Evening star., 1946-12-01
Society Meets
ArabianPy1ncz
At Reception
Housewarming
Of Legation
Is Brilliant
By Katharine M. Brooks

BY katharine M. Bf00kS
His Royal Highness Prince Faisal
al-Saud. second son Of the King OF
Saudi Arabia, who Is Governor Of
the Province OF Hejaz and Minister
Of Foreign Affairs for his country,
was the guest Of honor at large
and brilliant reception early last
evening.
The occasion was q double cele-
bration, q fete to honor the dis
tinguished visitor and q house
warming for the new Legation. The
house, located at 2800 Woodland
drive was purchased q short time
ago from Senator and Mrs. James
w. Wadsworth who lived there for
some years. 1t was built by
the late Mrs. Charles Whitman
Wetmore, one Of the first houses in
that locality Of Washington. Mrs.
Wetmore as Elisabeth Bisland was
q well-known newspaper woman Of
Philadelphia in the latter years of
the last century, writing under the
name Of Nellie Bly,.
Natiue Costumes Worn
The Saudi Arabnia Minister,
Sheikh Asad Al-Faqih, who has
been absent for some time In his
homeland and at. the meetings of
the United Nations, has had the
house completely done over. He
stood yesterday with the Prince in
the drawing room at the left of the
very wide entrance hall and also
in the line to receive was His Royal
HighneSs, Prince Nasar, sixth son of
the King, and Governor of Riyadh
capital of Saudi Arabia.
The gentlemen all wore their
native robes. They are colorful
costumes, the Minister and the
Princes wearing the usual kussiah
about their heads. The kussiah is
white and yesterday the hiram,
which Is worn over the kuSsiah, was
white with tiny red dots. Topping
this is the igal, which the host and
his honor guests wore In gold. The
top robe-the aba-was black, in
fact always is black, frequently of
cashmere wool but yesterday they
were silk. This was worn over the
short coat and under that the tob,
corresponding to a shirt. These
under garments are In favorite COL
ors. of the wearer.
The nearly 1000 guests, after being
received, went on into the library
adjoining and thence into the
Arabian room. This room is par
ticularly interesting with its pastel
colors in the bolsterlike pillows and
hangings as well as the rich rugs
and coverings on the lounges.
Another room which attracted |
much admiration was that known to
the Saudi Arabians as the soda |
room. It corresponds to a cocktail
room In an American home and
here they have a fountain in the
center which yesterday was outlined |
with small potted plants in full
and colorful bloom. The furniture |
is chrome upholstered in leather in
bright shades Of red, yellow and
green. It was here that fruit juices
were served, for, in accordance with
the Mohammedan religion Of the
Arabians, the indulgence in spiritu-
Gus liquids is forbidden.
The dining room, which is across
the wide hall from the drawing
room, was we'll crowded most of
the time from to well after 8
o'clock. The mound of blossoms in
the center of the table carried out
the national colors of Saudi Arabia,
green and white, and in front of the
blossoms was placed the cake, deco
rated with the flags of the five
Arabian countries and map of
Arabia with the five countries well
outlined in the icing. There were
two other cakes-these having the
coat of arms-the palm tree with
the sword below-of Saudi Arabia
in green and white.
Lavish Buffet
Whole lambs stuffed with rice,
after an Arabian recipe, and whole
turkeys also stuffed with Arabian
rice, were on the tables with whole
cold salmons. The elaborate supper
also included chaf1ng dishes with
shrimp and lobster a la newberg,
green tossed salads, as well as potato
and-egg salads, eggs and chicken in
aspic and quantities of small sand
wiches and cake with coffee and tea.
Members of the Legation staff
and those who are members of the
princes suite as well as advisers to
the delegates from Saudi Arabia to
the United Nations assisted the host
through the reception hours and
escorted guests through the Legation