Evening star., 1949-01-21

III ldCL, lie pIOkc ulS OWu IcSOlo AVA
punctuality yesterday morning
when he arrived twelve minutes
early for breakfast with his old
Battery D comrades. He was at the
Capitol far ahead of time.
And when he was obliged to make
O late appearance at the gallery
out of consideration for the huge
throng that had been standing anc
waiting for his arrival, he changed
the planned order of procedure ano
went Immediately to a special plat
form in order to greet them en-
masse.
The original plan had been that
he would receive several groups
of high ranking officials in the first
quarter hour of the reception. 1t hae
been understood that the President
would not shake hands with all o1
the guests. Because he wanted per-
sonally to welcome all attending the
reception this special, palm-bankeo
platform had been erected in the
West hall.
The top ranking guests waited,
however, as the President, Mrs. Tru-
man and Margaret were accom-
panied to the platform by Vice
President Alben w. Barkley and his
official hostess, Mrs. Max O'Rel
Truitt, and the family party wht
went with them from the White
House reviewing stand.
Gives Warm Greefin9 =
How happy it would make me
to shake hands and talk individually
with each of you as we would in
our own home, but this is impossl-
BILE" Mr.. Truman said.
II hope that you will understand
that If I join Barkley in hand
shake, it is the same as if I shook
hands with each of you"
Then the President and the Vice
President joined hands in hearty
overhead shake At the same
moment, Mrs. Truman and Mrs
Truitt shook hands. Margaret
waved.
Mr.. Truman then said Now you
can go home and say you shook
hands with the President, the First
Lady, Margaret, the Vice President
and his daughter"
The presidential party then went
to the adjoining West Garden Court
where the President and Mrs. Tru-
man and the Vice President and his
daughter received those he was
scheduled to greet first.
Before he left for Blair House
where he was to prepare for the
ball, the President returned to the
platform with members of the re-
ceiving line to repeat his little
speech of welcome. Vice President
Barkley joined in the greeting.
More than 5000 people from all
parts Of the United States saw the
gown that the Presidents wife will
give to the collection of costumes
of First Ladies at the Smithsonian
Institution. She wore it to the
reception. The material of the
gown is of pearl gray satin and dull
silver lame in a feather pattern.
Fashioned on princess lines with a
slight train, it has v neckline
and full elbow-length sleeves. Her
hat was of flattened ostrich feath-
ers and tulle shading from mauve
to smoky gray, and she wore long
matching gray gloves.
Mrs. Truitt's gown was of brown
lace and with it she wore a biege
hat and matching suede gloves
Margaret was clad in bronze and
black taffeta and lace. Bronze
feathers trimmed her small pink
hat and her accessories were bronze
Governors Received First
First to be received were the Gov
ernors of the States and their wives
the electors, members of the Su-
preme Court, the Cabinet, the Joint
Congressional Inaugural Committee
and Military leaders. Then followed
the clergy, who had participated in
the inaugural ceremonies, a few
other distinguished guests and men,
bers Of Battery D.
The National Gallery is an ideal
place for entertaining on a large
scale. But yesterday there seemed
to be something amiss Although
there were buffets set up in several
galleries to avoid any crowding
there was a terrific bottleneck ir
the largest room where refresh
ments were being served. This un-
doubtedly was due to the fact the
guests did not know about the other
places where coffee, punch and cake
were being dispensed.
Many of the guests departed, in
fact, without even knowing that
there we're refreshments. Some de-
cided it was just too much trouble
to stand in the long lines to be
waited on. This seemed a pity too
because every thought had been
given to having the affair run as
perfectly as q White House recep-
ton.
Special consideration was given to
the checking Of wraps. AS the no
tables arrived they were escorted to
especially assigned galleries where
they could wait in comfort for their
turn to go down the reception line
Out Of town guests, who had never
visited the famous gallery, were well
rewarded as many of them took the
opportunity to view the works oil
art.
Every type of attire was seen at
this history-making reception at
tended by people from all sections OF
the United States. Some men wore
tweed suits, others dark toned busi-
ness suits. many appeared in dinner
coats and a few in formal afternoon
dress with black toppers. The ladies
wore anything from tailored suits
to floor length afternoon gowns
Corsages ranged from orchids to
the simple yellow daisy. And wraps
varied from mink to dyed squirrel
and rabbit fur or cloth coats.
Cabinet Families Present
Attorney General Tom c. Clarl
and secretary of Agriculture
Charles Franklin Brannan met a
the entrance of the gallery ant
had time for much conversing whil,
waiting for their wives to JOIN
them Mrs. Clark was accompanied
by her sister, Mrs. Delaney Wal