The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1882-12-21
A STATE RECEPTION AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.

A State reception is one to which
only officials and pro:ainenI private
citizens are invited. The supper.
however, is served by caterer.
Under the Hayes Administration. it
was provided by Madame Demonet.
curious old Frenchwoman whose
modest shop on Pennsylvania avenue
is patronized by the legations and ali
the leaders of the gay world. The
superintendent of public buildings
and grounds. who is now ex officio
master of ceremonies, prepares for
the event He takes the latest edition
of the court guide. the ''Congression-
al Directory" and from it ptepares
the list Of official guests; from other
sources he obtains the names Of those
prominent people, transient and
resident in the city, who ought to be
invited. Sometimes the Sc addition
al names are very kindly suggested
by rural Senators and hay-seed Rep
resentatives. Sometimes these sug-
gestions are accepted'an acted upon.
Oftener they are not. They list of
guests, which seldom contains more
than 1000 names, having been pre-
pared. 10000 men and women would
be guests having been mortally Oh
,enGed, the supper is ordered, and
the wines will have to be ordered at
The same time.
Then the invitations are prepared
and sent out Those for the diplo-
matte corps are sent through the
Secretary of state. The Secretar
of the Navy orders the Marine Band
to be at the Executive Mansion on
tue evening OF the reception. Crash
is laid in the outer hall. One-lorth
of the police force of the District is
ordered to be at the front door OF
the house on that particular night.
TO care for the guests and their car
riages. ALL is ready. On the night
of the reception the mansion and its
conservatories are brilliantly lighted.
Supper is served in the State dining
room. The Marine Band is station.
ed IN the tiled We tibule. Potted
shrubs and plants and bouq ,,ets and
baskets Of sweet flowers are every
where. In the blue parlor on the
south side of the house stands the
receiving party-the lady Of the
mansion and her pretty young as
sitants. The President, too, is there
and the master of ceremonies.
! Leaving your carriage under the
great white porticO on the north front
of the mansion, you pass i'll through
the north door, showing your invita-.
ton card as you enter, and are at
once surrounded with an all-pervad.
ing atmosphere Of sweet harmony
scented and brilliantly lighted. AS
you walk with he throng through
the great vestibule to the cloak room
on the right, you pass directly in
front of the Marine Band, whose
sweet strains fell upon your eal
while you were still outside. In the
cloak rooms the wraps Of the party
are placed in the usual boxes, ano
the usual satisfactory checks are
given i'll receipt for them. Walking
across the broad corridor. which di
vides the house into northern ano
southern half, and through smaller
parlOr. you enter tue blue room il
from fifteen minutes to an hour from
the moment when you entered the
house. An introduction to the Pres
ldent (if you are comparatively IA
known) by the master of ceremonies
ami an introduction to the Presi
dents wife by the President, com
plete the formal part of the visit
From that moment you go as yoi
please, and you can turn aside in th'
blue room and chat with the friends
you find. or you can find Others Ii
the red room or the green room, or
even on such an occasion as this. il
the east room. There is no limit t,
to the magn.ficence in dress, or t.
the brilliancy OF some OF the CONVEX
satlons. They are delightful field
Tor the exhibition OF whatever yo,