Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-06
THE PRESIDENTIAL RECEPTION

Inauguration day Saturday. closed in
very gratifying manner with q grand public
reception at the White House by the Presiden
and Mrs. Lincoln. l. was announced thai
this would be dress reception, but in conse
quence of the city being filled with strangers
NOM all parts OF the country, and in anticipa-
ton OF an unusual crowd in attendance it was
deemed proper to make it public reception
Tor the people. without combining visitors to the
usages customary at dress receptions, and
measures similar TO those of New Years day
s.were adaDted and platform erected from one
OF the large windows of the East Room, by
"nich the visitors could pass eut without com =
Tug Ia contact with those who were passing in
The ms m donin sntranrs Of the building
Hes were received about ~; ocro s tatfsze
whom we noticed Secretary Stanton and famI.
~ secretary Welles and family, Secretary
Seward ard family, and Attorney General
Speed and family.
Al O'Clock the gates were thrown open,
when grand rush was made by at least two
thousand persons to gSin admittance to the
puiiolng, and the hustling and jolting was
nrrinc Some Of the more unfortunate fe
males who were caught in the surging mass,
actually shrIeked with pain, while several
tainted and were carried away. 1t was i'm
possible TO let all into the Mansion at once
but at each opening of the doors the same
scenes were renewed, and after parties did
get into the vestioule some of them presented
a dolefnl appearance indeed, with dresses or
COATS good deal the worse for the muss
Persons were arriving as late as II O'Clock,
and al times the walks from the avenue to the
White House were completely blocked up The
-Four for closing the reception came before al,
succeeded in getting in, and thus many were
compelled to return home without paying
their IN Va
coin.
The Franklin Hose Company, OF Phiaael.
phia' called in body about OK o'clock, and
were presented to the President. The Psrse
Serance Fire Company. of the same city, were
received In the afternoon at O'Clock, by Mr.
Lincoln, in the East Room, when each mem.
pes was introduced to him separately.
Notwithstanding the immense crowd, the
reception was very brilliant, the attendance
OF elegantly dressed ladies and distinguished
gentlemen being very numerous. 1t would be
impossible TO mention all Of the notable ;per.
sons present. and we therefore refrain from
particularizing.
The President, who was attired, as usual, on
such occasions, in a plain black suit, with
white kid gloves, was in excellent spirits, not.
withstanding the fatiguing ordeals through
which he passed during the day, and received
all his visitors cordially 1t is estimated that
he shook hands with between i've and six
thousand persons during the course of the eve.
ming.
Mrs Lincoln was also kept fully occupied
Tor hours in receiving the throngs anxious to
be presented to her. She was dressed mos,
charmingly in an elegant white satin dress, the
skirt tastefully draped with black lace, a rich
Diaek lace shawl, white lace barbe costly pearl
necklace, &C., &c.
In the southwest corner OF the East Room a
stand was erected. from which the Marine
Band discoursed sweet music. Coverings
were spread over the handsome carpst in the
ed. Blue, Green and East Rooms to prsxan,
"m being ruined by the mud unavoa.
NON IL INTO the Mansion by the visitors
. .nn "e 18th Pennsylvania VOL
Va 4 Capt. GetrelI; the
TTnton -, 80 - 's Jameson
81 .hu. 80 -, Titan
Police, under Sergeant Hepburn, w orked har-
montouslv together in preserving order and
keeping back the crowd. /