Evening star., 1952-05-30
Mrs. Mestu,
Miss Norman
Are Guests
By Ruth peon

BY Ruth Dean
Broadway's Ethel Norman and
Washington's Perle Mesta made
. hit In, their own production
yesterday. which was proclaimed
by all who attended it one Of the
seasons best parties,
e The occasion was the reception
given BY the American Newspaper
WoHen's Club In honor Of Mrs
,1desta now visiting Washington
ffom her post as United States
Minister to Luxembourg.
B Wearing blue lace afternoon
gown with matching hat. the
honor guest received more than
400 guests attending the affair
sat Tho Maydower Hotel. Mrs,
Harold Strickland. president oi
the club. made the introductions.
y Sharing the spotlight at the
gala, AFFAIR was Miss Norman Of
"Ca1l Ne Madam"
Shortly after the musical opened
In New York, the American Min
lister to Luxembourg saw Miss
Merman's portrayal Of the Ameri-
can woman ambassador to the
mythical Duchy, Of Iichtenberg,
and the two are now good friends.
Yesterday was q reunion for the
two, with Nine. Minister and
mime. Ambassador" greeting each
other with q big hug. Later they
threw kudos at each other In an
iInpromptu exchange Of words and
song that brought rounds Of
applause.
II I can be as successful q
diplomat as Miss Norman Is an
actress, / think I'll feel very, very
happy declared MRS. Mesta.
Recalling her feelings when the
club gave her q reception three
Years ago. just before she left for
her assignment. Mrs. Mesta said
81 was perplexed and bewildered
because I didn't know what was
getting into, but I've never enjoyed
anything as much as my life
lib Luxembourg. It's a wonder
fnr COMPLEMENTARY, eco
Ironically"
Then with a smile, she parodied
a song title from Miss Merman's
plays "And we really don't need
money. money. money"
a little later, Miss Norman
accepted an invitation to sing.
'iSince Mrs. Mesta doesn't need
money, we won't sing about it,
she commented and pulled out an
old favorite. With Ernest Devron
supplying a spirited accompani-
fner1t, Miss Norman sang Mrs.
Mesta's favorite Of her songs, -"I've
Cot Rhythm"
Yesterdays party was old home
week in more ways than one. Also
back from foreign shores were
two former Capital newswomen.
Holding courts Of their own were
Miss Genevieve Reynolds, now
press attache to the American
Embassy In Rio de Janeiro. and
Alice Hager, back on a visit from
her press attache post in Brussels.
Guests included Capital .celehri-
ties. ranging from diplomats and
cabinet wives to stage and movie
stars, including principals from
the sCalI Me Madam" cast.
Early arrivals were Supreme
Court Justice and Mrs. Harold H
Burton; the Postmaster General
and Mrs. Jesse M. Donaldson and
Mrs. Charles r. Brannan. Also on
hand were the French Ambassador
and Nine. Bonnet. the Minister OF
Luxembourg and Mime. lie Calais,
Nine. Popovic, wife Of the Yugo-
slayian Ambassador. and the for
,mer United States Ambassador
to the Netherlands and Mrs. Stan
ley K. Hornbeck.
Others included the Under
secretary Of State and Mrs. David
K. r. Bruce, Mrs. Carlisle II.
Humelsine. wife Of the Assistant
Secretary Of State; Mrs. George
Perkins, Mr.. and Mrs. Rowland
Sargeant, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Hediker. Mrs. Smith Hempstone,
Mrs. John w. Bowman, Mr.. and
Mrs. Roy st. Lewis, Mrs. Douglas
Hatch, Mrs. Charles Rollins and
Mr.. and Mrs. Thornton Owen.
Other guests included Mrs.
India Edwards, vice chairman Of
the National Democratic Commit
tee; Mrs. Howard A. CONN. Re-
publican national committeewom-
an for the District: Mrs, Gwen
Cafritz, Robert Six. Miss Vera
Bloom, Miss Carolyn Nash, Mr.,
and Mrs. Corneal Mack. Col. and
Mrs. Consuelo Seonane. Mr.. and
Mrs. Emil Hurja, Mrs. McCeney
Welich. Mrs. Arthur Woods, Mrs.
Wade Ellis, Mr.. and Mrs. Clark
Thompson, Mrs. Ken Regan. Mr.,
and Mrs. Edward w. Wooten and