Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01
BY VILLA POE WILSON

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Symphonic notes of prayers
and hymns. of flower laden
hats and modiSh costumes, will
mark the call to worship, the
fashion parades. and the gay
luncheon parties today.
They will all be in keeping
with the traditions first estab-
lished in the early eighteen
hundreds. when families and
friends gathered in the various
homes after church for the
early afternoon meal - the
formal meal of that day.
Throughout the years Easter
luncheon. parties have become
the custom in many Washing
ton households, especially in
social circles.
The story OF our city is &C
cented with brilliant pages re-
cording Easter Day entertain
mentS at the White House,
embassies and legations and
estates in and near the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Nostalgia memories are sure
to be stirred today of the fes-
tive Easter luncheons at
Friendship on Wisconsin ave-
nue. N.W.-for many decades
the suburban estate of the Nc
Lean family.
These luncheons played a
dominant part in the social
picture each spring including
the first ones given by Mr.. and
Mrs. John r. Mclean in the
Gay Nineties; those at which
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Beale
Mclean were hosts III the
Roaring Twenties, and the more
individualistic ones given by
Mrs. Edward Beale Mclean
(Evalyn Walsh McLean), in
the '30s and the '40s, UP to the
time of her death nearly 10
years ago.
After Church Events
The Mclean Easter lunch
cons or breakfasts. were origi-
mated by Mrs. John r. Nc
Lean to be held at 1880 pm.
Easter afternoons as after
church services" events.
Pictures Of the John r. Nc
Lean Easter luncheons, before
and after the turn Of the CEN
tury. show lovely ladies in ele-
CANT gowns with trailing skirts;
and large hats, as heavy with
flowers as the styles dictate
at the present moment. States
men. diplomats and other
gentlemen guests were all
CARRIED in formal morning suits
and top hats-a style we only
see at weddings or formal
official events these days. A
bowler with formal attire
would have caused raised eye
brows and aside comments.
There was something Spec
tacular about the arrival Of
the guests for the Easter
luncheons at Friendship in the
Nineties up through the first
dozen years of the goth Gem
tury, when elegant horse
drawn equipage were the
vogue.
Victorias. landaus and even
surveys with a fringe on top"
drawn by horses with elaborate
harnesses, swept up the long
driveway, rounded the flower
conferred circle, and deposited
gentlemen and ladies in their
Easter f1nery at the imposing
front doors Of Friendship.
Violet COrsages
Easter corsages Of violets
were the rule until as the goth
century entered its teens"
they were replaced by exotic
orchids.
Treasured in the Mclean
family are pictures Of Mrs.
Washington Mclean. mother
OF John r. Mclean, q tiny,
elderly lady with a beautiful
face and an empress bear
ing" She always arrived in a
shining. velvet upholstered
victoria. drawn by four horses.
There were two men on the
high box at the back of the
victoria in handsome livery,
and two outriders In colorful
trappings rode on the backs
of two Of the horses.
While he had footmen on
the box, Admiral Of the Navy
George Dewey. whose wife was
a sister Of John r. Mclean,
liked to drive his span Of black
horses. They were harnessed,
with shining leather and silver
buckles, to his specially made
carriage which somehow had
a nautical aspect. After the
turn Of the century. when the
automobile made its inroads
on the popularity of horse
drawn vehicles. the admiral
would arrive in his carriage
while Mrs. Dewey would follow
him closely In her shining
black limousine with her liv-
cried footman and chauffeur.
Sometimes the admiral and
Mrs. Dewey would give their
own Easter breakfast at their
suburban estate. The honor
guests were always the mem
beers Of the general board of
the Navy Of which the adj
miral was president. They all
wore full dress uniforms. After
the Dewey luncheon they
would all 90 To Friendship