Evening star., 1952-05-13
Society News:
By Kothorine M. Brooks


Legislative business delayed
many members of both houses of
Congress yesterday afternoon.
Hence they were unable to &C
company their wives to the recep-
ton which the President and Mrs.
Truman gave for the Congress.
Some other national legislators
are very busy patching or building
political fences.
The Chief Executive and his
wife, both in happy mood, came
into the Red Corridor promptly
at S o'clock. Properly, and ac-
cording to protocol, when an invi-
tation from the President and his
wife reads "at S o'clock" it is ex-
pected that guests will be in the
building at that hour ready to be
received by their hosts. Some few
in Washington, usually those from
other cities, believe that "5
o'clock" means S to z. Not so at
the White House. President and
Mrs. Truman had greeted 651 of
the more than LOO invited and
returned to their apartments up
stairs by two minutes after 6.
Mrs. Truman wore very be-
coming gray lace dress made over
a slightly paler shade of satin.
The skirt was street-length and
the bodice had a v neckline and
cap sleeves. She wore pearls
about her throat and in her ear
rings.
EorIy ArrivoIs
Mrs. Alben w. Barkley, wife of
the Vice President, and her daugh-
ter, Miss Jane Everett Hadley,
were among the first to arrive and
took their places in the Green
Room. They were the first to 60
down the line with Speaker of the
House Rayburn and his sister,
Miss Lucinda Rayburn, just be-
hind. The Vice President was
among the absentees.
Miss Hadley wore a print suit
with a small soft-blue hat. Her
mother was in black dress with
small white hat, a very popular
combination for the late spring
season. Miss Rayburn also had a
black suit, her small black straw
hat trimmed with pastel flowers
across the back.
Simple Arrangements
Arrangements for this series of
late afternoon receptions are kept
as simple as possible to carry out
the informality plan. However, :,
the smartly uniformed Army,
Navy, Marine Corps and Air
Corps aides and the color guard
bearing the Stars and Stripes and
the Presidents flag, give impress
siveness. The changing of these
color guards at intervals through
the reception always attracts the
guests and all men in uniform
stand at attention. Even members
of the Marine Band stand.
The Vice Presidents family,
Speaker. members of the Cabinet
and those considered of the
household" who are officials of
the Presidents Office, entered
through the north door.
Senators went in through the
south, ground floor entrance,
and members of the Lower House
made use of the east entrance,
where larger cloak rooms are
available. Senators and their fam
lilies waited in the Green room for
their turn in line and members of
the House and their families gath
cred in the East room.
Guests passed on through the
Red room into the State dining
room after shaking hands with
their hosts. The long buffet table
on the west side was laden with
bowls Of punch and the dainty
squares of iced cake as we'll and
the small, delicious little cakes for
which the White House is gaining
quite a reputation. There were
plates of dainty pastries on the
side tables also and the small
fountain on the table at the north
end of the room provided deli
ciously chilled water.
Senotor Aiken Wears Red
Senator George D. Aiken of
Vermont attracted the eye of
manv with his neat rod hou tic