The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-01-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

:,
charitable institutions, asylums and
homes; and alas, with its usual record
of intoxication and crime. Charity
contributed freely to holiday happi-
ness by gathering together the child
rem of the poor, and giving them tur-
key, ice cream Kris Krin,r es and
amusing entertainments. Ii MS work
the Presidents little daughter Nellie,
Miss West, daughter of the British
Minister, and the daughter of Chief
Justice Waite, may be mentioned as
active participants, besides many 9TH
ers who were equally efficient, but
whose names lack the accident of
fame. But the chief event of the
week was president Arthur's last New
Years reception. The official pageant
was brilliant, and the president had Il
long list of assistants, including the
ladies OF the Cabinet, Of the Supreme
Court, the wives Of many Senators and
Representatives and other ladies Of So
cial distinction. The assistants stood
in line by turns, Withdrawing, when
fatigued to the rear of the receiving
party, while others came forward and
filed their places. Promptly at the
hour for the opening of the reception
president Arthur in full morning dress,
white kid gloves and button-hole bou-
quet, stood at the head of the line and
received first his Cabinet and next
the Diplomatic Corps. The Chief
Justice aud Associate Justices follow
ed, then Senators and Representatives,
Judges of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, Judges Of the
Court Of Claims, officers OF the Dis
trict judiciary, Commissioners of the
District, eX-membcrs of the Cabinet
and ex ministers Of the United States.
Then came the officers of the Army
and Navy, the assistant secretaries of
Departments, heads Of bureaus, the
assistant postmaster General and At
torney General, solicitor General, and
various other heads, superintendent,
Commissioners, Secretaries and assis-
tants. The veterans Of the war Of 1912
and those OF the Mexican war, were
followed by the soldiers of the Grand
Army of the Republic, AMI the Oldest
inhabitants Association of the District,
and then the doors were thrown open
to citizens and throng Of both col
ors, who were neither admirals, Judges
nor generals, made a steady procession
through the parlors until the reception
closed The White House was decor
ated with tropical plants, the Marine
band stationed in the vestibuIe, filled
it with music, and the representatives
of foreign countries mingled their gor-
geous court costumes and decorations
with the gay tinseled uniforms Of
Army and Navy officers, and the som
bre attire Of the Supreme Court JUS
tics.
The day was observed en- reggie.
Carriages, hansoms and cabs whirled
along the streets with their freight of
callers. Ladies hard ;omely attired
received them in gas lighted parlors.
Gentlemen paid the compliments of
the the season, slipped tea or coffee,
nibbled sandwiches and cake and de-
parted, and the first duty Of the New
Year was fulfilled. Many will never
see their hoste>scs again, because by
Jan. 1st 1886, the official and social
personelle Of Washington will be al
most entirely changed.
There IS no end to Inauguration talk
IN Washington, and several steps to-
ward preparation for the great event
have been taken during the past week.
Warerooms, halls, barracks, and ev-
erything that can be utilized for
lodgings purposes are being fixed up
for organizations that are coming. and
Northern firms have contracted to
furnish thousands Of cots, The Com
mIttee on public comfort, whose duty
1t Is to provide quarteFs-elther at
hotels or private h"uses-tor persons
desiring them, VIII endeavor to keep
prices Tor every variety OF service
dewn to ordinary rates, and can, 1t Is
hoped, be relied upon to prevent eX-