Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-02
NEW YEARS RECEPTIONS.
PRESIDENT ARTHUR'S EMIL
NENTLY SUCCESSFUL.

The Executive Mansion RedOlent with
Flowers and Exotics-The Entry of
the Host and His Assistants - The
Guests Who Paid their Respects-The
Day at Other Places.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The ceremonial
observance of the first day of the new
year in this city was interfered with to
some extent by a raw northwest wind and
by driZzling rain, which fell at intervals
throughout the afternoon and evening
There was, however, a very general OBJ
servance Of the custom of making New
Years calls, and it is said that there were
more "open houses than usual. The
Presidents reception at the Executive
Mansion was not quite as largely attended
as on similar occasions in the past,
but is said to have been more than usually
pleasant and successful. Only about half
of the members Of the present Congress
are in the city, but most of these were
present, together with the members Of the
Cabinet, diplomatic corps. justices of the
Federal and District Courts, and officers
of the army and navy. The attendance
of the people of the city and the District
generally was fairly good, and nothing
occurred to mar the pleasure of the par
ticipants.
The decorations of the Executive Man.
sion were simple but tasteful Ferns.
palms and cut flowers from the White
House conservatory were placed in the
three parlOrs. The great East room and
the main corridors, and mirrors and large
glass chandeliers, which were lighted,
were hung with graceful festoons Of
smilaX. There were pOtted plants,
such as begOnias and primroses, blooming
in the East room. A huge bouquet of Sc
lected cut flowers was placed in the Red
parlOr and another larger Ornamented the
central divan of the Blue room. Promptly
at II O'Clock the Marine Band, which was
stationed in the Yestibule, played 'EHail
to the Chief" and as the first notes were
sounded President Arthur, accompanied by
Mrs. Carlisle, and preceded by Col. Rock
we'll and Marshal McNichael, entered the
corridor. They were followed by the
members of the Cabinet with their wives
and number of ladies without escorts
who were to assist in the reception. The
party passed into the Red parlnr and
thence into the Blue room. President Ar
thur stood midway between the east and
west doors. On his right and behind
him were the ladies assisting, and ON his
left during the reception Of the diplomatic
corps stood the Secretary of State. Both
the Presidents son aud daughter were in
the room. 1t was generally remarked
that the costumes of the ladies were
richer than Aad been seen at
the White House receptions in many
years. The members of the
diplomatic corps in the court dresses
OF their respective countries were first
received, and were introduced by Secre-
tary Frelinghuysen. The band played
the national airs of the principal Euro
pean countries as the foreign ministers
passed through the Blue room into the
East room, where they remained greeting
and talking with other guests until II
O'Clock. At that hour they took their
leave, and went to breakfast at the resi-
dence of the Secretary of State. The JUS
tices of the United States Supreme Coprt
and their wives were next received. after
which Col. Rockwell and Marshal Nc
Michael took their place beside the Presi-
dent and introduced to him a large num-
Der of Senators and Representatives At
II O'Clock the doors leeading into the main
corridor were thrown open, and long
line of army and navy officers
filed in to pay their respects
to the President. Gen. Sheridan. who
occupied the position for many years filled
by Gen. Sherman, was accompanied by
Judge Holt and Gen. Mckee Dunn, for
merly Judge Advocate General of the
army, and by the officers Of his staff.
Adjutant General Drum followed, accom-
panied by Assistant Adiutants Gen. Me-
Keever, Gen. Ruggles, Col. Benjamin and
Col. Barber. Then came in order nearly
all the army officers stationed in Wash
ngtOn, both of the line and staf.
Following the long line of army officers
came representatives of the navy, with
Admiral Porter at their head, accom-
panied by Commodore Earlengish and
followed by almost every naval officer at
present in Washington. The army officers
were introduced to the President by Col.
Rockwell. Lieutenant Mason presented
the naval officers to Col. Rockwell who in
turn introduced them to the President
In the East room the army and navy
uniforms showed to great advantage, and
the scene was very brilliant one, as a
number of diplomatic representatives
were still in the room, as were also many
handsomely dressed ladies. The assistant
secretaries of the departments and the
chiefs of the bureaus were next received,
and were followed by the veterans of the
Mexican war and the war of 1912. repre-
sentatives of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, the Oldest Inhabitants Associa-
tiOn and the citizens generally. Through
out the entire reception President Arthur
retained his position without moments
rest. He greeted those with whom
he was acquainted with pleasant smile.
and a few words of recognition. The
strangers he merely wished a happy New
Year. At the close of the reception he re-
tired to his private apartments.
FRELINGHUYsEN's BREAKFAST.
The state breakfast given by Secretary
Frelinghuysen to the members of the
diplomatic corps and their wives was
served promptly at Il o'clock. Accord
ing to a time-honOred custom the table
was handsomely garnished as for large
formal luncheon, and was lighted by wax
candles in twisted silver candelabras, In
the centre of the table was q large round
plate glass plaque. bound in silver, repre-
senting mimic lake, around, and out of
which seemed to be growing roses,
maiden hair ferns, and scarlet leaves.
What attracted universal attention so soon
as it's history became known was a small
odd appearing silver sugar bowl fashioned
by skilled Danish wOrkmen more than
two centuries since, The bowl, cylindri-
cal in form and supported by four large
cannon balls of silver, was sent as a
Christmas present to Mrs. Frelinghuysen
from her friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Hoffman,
now representing America at the court of
Denmark. The general reception which
always follows the state breakfast began
at 1 80 o'clock. Mrs. Frelinghuysen was
assisted by her daughters, Miss Freling-
huysen and Lucy Frelinghuysen, and
Miss Griswold, of Dresden, Saxony, a
niece of the hostess, and Miss Carrie
Bradley, daughter Of Justice Bradley, Of
the United States Supreme Court. The
number of callers was unusually large.
AT SECRETARY LINCOLN's.
At the home of the Secretary of War
Mrs. Lincoln was assisted by Mrs. Sena-
tor CullOm, Miss Cullom, Mrs. Frank
Hatton and Miss Ella Sturgess. A large
u11rO bar of tho oalInrS xvara army ofioo,-s
AT SECRETARY CHANDLER's.
Mrs. Chandler and her sister, Mrs. Kins-
ley, at the home of the Secretary of the
Navy, received a large number of repre-
sentatiyes Of the army, navy and Con-
gress,
RECEPTIONS AF OTHER HOUSES.
The reception in the parlors of the Sec 4
rotary of the Interior was cordial and un-
Mrs. Teller was assisted
by Mrs. NJ. D. Thatcher and Mrs. j. w.
Stanton, of Colorado.
Mrs. Brewster, the wife of the Attorney
General, had her reception after O'Clock.
She was assisted by Mrs. McMichael, wife
of the District Marshal; Mrs. Bingham,
wife OF Representative Bingham of Penn
sylvania; Mrs. Rooms, of Philadelphia,
and Miss Rooms, Of Baltimore.
The Postmaster Generals house was
thrOnged during the reception hours.
Mrs. Gresham was assisted by her daugh-
ter, and Mrs. McKenney and Mrs. Anna
Wilson.
MRS. CARLIsLE's RECEPTION.
Mrs. Carlisle, wife of the Speaker, held
a reception at the Riggs House
soon after she returned from the
White House. She was assisted
by Mrs. Willis, Mrs. Townshend.
Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Randolph Tucker, Mrs.