The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-26
BY JULIA McN1NcH sLEAR

There Is just no emu 10 Tie pa
rade of parties holding the atten.
ton of Social Washington this win
ter when elegantly engraved lnvi
tations bear the word "decora'
tions' when its .'b1ack tie" OF
white tie'' and floor-length after
noon frocks again-when every so
cialite in Washington is trying tc
host at least one affair of size to
honor some domestic or foreign
celebrity passing through our town.
Add to that the thrill and excite
ment of White House entertain
ment, and you have as gay and as
brilliant a season as one a re-
member before the war;"
Time has brought about few
changes in the arrangements for
White House receptions and this
week when President and Mrs,
Truman were hosts il honor of OF
ficials of the treasury, post office
interior, agriculture. commerce
and labor departments and the
other federal agencies all of the
familiar customs ware observed.
There was all of the pomp and
brilliance which are traditionally q
part of state functions at the exec
utive mansion; and also an air Of
warm friendliness and complete
lack OF stiffness frequently found
at such functions. A section of the
Marine band. their relocated uni.
forms, respondent in gold braid
standing out pleasantly in bold con.
trast. against the white columns
in the marble foyer. Enlisted men
"a color guard-stood at rigid at
tention beside the Star and Stripes
and the Presidents Flag, and ad-
ding to the picturesque scene were
the military and naval aides who
were everywhere in their striking
uniforms.
There was the usual flourish Of
trumpets as the President and Mrs.
Truman made their appearance,
and the band struck up Hail to
the Chief" as the President and
the First Lady accompanied by
the members of the Cabinet and
their wives crossed the red-carpet'
ed corridor to the blue room tc
receive. Protocol was carried Out
as far as possible, but this is the
largest Of the State parties-there
were 1900 guests present - and
many times it was necessary to
forget all about rank and prece-
dence. When the last guest had
been received, dancing started in
the beautiful East Room. 1t was a
glittering sight. The ladies were
clad in their most becoming gowns
with jewels and accessories that
were as smart as you please! Mrs.
Truman was becomingly goWned in
black and wore an orchid at her
waist. Attractive Margaret. who
was off the next morning for New
York where she is studying voice,
was gowned in powder blue and
likewise pinned orchids at her
waistline. There seemed to be a
lot of people one knew. Secretary
and Mrs. John Snyder headed the
officials from the treasury, among
whom were Director Of the Budget
James E. Webb and his attractive
wife. MI. and Mrs. John Graham,
Mr.. and Mrs. William Y. Webb.
DR.. H. H. Bennett. Chief of the
Soil Conservation Service and Mrs.
Bennett were there and with them
was their son, 1t. H. H. Bennett
Jr., who is home on leave from
Fort Dix, N. j. and Mr.. and Mrs.
James NJ. Gray Mr.. and Mrs.
Garland S. Ferguson Of the Fed
eral Trade Commission were also
among those invited and with them
was the lovely sister Of Mrs. Fer
guson, Mrs. Virgins Of Greensboro.
Somewhere in the gay throngs
were MI. and Mrs. Thad Page and
the Johnston Averys; the Comptrol-
Ter of the United States and Mrs.
Warren. the Assistant Attorney
General and Mrs. Lamar Caudle,
the personable Fairfid; Mr.. and
Mrs. w. E. Stroud, Mr.. and Mrs.
W. Ney Evans. Mr.. and Mrs. o.
car Cox, DR.. C.. C. Crittenden. and
hundreds Of top ring Tar Heels.
Mrs. Gardner was in black popu-
lar color for the evening-an Adri.
an gown Of sheer wool made on
narrow lines with a shoulder cape
and lightly sprinkled with dia-
nantes. The former Ambassador
to London and Mrs. Hartman were
there and no doubt before the eve
ming was over Mrs. Gardner and
Mrs. Hartman got together to dis
cuss the pros and cons Of house.
keeping across the sea.
THRILLS OF THRILLS 10
Some one has said that the party
given by the Secretary of the
Treasury and Mrs. Snyder for the
Gardeners was a farewell to end
all farewells! Certainly it held the
thrills Of all thrills for even the
President and his family came to
honor Ambassador and Mrs. Gard
ner. And blase Washington is still
talking about it in somewhat awed
voices. The Synders did, indeed,
set something of a high in after
noon entertaining. The drawing
room that leads into the Carlton
Room Of the Carlton Hotel was lit
orally a bower of ferns and palms
that extended almost to the cell
ing. Half around the Carlton Room
stretched a buffet filled with tan
talizing delicacies-and in one cor
ner there was a small bar.
Both Mrs. Snyder and Mrs.
Gardner chose black slim floor
length dresses and pink and white
camellias from the home-state.
Handsome Mrs. Gardner also wore
a stunning floral hat of black, glyc-
erined ostrich feathers which. we
hear, the British Ambassador,
Lord Inverchapel is urging her to
take along to England. It was a
nice party. One of the most e1abor-
ate private parties Washington has
attended in many a day. Among