The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-01-13
GFRoH OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. I
WARRINGTON, d. g., Jan. 8, 1888.

WARRINGTON, d. g., Jan. 8, 1883.
If Christmas day was tame and quiet
at the Capital We found a contrast in
New Years day, which was guy and
festive social occasion. Nowhere else,
perhaps, is the day more generally OBJ
served than in Washington. The ofic-
ial receptions AMI the appearance of dip
lomatic and army ani navy officers in
court dress aud uniforms lend added
charms and special attractions to the
social greetings customary here as else
where. The New Years reception at the
White House is always looked forward to
by residents Of the Capital, and the
many strangers within its gates, as the
sociEl event of the season. It WAS never
ushersd in with greater expectations
than this year and the festivities never
opened more gNily, only to be brought to
sudden and sad termination by the ad-
vent of death. 1t is the old sad story OF
human lif,: Sunny skies and happy
hearts in the morning; the fullness OF
busy, social interchange vt midday, death
in the afternoon, and clouds at night
the year in day-the world in our own
busy Washington, the gamut OF human
heartstrings, up and down. Just az
thousands of people gathered about the
White House to walk in and extend o
holidaYgreetipg to their chief magistrate,
n foreign minister-Mr. Allen, of the
Hawaiian Kingdom-drops dead in the
hallway, and the gates are closed. Thus
the truth is again illustrated that where
life and happiness is, there death is also.
Every body III Washington was anxious
to attend the Presidents. reception on
Monday, not only TO greet the President
himself, Dut to see the new interior dec
oratiohs Of the mansion, of which much
has been written, but which few have as
yet seen. 1t was said that the free
American citizen who entered the White
House to pay his respects would have
reason to feel prouder OF the OLD mansion
than ever belore. Several OF the rooms
have undergone q compl to trausforma-
tiun AID the beauty and harmony of the
furniture and surroundings is now most
complete. The great East room has been
greatly changed and improved, but the
greatest transformation is in the Lac
loom. The cUiored man, Smith, who
formerly rode on the box when albert
held the ribbons in President Grants
line, says, with regretiul sigh, and d
| good hye expression upon his lace, III
is 10 longer the old blue room" Iu G
way that is u farewell to ol II associations
with tie familiar Llle aud gilt that have
d1ne service ier fourteen years. The
ceiling is II decoration not easily des
criOed, and therefore will always bt
beautiful and Interesting and study fol
tie artistic world. But the American
citizen will not grasp it, or comprehcut
! it, beyond the impression given by til,
| silV-rv sLeen of stars in tue frie2e, anC
The grea.cr simmer OF silver and gult
llstras over his head. lie will he in
| pressed more iy the glass screen tha'
separates ths corridor from the yestiGalt
than 10y Lny other change given to the
mansion. Thirty Yeas ago wooder
partition marked the corri lor wher,
guests promenade and toil=Is are seen I,
advantage. THIS gave place to the lror
framework, set with ground glass panels
pretlily engraved. This in turn 10 re-
placed by the stained glass screen recent
ly pat up by Mr.. Tiffany. and .Eat is Tie
most ,ffecliys Of the entireimprov,ments
The georgeousneSS Of eolor that reflects
the jeweled biilliancy of the opal, tn,
ruby, the tourmaliue, the topaz, and the
rich hues OF amber, give touch of royal
splvndor; and were it not for the pres.
enee of the eagle in tie great central
DO y the AIneri AN citizen might fancy
hin.el! in a + ign palace, rather tLau
an the u Wife HJlse that had II.