Evening star., 1940-01-19
Presidents
Wife Guest
Of Honor
Congressional Club
Entertains for
Mrs. Roosevelt
BY KATHARINE BROOKS.

Mrs. Roosevelt
BY KATHARINE BROOKS.
The Congressional Club, the
unique organization whose member
ship Is composed of wives of mem
bers OF Congress, gave a delightful
reception yesterday afternoon In the
charming clubhouse at 200l New
Hampshire avenue. The party was
the annual fete for Mrs. Roosevelt,
which during the past seven years
has taken the place of the large and
brilliant evening reception formerly
given by the club In honor Of the
Chief Executive and his wife. The
party yesterday was set from 4 to S
o'clock and the only men to be seen
were the aide who made the intro
ductions, the news photographers
and those Of the Marine Band Or
chestra, who played. It was strictly
a womans party.
Mrs. Clarence F. Lea of California
was a committee of one to receive
Mrs. Roosevelt at the door of the
club. Mrs. Edward r. Burke of
Nebraska, president of the organi-
cation, greeted her in the hall and
escorted her to the new cloakroom to
leave her gray fox fur jacket of hip
length and three-quarter-l length
sleeves.
Many Of the guests gathered in
the lower hall about the door to
watch the honor guest arrive and
see Mrs. Burke escort her to the
ballroom above, where she took her
place at the head of the receiving
line. The arrangement yesterday
was bit unusual, as the guest OF
honor was first in the line, with the
hostess, the president of the club,
standing some feet away with the
members Of the executive board
receiving with her. Mrs. Roosevelt
wore green velvet, the skirt quite
short and somewhat full and the
narrow white ruching with silver
threads edging the neck and the
three-quarter-length sleeves. Her
hat was velvet of the same shade,
with brim rolled up at the left
side, over which fell an ostrich
feather matching the gown and
hat. She wore long white kid
gloves and carried no bag or card
case, and on her left shoulder she
had an orchid. Mrs. Burke was in
black satin, the gown severely plain,
with long sleeves and rather high
neck. Her black hat had a marrow
brim and low crown and, like the
gown, was without trimming. She
also wore an orchid on her shoulder.
Members of the executive board
who were assisting yesterday in
cluded Mrs. Clarence E. Hancock
of North Carolina, who was dressed
in dark red crepe, with which she
wore becoming round hat of dark
red feathers. Mrs. Robert L.
Doughton, also of North Carolina,
next in line, was in black crepe. the
square neckline outlined in white,
and from her left shoulder fell q
spray Of white gardenias. Her black
hat was built high In the back with
bandeau. Mrs. Ernest Lundeen
of Minnesota was greeted next. She
wore black crepe, the waist having
deep ydke of white lace, q narrow
ribbon Of black threaded through
the lace and tying about her neck.
Her doll hat was OF Tnazenta color
flowers, which correspended to the
color Of her gloves Yrs. Ewing
Thomson Of Texas was gowned in
black heavy crepe, relieved by gold
embroidery on the shoulders, giving
the effect Of epaulets, and her black
hat was small and without brim.
Mrs. John r. Murdock of Arizona
had dull gray crepe gown enliv-
ened by q gold lace vest effect and
her round black hat was edged with
narrow band of sable fur. Mrs.
Robert F. Rich of Pennsylvania had
a Peter Pan color of silver and
crystal beads on her black crepe
dress and wore q small black hat.
Mrs. Clyde H. Smith of Maine, who
was last in the line, had a costume
Of dove gray crepe, the skirt and
waist both in pleats. Down the
front Of the waist were several large
blue buttons, which matched the
blue velvet trimmings on her gray
hat.
The receiving line stood before the
mantel with tall palms at each side.
On the mantel shelf graceful and
delicate fern was banked. A tall
basket filled with pink and white
gladioluses, pink roses and tied with
large blue bow was on the piano
at one side Of the room and q SINH
lar note of springtime was in the
flowers on the tea table.
Mrs. Henry Morgenthau, jr., wife
Of the Secretary of the Treasury,
took her turn at the tea table early.
She wore pearl-gray costume, her
round hat having an ostrich feather
in deeper shade. Mrs. Henry A.
Wallace, wife of the Secretary Of
Agriculture, followed Mrs. Morgen-
thau, her trim figure clothed In
black and a moderate brim to her
black hat. Mrs. william B. Bank
head, wife Of the Speaker, was
among others assisting at the tea
table, her black gown relieved with