Evening star., 1951-01-18
By Morqoret S. Dickey


Two Senate wives, visiting
admiral. a guest symphony con-
ductor and the national COM
mander of the American Legion
yesterday gave the Washington
party scene its biggest boost since
the debutantes went back to COL
lege.
The days festivities started of
with a for-ladies-only tea in the
Chinese Room of the Mayflower
Hotel hosted by Mrs. John James
Williams, wife of the Senator
from Delaware. and Mrs. Andrew
F. Schoeppel, wife Of the Senator
from Kansas.
Although both the hostesses
are wives of Republicans, no party
lines were drawn as far as the
guest list was concerned and
Democrats wives were strongly
represented at the party-thei1
number being headed by Mrs
Alben Barkley.
Guests began arriving at 4
O'Clock and were greeted by Mrs
Schoeppel, wearing a handsome
ankle-length black lace dress ano
a black nylon tulle picture hat
and Mrs. Williams, clad in a
gown made with a beige lace
bodice and a green taffetta skirt
Her beige lame hat was topped
by a jaunty feather touched with
the same green as the skirt of her
dress. Delaware and Kansas State
flags fanked the entrance to the
room. ,.,
Distinguished ladies from the
hostesses home States, who poured
during the afternoon included
Mrs. Allen Frear. jr., wife
of the Democratic Senator from
Delaware: Mrs. Edward Rees. wife
of the Republican Representative
from Kansas: and Mrs. j. Caleb
Boggs, wife of the Republican
Representative from Delaware.
Others who took turns pouring
were Mrs. Barkley, Sonora de Her.
bruger, Mrs. w. S. Culbertson, Mrs.
Walter George, Mrs. Edward Mar
tin, Mrs. Kenneth Wherry, Mrs.
Edward E. Gam and Mrs. Eugene
Millikin.
There were 10 assistant host
esses at the party each of whom
was bent on seeing that every
one enjoyed themselves. The re-
suit was an atmosphere of gay
conviviality. Mrs. Clifford Hope,
Mrs. Robert Hendrickson, Mrs.
Bourke Hickenlooper. Mrs. Lever
EFT Saltonstall. Mrs. Homer Fer
guson. Mrs. Robert Kerr. Mrs,
Ernest Mcfarland, Mrs. John
Stennis. Mrs. Dale Brecton. Mrs.
Raymond BALDWIN and Mrs. Will
liams' daughter, Mrs. Raymond
Baker. jr., of Millboro, Del, were
the assistant hostesseS.
Prettiest sight at the party was
5-year-old Jane Rae Baker, Mrs.
Williams granddaughter, who car
ried basketful of red camellia
corsages which she gravely dis
tributed among the assistant host
esses. The tiny guest was easy
to spot as she threaded her way
through the guests giving away
flowers for she wore a brilliant
red velvet frock and one red ca
mellia fastened among her blond
curls. She was the hit of the
afternoon.
The gladiola and snapdragon
centerpiece which enhanced the
tea table during the party was
later sent to Walter Reed Hos
pital. And before the last guests
had left the tapering white can
dies gracing a silver candelabra
had all but burned away.
Music by Sidney provided a
background to conversation while
the many guests from diplomatic
judicial and legislative circles
mingled with one another.
Legion Commonder Feted
Although 6 o'clock spelled the
end of the tea party it was only
the beginning for the large re-
ception given by Mr.. and Mrs
Edward Francis McGinnis for Mr.
Erie Cooke, jr.. national command
er of the American Legion, who
testified here Monday before the
House Armed Services Committee
The party host is National Di.
rector of Public Relations for the
H~