Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-07
BY BETTY BEALE


Spea ker Sam Rayburn's
birthday celebration, the re-
ception at the Congressional
Club for new members of Con-
gresS and French Ambassador
and Nine. Alphand's party
highlighted the week end in
social circles.
The 85th Congress has spent
much of the last four days,
meeting new members and re-
newing old friendships.
Looking down on all the
greetings from the Senate GAL
lery the other day. Senator
Kennedy's wife, Jackie, asked
Nancy Kefauver. why are
they all shaking hands?"
That's how they got here"
quipped Nancy. land they
don't know how to quit"
But let's take the week END
doings in their chronological
order.
A new pattern of entertain
ing was established in the
French Embassy Saturday
night. The Alphands obviously
don't like stiff parties. They
also have the capacity for TAX
ing the starch out of those
given in their own formal
embassy.
Guests were invited to Sat-
urday'S affair in honor of one
of the most popular singers of
France, Edith Piaf. She was
not the star performer, how
ever; Monsieur and Madame
Alphand were.
The guests assembled at the
Embassy for an aperitif about
IL o'clock. Shortly afterward,
they went into the dining room
where a U-shaped table was
set for about so people. An
other long table extended
along the opposite wall that
overlooks the garden.
Ambassador Alphand sat on
one side of the table flanked
by the Countess de Motrico
and Lady Caccia, while Nine.
Alphand sat on another side
between the Spanish Ambas-
sador, Count de Motrico. and
British Ambassador Sir Harold
Caccia. The other guests sat
wherever they chose.
Night Club Effect
Guitarist frankie Tam and
an accordionist were beating
out snappy tunes before a
microphone. Various jellied
meats and salads were already
on the table and were passed
from place to place by the
guests themselves. Soup and
champagne were served by
the buffers. The diminuitive
Miss Piaf arrived during sup
per and slipped out rather
early.
Supper was hardly over
when Ambassador Alphand led
Lady Caccia to the dance floor
in the enclosure of the u
shaped table. Everybody i'm
mediately followed.
Dancing were the Bill Fos-
tiers, Polly Guggenheim with
handsome Hoke Sisk. the new
French Counselor and Nine.
Olivier Manet, former Ambas-
sador George Garrett with
Mrs. Bill Burden. in an elegant
embroidered white evening
gown: the Count and Countess
de Segonzac. the Luxembourg
Ambassador and Nine. LIE CAL
lais, Carmel Offie with Kath-
crime Murphy, daughter Of
Deputy Under Secretary Of
State Robert Murphy; the
James Lawrence Houghtelings.
the Ralph Beckers. Joan Asten.
French Ministers Charles Lu-
Get and Jacques Vimont and
the Francois de Laboulayes.
Before the evening was over
it was still going on at o. the
host and Henri Pierre, CORE
spondent for lie Monde. did
an ice skating" duet on the
dance floor. And Nine. Al
phand finally agreed to sing.
Several had asked her but
1t took Scott Kirkpatrick.
manager of the National Thea
ter, and a longtime collector
Of her records. to persuade
her. Dressed in a short, strap
less black sheath. she expertly
strummed her guitar and sang
both amusing and sentimental
French songs with the versa
tilitv. style and fair that be-