The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-12-30
Carolinians In Nation S CAPITAL
Give Pre-War Washington Parties

sing that Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence
M. G. Smith give each year. There
is something heart-warming about
this annual party that you sense
! even before stepping into the hos
pitable Smith home. Perhaps it is
the lighted Christmas tree that
CLOVIS through in the night outside
and shines through the glass walls
of the living room where the carol
ers gather around the piano and
give voice to the Yuletide spirit.
Or it could be the sound of the
old familiar melodies ringing out
in the candlelit interior. Or, pos
sibly the nostalgia glow of other
Christmas carols sung in the
Robin Kirby's living room - or,
Christmas music by the gay group
that gathers annually at the Louis
Ratcliffe's. Actually it is the hos
pitality of the hosts themselves
and those who participate, includ-
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Travis Brown,
Col. and Mrs Brandon Barringer,
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter White and
many more.
Another Christmas party that
made the rafters ring was the
small dinner dance given by Mr..
and Mrs. Joseph Telfair Murphy,
for their son, Joseph T. Jr., who
has just returned from service in
the Pacific. The young officer who
plans to enter Chapel Hill after
Christmas left Thursday for a
visit to Wilmington and High
Point. Also the center of much en-
tertaining was Ben Townsend, son
of Judge and Mrs. Newman A.
Townsend, who came up for the
immed ate Christmas holidays,
only to swing back to Winston.
Salem for the Christmas gaiety
there before half the fun had be-
gun here. With the ToWnsend's for
the holidys were Mr.. and Mrs.
William c. Presley, who are busy
with homemaking in an adorable
bungalow just over the Maryland
borderline.
In Washington - the "City Of
Luncheons,' the lovely affair Civ.
en- during the Christmas season al
the Washington club by Mrs. Rob.
ert H. Mcneil was definitely out.
standing. The hostess, always a
beautiful woman, was particularly
charming to look at in a smart
black gown and hat. She was as.
sisted in receiving by her daugh-
tiers, Mrs. Easley and Mrs. R.. H.
! Mcneil, Jr. Another Carolinians
looking particularly well that noon
was Mrs. Leila Gillian (Mrs. J.
d. whose broad smile carried the
good news that her son, Neil, who
has been in India for four years
was due in Washington any mo-
ment-and that Dan, another son.
was up from Aberdeen for the
Christmas celebrations. Her third
son, Fred, is still on Guam, with
his return in the very uncertain
future. Over delicious cake, such
as only the hostess herself can
bake, Mrs. Joseph Graham was
giving a high-sounding recipe for
old-fashioned eggnog, while Mrs.
w. E. Stroud was exclaiming over
the anchovies- another special"
OF the talented Mrs. McNeill.
Among others around tn table,
which was m il d by
Christmas centerpiece, were Mrs.
I. Lamar Caud1e, Mrs. Newman
A. Townsend, Mrs. Wade Atchi-
son, Mrs. Bates Warren, Mrs.
Joseph Graham, and a number of
others including many wives of
high ranking officials from outside
our state for Mrs. McNein has
lived in the Capital for some time
and has a very wide acquaintance
here.
Another glorious Christmas par
ty was the annual eggnog get-to.
ether at the Thad Pages in Ar
lington, with Mr.. and Mrs. Thad
Page, Jr., and their young son
adding zest to the occasion. With
such delightful Tar Heels as the
Fred Morrisons, the Albert L.
Coxes, the John M. Rails, Judge
and Mrs. Townsend, the Brent
Dranes dropping in to say Merry
Christmas and mingle happily
Continued on Page Seven)