Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-05

successor of Blacquc Bey, wore the usual
automatic dress, with the difference OF
mounting upon his head the Turkish fez,
while strapped to his side was the scimetar
ofthe faithful. The Russian Minister came
up smiling and benevolent. The Marquis
De Noailles, the French Minister, ac-
companied by his charming wife, was
there. All the diplomats appeared in state
dress. with the exception of Mr. Manscai,
the Mexican Minister and Mr.. Nilleno,
Charge d. Afiaires of Peru.
The reception was held in the Blue Par
lor. President Grant entered at ii A. NJ,
Mrs. Grant leaning upon his arm. lie
was followed by Gems. Babcock and Dent
and their wives. The Cabinet officers,
with their wives, were already in the par
lor. 4 moment after | the band struck
M .Hail to the Chief" The diplomats,
under the lead of Sir Edward Thornton,
the presents Dean of the corps, proceeded
TO the Blue Parlor, where they were pre-
scented by the Secretary of State to the
President OF course what followed is
understood. Polite fnrmulas, a little des-
ultory chat, and each finally made way
for those who were to follow.
At 80 came the Judges Of the
Supreme Court and members of Congress.
The carriages comes whirling up, the usher
darts forward to the carriage, learns the
name of the occupant, and cries 1t out to
the man at the door of the house, who
projects it into the space OF the ante-room,
where white-g loved domestlcs pass the
name until it reaches the Chief Magistrate
slightly in advance of the caller. Here
comes Judge Miller, in appearance every
inch Judge, followed by Justice DAVIS,
stout and dieniied; Judges Swayne. Cliff
ford, Field Strong, Bradley, Hunt, all as
solemn as if they were about to give an
important decision, come in the order men,
toned As they pass up to the President,
they shake his hand in a melancholy way,
exchange a word with the ladies, who
flank the Chief Magistrate, and then they
Join the diplomats in the parlor. The Con-
gressmen follow. After that comes an
exchange of commonplace upon affairs of
State, and y casual discussion OF the con-
ditlon of the country in general. Then
the callers pass out to their carriages, and
are whrled away somewhere else.
Time now L NJ The blaze of army
and navy uniforms now appear, and the
spectacle is rs gorgeous as the elimination
of a pantomime. Gold lace, nodding
plumes, upright martial figures looking as
uncomfortable as men always do when
they are conscious that they are making OBJ
iects of themselves. The officers come in
squads. Gen. Sherman looked very well
to-day. \ bland smile stole across his stern
countenance, which, is shaded by grace
fully plumed chapeau, which as he gazes at
the magnifcence about him, of he, by viz
tue of four plumes in his hat, is the head.
The procession Of army officers passed,
Admiral Porter appeared upon the scene,
having the representatives OF the navy,
many of them very sea-lions in personal
appearance. But a few brlef moments
are the crowd entertained by the martial
presence, when the scene shifts, and the
First Assistants Of the Cabinet officers and
the chiefs of the bureaus arrive. The
crowd now yawn for the first time. They
have been treated to the spectacle of great
chiefs, leaders among their kind, and
they have little patience for anything else.
Time, 1245 p. M. Here comes a
crowd of gray-headed men, arm in arm
Some lean upon canes others walk with
heads erect, as if the weight of years was
carried by them now as easily as in youth.
They are soldiers of the war of 1872, vet
Grams of 1916, and the oldest inhabitants
of the District. The ranks are little
thinner this year than they were last re-
ception day. Each year the number of
veteran soldiers presented will be smaller
and smaller, until the sole remaining one,
like the last guest of the annual dinner
party, will come tottering up the steps
alone to pay, for perhaps the last time,
the tribute of his respect to the Executive.
1t is the "sovereigns'" turn now. The
policemen stand away from the gates and
the people come crowding up the walks
till they bank up in mass that has to
wait its turn in the compact file which is
making its way into the house, Passing
through the ante-room and the hall
opposite, the crowd enter, and there find a
short man in full dress, who stands with
military precision upon certain figure i'll
the carpet and mechanically shakes hands
with those who pass before him. The
crowd is composed of nearly every grade
of Washington society. The colored
friend and brother, who has left his white
wash brush outside, jostlcs fraternally
against the lavender-g loved exquisite.
portly easy-going merchants. coarse-look-
ing women, beautiful women, country
visitors, disappointed patriots in search of
type of Washington humanity you may
care to imagine is here. Some attempt to
converse with the President, but the crowd
behind makes this an impossibility As
for instance, a redtfaced man, with n con-
fiding waistcoat, advances smilingly to the
President, saying my name is johnson,
met you out at Seneca in Wisconsin-here
somebody hits him in the small of the
back, and he is sent beyond the Chief Mag
istrate with such velocity that before he
can explode an oath he is in the east par
lor All attempts to get upon confidential
terms with the President, with the surg
ing crowd of people at ones back, prove
abortive. At = o'clock the President re-
tired with very black glove upon his
hand, the doors were closed and the show
was over.