Evening star., 1952-05-20
Society News:
By Kothorine M. Brooks

President and Mrs. Truman
yesterday completed the schedule
Of official receptions in the White
House for this season. There will
be a garden party June for dis
abled veterans, but that festivity
always is a garden party in the
late spring and not a part Of the
official entertainments.
The party yesterday was among
the largest Of the five receptions.
Honor guests were officials Of the
Treasury, Post Office, Interior,
Agriculture, Commerce and Labor
Departments and other Federal
Agencies. A total Of 1879 invita-
tions were issued, and the official
count Of those received between 5
and $3.50 o'clock was 1850.
Arrangements for these after
noon receptions, which were
planned to be informal, were
much the same as those for the
formal evening levees given each
year by the President and his
wife along with the State dinners.
The dinners were omitted this
spring because of the newness of
the reconstructed White House
and unfamiliarity Of the servants
with its modern equipment.
Ushers Give Aid
The ease and smoothness with
which the arrangements were car
ried out is due to the efficiency of
the corps Of White House aides
and the experienced ushers of the
Executive Mansion. The ushers,
headed by Mr.. Howell G. Grim,
hold their posts year after year,
while the aides are assigned White
House social functions in addition
to their duties at military, naval
and air force stations in the Capt.
tai. They are relieved Of the extra
service at the White House and
other officers assigned there at
least once during a season. Mr.,
Crim's assistants are Mr.. Wilson
Searles and Mr.. Charles Claunch
who have served there through
many social seasons and have been
on hand for the most formal State
occasions.
Marine 1t. Col. Warren Baker
Is the senior Of the White House
aides. Under his direction they
escort the special guests to the
Green room or the Red room as
the case may be and keep In order
the lines in the East room, which
yesterday were very long.
The Presidents Military. Naval
and Air Force aides take turns
IN making the introductions and
stop the guests when it Is time
Tor the brief rest periods necessary
for the hosts when the number
Is so large.
The Marine Band, as smartly
uniformed as the aides, was d.
rected yesterday by Mr.. Albert
Schoepper In the absence of the
leader, Maj. William Santelmann.
whose father, also William. was
director before him. A minute
or two before the appointed hour
OF 5 o'clock the color guard bore
the Stars and Stripes and the
Presidents flag from the second
floor to their place in the Red
corridor f1anking the Blue room
door.
Fonfore Sounded
President and Mrs. Truman
escorted by his aides, stood at
attention while the fanfare was
sounded. AS the band played Hail
to the Chief" the President offered
his arm to Mrs. Truman and they
went into the Blue room to start
the reception. Mrs. Truman wore
midnight blue lace over a paler
shade Of satin, becoming square
neckline and three-quarter-length
sleeves. She wore a long string of
pearls and pearl earrings.
Secretary Of the Treasury and
Mrs. John w. Snyder were the
first down the line, followed by
Postmaster General and Mrs.
Jesse M. Donaldson. Secretary of
Interior and Mrs. Oscar L. Chap
man, Secretary Of Agriculture and