Evening star., 1953-03-25
By Ruth Deem

It was homecoming day" at
the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines
and Airmen's Club yesterday
for Mrs. Eisenhower.
The occasion was a tea for
the First Lady, given in her
honor by the Woman's Army
and Navy League, sponsors Of
the club for enlisted men.
But before the party was over,
Mrs. Eisenhower was roaming
through the club. as much at
home as she was during the
war years when she put in many
hours as canteen hostess there.
There just isn't any formality
when Mamie Eisenhower is
around" one of the guests COM
mented.
She had q good time from
the moment she arrived at four
until she left an hour and a
half later after a tour Of the
clubs annex and canteen and
many tete a tete rUunions with
old service friends.
AS the wife of service officer,
Mrs. Eisenhower was at one time
a member of the executive board
of the league. Recently she ac-
cepted it's invitation to be its
honorary president.
The First Lady arrived at the
tea wearing an attractive silver
blue mink cape stole, simple
black dress, the familiar pearl
choker and button earrings and
a gay white-beaded straw.
She was greeted by Mrs. Claude
B. Mickelwait. league president,
and presented with a gardenia
corsage by Mrs. Anthony McAu-
life, chairman of the tea.
Rushing to the receiving line.
the honor guest embraced two
old friends of Army days, before
taking her place.
First down the line were five
servicemen chosen to represent
the different services.
They really had something to
write home about. For later in
the library, where tea was served,
they sat with Mrs. Eisenhower
to pose for photographers.
The First Lady Immediately
set them at their ease-and to
laughing - with good-natured
mugging for the cameras. She
gave the husky Marine in the
contingent a piece of her cake,
and he later beamed: II ate
every bit of it."
A highlight of the tea was the
presentation to the honor guest
of the leagues National Unity
pin. which is given to members
who have done outstanding VOL
unteer service.
II am very proud to have this
pin," Mrs. Eisenhower told Mrs.
Mickelwait after she had re-
ceived' it.
1t had been several years since
Mrs. Eisenhower had been in the
club. and she was anxious to see
the improvements made by the
league.
Visiting the recreation room in
the annex behind the club, she
suddenly exclaimed: "I won
dered where that old pool table
was!" The familiar baize-cov-
cred game table used to be in
what is now the library.
AS she ran her fingers along
the keys Of an upright piano, she
asked if the boys had dances
there. She was told, however,
that space is filled to overflow
Ing with cots over the week end.
The areaway between the two
buildings had been filled in with
neatly laid bricks since Mrs.
Eisenhower last saw it, and she
was glad to learn it provides a
nice secluded patio for the
Servicemen to relax in the sum-
mer.
Winding up her tour, the First
Lady headed for the canteen
where she had spent so many
hours serving meals.
After shaking hands with the
two cooks on duty, she explored
the kitchen and pantries, taking
note Of the changes from war
time days.
She recalled that there was no
automatic dishwasher when she
was there-and just one maid to
do the cooking. No ventilator-
my it was hot down here" And
no deep freeze and servants eat
ing quarters.
1T certainly is a changed