Evening star., 1944-11-28

CO1leS. llluo tliC WCChAy ae AoAAS VI
a cabinet hostess became an elab-
crate reception.
Each administration since the
Great War has made changes in
these arrangements, some years the
ladies observing only one Wednes-
day a month at home, until the
present administration, when sew
eral of them held their at home to-
gether twice year. Calling in the
National Capital has been very
important part of the social duties
of all official and diplomatic host
esses until the present war, and the
predictions of many who should
know is that the custom never will
return to its old importance when
peace is here.
The other subject which was sure
to be discussed at these luncheons in
the past was that of the usual round
of dinner parties for the Chief Exec
utive. In other administrations 1t
was the custom for each cabinet Of
ficer and his wife to give a dinner
party for the Chief Executive and
his wife and it was an unwritten
law in those days that the Presi-
dent should not dine outside the
White House except with the men,
bers of his cabinet and the Vice
President. Modern times changed
that and Chief Executives in the
not too distant past have attended
receptions in foreign embassies and
dined with personal friends who
were not officials. President Theo-
dore Roosevelt is said to have be-
come bored dining with the same
people 10 times each winter-and
only those people-the guests being
confined to the cabinet circle.
President and Mrs. Herbert Hoo
yer made some changes in this
plan and each member of the cab
met invited outstanding residents
of his home State to come to WASH
ington for his dinner to the Presi-
dent. These dinners have been dis
continued through the present war.
Today Mrs. Roosevelt and her
guests discussed the need of large
downtown club for girls in the Gov
ernment employ only Other prob
lens far from the frivolous side of
life also were under discussion for
few of these official hostesses have
much leisure from their war work to
plan to go to parties.
Mrs. Edward r. Stettinius. wife of
the Acting Secretary of State, did not
take her place among the cabinet
hostesses, place which she will hold
rs the wife of the Secretary of
State when the Senate has con-
firmed the appointment of Mr.. Stet-
tinius to that post. Mrs. Cordell
Hull, wife of the retiring Secretary
of State, was not present as she
spends each day, from midmorning
until dinner, with Mr.. Hull at the
Navy Medical Center in Bethesda.
1t is Mrs. Roosevelt's custom to
include at these parties Mrs. Claude
A. Swanson, widow of the former
Secretary of the Navy who served
in President Roosevelts cabinet
until his death. Mrs. Swanson, like
Mrs. Hull, went into the cabinet
circle from that of the Senate, their
husbands having served in the Upper
House of Congress for some time
before being appointed to cabinet
posts.
Mrs. Stettinius has made a wide
circle of friends In the Capital since
Mr.. Stettinius became q member of
the little cabinet and is delightful
and charming successor to the much
beloved Mrs. Hull. Mrs. Stettinius
devotes herself to her family, and
so far has kept herself in the back
ground, though not neglecting her
duties as an official hostess. Before
her marriage she was Miss Virginia
Gordon Wallace, daughter Of Mrs.
William ]. Wallace and the late Mr..
Wallace of Richmond.
Mrs. Roosevelt will receive a group
OF servicemen from the Navy Med
ical Center at Bethesda this after
noon at 8 O'Clock and after they
are shown through the rooms of
the executive mansion tea will be
served. These tours and informal
teas will be events each week, even
though the Presidents wife is un-
able to be present. Groups OF men
from Walter Reed are entertained
there each Sunday afternoon after
the football game and groups from
other service hospitals 90 other days