Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-09-21
BY RUTH DEAN
star staff Writer

~ star staff Writer
Relief that hurricane
ESther had missed Wash
iiigton gave an extra bouy-
aiacy to the 1861 Navy Relief
Ball last night-so much so
that hardly any Of the VIPs
lift before midnight and
some even fingered until
lam.
AS the new Chief of Naval
Operations, Admiral George
w Anderson, so aptly put it.
Esther was q sort of sword
of Damocles over us. We
didn't know whether we'd
have a ball or whether we
should have it. And now
Esther is gone off to sea and
We hope we hear no more Of
her"
The annual ball, which
always attracts top service.
diplomatic and residential
society, was held in a packed
Sheraton-Park Hotel ball
room.
For many of the front
table guests-top officials Of
the Kennedy administration
and their wives - this was
their first Navy Relief Ball.
And for countless others in
Guiding retired officers and
their wives as well as a few
former Eisenhower admins
tration defense officials it
was "old home week" Table
hopping was the order of the
evening.
At Table No. l
For Secretary Of the Navy
and Mrs. John B. Connally-
she in q beautiful gown of
rose draped chiffon-this
was their first Navy Relief
Ball. The handsome Texas
couple sat at Table 1 with
their guests who included
Attorney General and Mrs.
Robert Kennedy. Secretary of
Defense and Mrs. Robert
Mcnamara, Secretary Of the
Army Elvis Stair, ir.. and
Mr.. and Mrs. Perry r. Bass
Of Dallas, Tex.
The Connallys entertained
their guests at dinner on
board the Navy yacht Sequoia
before the ball.
The Andersons also enter
tanned at dinner at Admiral's
House before taking their
guests to the ball. At their
table were Admiral and Mrs.
Charles r. C"Cat"O Brown
who have been on home leave
from his NATO post in
Naples. For the Browns, who
return to Naples October 10,
the evening was a home
coming Others at the table
we're the chairman Of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff and Mrs.
Lyman L. Lemnitzer, the
Commandant Of the Marine
Corps and Mrs. David M.
Shoup and Admiral and Mrs.
Walter F. Boone of San
Francisco, old friends Of the
AndersonS who came here for
the ball.
Also at the dinner the
AnderSons gave beforehand
were their house guests. Rear
Admiral and Mrs. John B.
Pearson, jr., of California.
Climaxing the evening was
q half-hour variety show pre-
coded by the traditional tat
too by the Marine Corps
Drum and Bugle Corps, an
event that never ceases to
thrill old and new ball goerS
alike.
Performance AppIauded
Exactly at II pm, the
lights dimmed and a spot
light focused on the red
coated Marine bandsmen as
they marched down the stair
case at the far end Of the
ballroom. double filed up the
center of the ballroom and
stood in Information in front
Of the stage. Then the colors
were marched in and the
Navy and Marine Corps flags
dipped in salute. Applause
echoed through the room as
the Smartly stepping Marines
marched from the room
playing the familiar MA
rineS Hymn"
The half-hour all Navy and
Marine Corps talent show.
which always has, a theme
from Navy life, conferred
around a harassed Navy wife
played by Mogi O'Neill, IN the
throes of moving. She falls
exhausted into a chair and
dreams of the far-off post in
the exotic East to which her
husband, played by Thomas
Graham, has preceded her.
She wakes and wastes no
time in catching up with him.
the two of them ending the
show with a duet.
BreathleSS applause greeted
a flaming sword dance in the
dream sequence, performed
by Fala Alailima, a Somoan
and a former Navy man.