Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-04
A State Reception at che White House.


 A State reception is one to which only eff cials and prominent private citizens are in- ylted The supper, however, is served by a caterer. Under the Hayes Administration. it was provided by Madame Demonet. a curi- ous old Frenchwoman, whose modsst shop ! on Pennsylvania avenue Is patronized by Yiss. 1 legations and all the leaders of the gay world. The superintendent of public buildings and | grounds, who Is now ex-offieio master of ceremonies, prepares for the event. He
 takes the latest edition of the court guide. the Congressional Directory and from it prepares the list of official guests from other sources he obtains the names of those
 prominsnt people, transient and resident, in the city who ought to be invited. Some
 times these additional names ara very kindly
 suggested by rural Senators and hayseed Representatives. Sometimes these supqes-
 tlons are accepted and acted upon Oftener they are not The list of guests, which sci
 dom conts;ns more than 1,000 men and
 women, having been prepared, and 10. coo
 wouid-oe guests having been mortal
 l5 eIended, the supper js oidered, and the
 wines will have to be oN55eretl at tha same
 time
 Then the 1nvitations are pzepsrzti and sent
 out. Those for the diplont4tic oorps are
 sent through the Secretary oe State Tie
 Secretary of the Navv orders the Marine
 Band to be at the Exeeo.ive Mansion on she
 otohA1AB o4 LAs reception. Cs2Sh IS la1G III
 the otter hall One-forrth of the police
 force of the district is ore ared to be st the
 front door of the house on that particular
 night, to care for the guests and their car
 rlages. All Is ready. On the night of the
 reception the mansion and it's conservasorias
 are brilliantly lighted. Supper is served in
 the State dining room The Marine Band is
 stationed in the tiled vestibuIe, potted shrubs
 and plants and bouquets and baskets of
 sweet flowers are everywhere. In the bi-e parior on the south side of the house staii1s
 the receiving party-the lady of the mansion
 and her pretty young assistants. The 1res-
 ldent, too, IS there and the master of cere- monies. Leaving your carriage under the great white portico On the north front of the man. sion, you pass in through the north door.
 showing your invitation card as you enter. and are at once surrounded with al, ali per- vading atmosphere of sweet harmony. scented and brilliantly lighted. As you walk with the throng through the great vesfibule to the cloak room on the right you pass directly In front of the Marine Band, whose sweet strains fell upon your ear while you were
 still outside. In the cloak rooms the awsapss, of the party are placed in the usual boxes and the usual satisfactory checks are given
 in receipt for thena- Walking across the
 broad corrlaor, which divides the house into
 northern A.sd a southern half and through e el'At. Pa1iof, you e1ter the blue roofa zn rom fifteen minutes to an hour from the moment when you entered the house s-.
 introduction to the President if you are comparatively rnknosfn) by the master If ceremonies, and an introduction to the presi denf's wife by the President complete tks formal part of the visit. From tbat moment you go as you please, and you can turn aside
 In the blue room and chat with the friends you find, or you can find others in the red room or the green room or eyen s,r, s,,cl. an occasion as this, in the east room. There
 IS no limit to the magnifcence in dress. nos to the bri1liancy of some of the conversations
 They are delightful fields fos the exhibition of whatever you have of brains or of bullion. You can remain five minutes or an hour, and
 you need not make your adieux to the host
 or hostess, or either of them