Evening star., 1940-06-04

eommuniques, at least for the time
Note Of Sadness Marks
French Garden Party.
One of the exceptions to the
marked gayety was the note of sad
ness in the brief remarks made by
the French Ambassador, Count de
Saint-Quentin, at the garden party
he gave for the members of the
Alliance Francaise and other friends
OF his country. A feature of the
alfresco affair was the comforting
OF the Cross of the Legion of Honor
on Mr.. Lynch Luquer, the WASH
ington president. Count de Saint
Quentin presented the decoration,
speaking in his native tongue. and
as he closed his remark with These
are hard hours-but better will
come; France is confident" there
were tears in the eyes of both
French and Americans in the COM
pany.
The garden of the French En-
bassy was never more lovely. the
grounds rolling away into the veri-
table sea of trees as the ground
slopes into the Rock Creek valley
with the parkway below. The tea
table was laid on the terrace and
typical French delicacies served.
Nine. Blanche Bimont, who has
been tireless in her efforts for the
alliance during the last several
years, was kept busy looking after
the comfort and pleasure of the
guests. She did valiant work 20
years ago in aiding the French
orphans of the last war and already
has begun to give her time and ener-
eles for those in need today. Others
at the party were Mr.. and Mrs.
Laurence V. Benet, who were resi-
dents of France during the last war;
the former United States Minister
to Czecho- Slovakia and Mrs. Wilbur
j. Carr, Mrs. Walter R. Tucker
man, Miss Harriet Winslow and
Mile. Marguerite Pelletier, cousin
of Col. Weiser, air attache of the
French Embassy, who is making q
visit in this country.
Gen. Holcomb's House
Is Scene of Party.
The Marine Barracks function
was the first of the series of sum-
mer parties planned by the COM
mandant of the Marine Corps and
Mrs. Thomas Holcomb and took
place in the gardens of the COM
mandants house at the Marine
Barracks.
The guests included diplomats,
especially the foreign naval, mill
tary and air attaches, as well as the
high ranking officers of our own
service in all its branches. Gen.
Holcomb received the guests alone,
Mrs. Holcomb having had recur-
rance of the illness from which she
has been suffering since last sum-
mer. Gen. Holcomb was assisted by
wives of officers of the Marine
Corps, who alternated at the tea table
and mingled with the guests, seeing
that every one was served.
Promptly at $50 o'clock the
guests witnessed retreat at the
barracks. the garden of the COM
mandant's house opening on to the
parade ground, and here the COM
pany of marines went through the
brief drill with customary precision
and efficiency.
Assisting yesterday were Mrs. Ben
Moreell, Mrs Chester Nimitz. Mrs
Donald Bingham, Mrs. William
Rupertus, wife of the commandant
OF the Marine Barracks; Mrs
Henry Larsen, Mrs. w. E. Burke,
Mrs. Jack Julian, wife of Gen. Hol-
combs aide; Mrs. w. w. Davies
Mrs. Edwin J. Mund, Mrs. Joseph
c. Fegan, Mrs. Blythe Jones. Mrs
Alley D. Rorex and Mrs. Ralph S.
Keyser.
Party Is Pleasing
In Its Informality.
The party given for the Minister
and Mrs. Casey by the woman
writer's was pleasantly informal
There was no formal reception line
and guests had the opportunity OF
friendly converse ton with the honor
guests. Miss Katharine Brooks
president Of the organization, stayed
close to the diplomat and his at
tractive wife during the reception
hours and graciously presented the
little groups to the newcomers in
the diplomatic set in the Capital.
During the afternoon Mr.. Casey
gave a short address in which he
spoke of women in politics as well
as in other activities in his home
country. Mrs. Casey followed her
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