The Portland daily press., 1884-01-02
NEW YEARS DAY.
How Et was Observed at the Nations Cap.
itaI-The President's Reception.

WASHINGTON, jan. New Years Day
opened with light rain falling, which coz
tinued throughout the day. The Presidents
reception began at IL o'clock. The floral dec
oration of the east room, red, blue and green
parlors were plain but elegant. The Marine
Band was stationed in the vestibuls and
played number of airs during the reception.
was assisted by Mrs. Frelinehu.sen, the
Misses Frelinghuysen, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs.
Chandler, Mrs. and Miss Gresham Mrs.
Brewster, Mrs. Teller, Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs.
Logan, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Pendleten, Mrs. War
ner Miller, Mrs. Frye, Mrs. Cullum, Mrs.
Hawiey, Mrs. Sheridan, Mrs Porter, Mrs.
Waite, Mrs. Blaine and Mrs. Robeson. The
introductloDs were made by Marshal MeMlch-
ael and Colonel Rockwell
At ii a. the members of the Cabinet and
diplomatic corps were received; at 1l.l5 the
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of
the United States entered the room headed
by the Chief Justice and were presented to
the President; at 11.30 number of Senators
and Republicans in Congress, judges of the
Supreme Court of the District of Colum ba,
officers of the District judiciary aud COM
missioneFs of the Dis riot of Columbia, were
received; at noon the officers of the army
headed by Lieuten ant General Sheridan, and
officers of the navy with Admiral Porter st
their head marched into the room and were
presented to the President At 1890 p. m.
the secretary of the Smithsonian I-stitution,
commissioner of agriculture. assistant seereta-
ries of departments, assistant postmaster gen
eral, solicitor general, assistant attorney gen
elal, superintendent of the coast survey, the
heads OF bureaus of the several departments,
national board of health and civil service COM
mission were received; and at 1245 D. ~. the
associated S0ldjArS of the of 1912 fha
members of the oldest inhabitants associatioa
OF the District of Columbia and Grand Army
of the Republic we're received.
The general reception to private citizens
took place from to p. M, aud during the
afternoon receptions were held by the wives
OF all the members of the Cabinet and by fam
ilies of many persons both in public and pfi-
vate hfe.-
The Presidents reception at the Executive
Mansion today was not quite as largely attend
ed as in the past bat is said to have been more
than usually pie asant and successful. The at
tendance of the people of the city and the
District generally was fairly good and nothing
occurred to mar the pleasure of the parti3i-
pants. The decorations of the Executive
Mansion were simple and tasteful. Promptly
at II o'clock the Marine Band which was sta
toned in the vestibule played Hail TO the
Chief" and President Arthur, accompanied
by Mr.. Carlisle aud preceded by Colonel Rock
we'll and Marshal McMichael, entered the cor
the Cabinet with their wives and number
of ladies without escort who were tos assist
ia the reception. The party passed iuto the
red parlor and thence into the blue room.
President Arthur stood mid way between the
east aud west doors. On his right and behind
hun were the ladies assisting, aud on his
left during the reception of the diplomatic
corps stood the Secretary OF State. Both the
Presidents sou and daughter were in the
room. Mrs, Carlisle stood Immediately at he
HnN "a ri, n oF1d RoA
each guest IN tarnto the next of the ladies who
stood in line beside her. Members OF diplomatic
corps IN The court dresses of their respective
duced by Secretary Freinghuysen. For the
first time 10 m my years they were headed by
an official representative of republic on this
side of the Atlantic-Mr. Preston, minister
from Haytl. He succeeded as dean of the
corps Mr.. Allen, who died in the White
House during last New Years reception. The
Marine Band played the national airs of the
principal Europ, an countries as the f0rei IN
ministers passed through the blue room into
the east room where they remained greeting
and talking With the guests until IL o'clock.
At that hour they took their leave aud went
to breakfast at the residence of the Secretary
OF State. The Justices of the United States
supreme Court aud their wives we're next re-
ceived, after which Col mel Rockwell aud
Marshal McMichael took places beside the
President and introduced to him large num-
Der OF Senators aud Representatives. AT u
O'Clock the doors leading into the main corri-
dor were thrown open and long line of army
aud navy officers filed 10 to pay their respects
to the Pre,ident. The assistant secretaries OF
departments and chiefs of bureaus were next
received and were followed by veterans of the
Mexican war and the war of 1872. Repre-
sentatives of the Grand Army of the Republic
the Oldest inhabitants association and citizeus
generally. Throughout the entire reception
President Arthur retained his position without
moment's rest. He greeted those with whom
he was acquainted with pleasant smile aud
few words of recognifian; TO strangers he
merely wished happy New Year.
The State breakfast given by Secretary
Frelinghuysen to members of the diplomatic
corps and their wives was served promptly at
II O'Clock according to time-honored custom.
The general reception began at 130. Mrs
FreliDghuysen was assisted by her daughters,
Misses Frelingbuyser, and Miss Lacy Feeling
husen, Miss Alice Coates of Providence and
Others. Receptions were also held at the
residences of Secretaries Lincoln, Chandler
and Te Her. Attorney General Brewster, p ST.
M .ster General Gresham, Speaker Carlisle.
Chief Justice Waite, General Sheridan and
Admiral Porter. Mrs. Blaine did not receive
bnt before the reception hour number of
Mr.. Bla ines old friends called to give him a
holiday greeting.