The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-09
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
The Presidents Remarkable Recep-
ton.

The Presidents Remarkable Recep-
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. Poor
people stayed at home in Washing
ton to-day. 1t rained too hard to
make calls on foot and carriage pri-
ces went up quickly to ten dollars
an hour. The people who remained
at home prophesied an early death
to the horrible custsm of making
New Years calls. General calling
does not commence here on New
Years till late in the afternoon.
The President commences to receive
at II o'clock and his reception con-
tinues until 1 o'clock. Then the
mob or public is adnitted, but no
one waits for them to finish. The
public" callers at the White House
are motley crowd. 1t is field day
for cranks and the colored brother,
no one is excluded, and these people
take advantage OF their opportu-
nifty.
THE FUN BEGINS.
! Promptly at ii o'clock the Marine
band, which was stationed in the
vestibule played Hail to the Chief
and as the first notes sounded Pres
ident Arthur, accompanied by Mrs.
Carlisle ana preceded by Col. Rock
we'll and Marshal McMichael enter
ed the corridor. They were followed
by members of the Cabinet, their
wives and number of ladies with
out escort, who were to assist in the
reception, The party passed into
the Red parlor and thence into the
Blue room. President Arthur stood
mid way 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 Sec
retary of State. Both the Presidents
son and daughter were in the room.
The decorations of the Executive
Mansion, were simple but tasteful.
FAnS, palms, and cut-howers from
the White House conservatory were
placed in the three parlors, the great
East room and main corridor, and
the mirrors and large glass chande-
liers, which were lighted, were hung
with graceful festoOns of smilax
There were a few potted plants, such
as begonias and primroses, blooming
in the East room huge bouquet
of selected cut-howers was placed in
| the Red parlor, and another still
larger ornamented the central divan
of the Blue room.
THE PRESIDENT NERvoUs-HIs DRESS.
The President was not in q very
happy frame of mind this morning
The rain depressed him, and he
NATURALLY recalled the tragic ending
OF his last New Years reception, the
death Of the Hawaiian Minister, Mr..
Allen, on the threshold of the Blue
room. He was very nervous before
the reception commenced but grad
ually became more cheerful as II
progressed without accident or Incl
dent TO mar the occasion. Mr.. Ar
thur was dressed in handsome
black frock suit. The coat was but
toned up very high and showed off
his frame to good advantage. 1t
gave him an almost ministerial look
A bright red rose was in perfect har-
mony with his necktie. When the
reception commenced Mr. Arthur
had on two white gloves, but little
later his right hand glove became
perfectly black. Mr.. Arthur has
learned Gen. Grants trick in shaking
hands. He chooses his own grip and
avoids the misery of having his
hand crushed to a jelly by too en-
thusiastic friends.
The members of the Diplomatic
Corps were the first guests received
by the President. They were ad-
mitted in the order ofthe date of the
presentation of their credentials at
the State Department. The Haytian
Minister, Mr.. Preston, is at present
the dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
and he headed the list.
SUPREME CoURT-ARMY AND NAVY.
The Justices of the United States
Supreme Court and wives were next
received, after which Col. Rockwell
and Marshal McMichael took a place
beside the President and introduced
a large number OF Senators and Rep
resentatives. At II o'clock the doors
leading to the main corridor were
thrown open and long line OF army
and navy officers filed III to pay their
respects to the President. General
Sheridan, accompanied by Judge
Holt and General Mckee Dunn, for
merly Judge Advocate General of
the army, and the officers OF his
staff; Adjutant General Drum, fol-
lowed and accompanied by Assistant
Adjutant General McLeeyer, General
Rusgles, Colonels Benjamin and
Barber; then came nearly all the
army officers stationed in Washing
ton, both line and staff.
THE MEDICAL CORPS
was represented by Surgeon General
Murray, Dr. Baxter, DR.. Basil, Nor
ris and others. Paymaster General
Rochester was followed by num-
Der of officers of the pay corps. The
engineer officers were headed by
General H. G. Wright and number
OF other officials. Following the
army officers came representatives
of the navy, Admiral Porter at the
head, accompanied by Commodore
Earl English. Chief Engineers Henry,
Lee, Snyder and John c. Shafer,
and followed by almost every naval
officer at present in Washington
The army officers were introduced
to the President by Colonel Rock
well. Lieutenant Mason presented
the naval officers to Colonel Rock
well, who in turn introduced them
to the President.
BRILLIANCY OF THE UNIFORMS.
In the East room army and navy
uniforms showed to great advantage
and the scene was a very brilliant
one, as a number of the diplomatic