmas party
given by the nurses at Ancon Hos
pital, who we're all so attractive and
young that they married rapidly.
The general was perturbed over a
scarcity of nurses, Mrs. Wrightson
said and wired Washington to
send many more nurses, all past
IS years of age"
South America was represented by
Senorita Marta de Brito, whose
father is the civil service commits
sioner from Brazil. Senorita Brito.
a student at American University,
gave interesting glimpses of her
country, where Christmas is more
religious festival than social.
Instead of trees she said that
cribs, or managers, representing the
Christ child and the holy family
were placed in homes and churches
for Christmas decorations. The fact
that Christmas in Brazil comes in
the summer, also gives a different
atmosphere, she added.
A period of gaiety and Christmas
celebration prevails in Mexico for
nine days prior to Christmas, Sem
orita Dolores Vigil, a native of
Mexico, said. Instead of stockings
filled with gifts for the children,
Senorita Vigil said great clay bas-
ket, the "pinata." is filled with
fruits, sweets and presents and sus-
pended from the ceiling. Children
armed with sticks strike the pinata
to break it, This accomplished the
gifts and goodies are scattered over
the floor and general melee fol-
lows as the children scramble for
the contents.
Christmas carols were sung bv
Mrs. Walter Maloney, Mrs. j. Paul
Yoder and Mrs. Julien Friant, &C
companied by Mrs. Edmund Pendle-
ton at the piano.
Table decorations carried out the
motif of the different countries
with clever centerpieces and orna-
ments. Canada displayed a small
North Western mounted police doll
posed in the center of the table, and
fruits, native gourdS and baskets
lent color to tables representing
tropical lands. Those at the head
table included Mrs. Woodrow Will
son, Mrs. j. Fred Essary, Miss Vir-
ginla Payne, Mrs John Herrick, Mrs
Sadie Orr Dunbar. president genera
OF the Federation of Women's Clubs:
Senator Pepper and Mrs. Pepper.