The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-02
The White House Parl0rs Beautifully and
deliberately DecOrated-The Ladies Who
We're Present, and What They Wore.
Gov. Cleveland Wrote His Recent Letter
as an Answer to 0ffice-Seekers.
A Million and Half OF Unclaimed Cash,
Sent in Money Orders, Waiting Chalmers
A Good Field for Legislation.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The Presidents ReceptiOn-The Decorations
and the Dresses of the Ladies.


The Presidents Reception-The Decorations
and the Dresses of the Ladies.
WASHINGTON, Jan. New Years day has
been generally observed here. The weather was
almost as disagreeablo as one year ago, when it
rained through the day. At u o'clock cold
wind was blowing and snow falling aud before
night an atmosphere of midwinuer inclemency
prevailed; this however, did not interfere with
the calling. The reception at the White House,
the last under President Arthur's administration
was as large ss that of any previous year. The
President was assisted by number of ladies
prominent in society, who stood with him in the
Blue parlor. The callers entered the Red parior
passed through the Blue parlor, thence through
the Green parlor into the East room, from which
they made their exit.
The floral decorations in the corridors and par
lors were very elaborate and handsome. In the
long corridor and Red paror there were tropical
plants and ferns; all the chandeliers and mir
rors were twined with smilax; the mante in the
Blue drawing room entirely covered with
cut flowers and blooming plants. and in the win
dows were palms, ferns and other foliage plants
in the Green room there were towering plants
on the mantel and tropical plants IN the recesses
of the windows; the four mantes in the East
room were decorated with pots of blooming
primroses and a choice variety of other flowers.
The ladios who assisted the President gathered
in the library of the White House few minutes
before the reception began and New Years
greetings were exchanged with the President
and his sister, Mrs. McElroy. At ii o'clock the
Marine Band, which was stationed in the vesti
bule, played Hail to the Chief" and the receiv-
ing party entered the Blue parlor. Mrs Freling
huysen accompanied the President; in the Blue
parlor Mrs. McElroy stood next to him, then
Mrs. Senator Edmunds, Mrs. Frelinghuysen,
Mrs McCulloch, Mrs. Chandler, Mrs. Brewster,
Mrs Hatton, Mrs. Teller and the wives of some
of the justices of the Supreme Court. The other
ladies' of the receiving party passed on into the
Green parlor
The dresses Of the ladies were rich and hand
some. Mrs McElroy wore heliotrope satin,
trimmed with pearl beading around a heart
shaped neck Mrs. Frelinghuysen wore black
velvet, trimmed with black lace and dull jet;
Mrs. McCulloch wore rich white satin; Mrs. Ed
srauaiss were mourning silk, plain style Mrs.
Newbold, who is granddaughter of the late
General Cass, accompanied the family of Sec
rotary Frelinghuysen to the White House, and
wore gray satin, trimmed with white lace; Sec
rotary Chambers wife wore elegant dress with
a front of cherry satin, with black and cherry
brOcaded velvet train; Mrs. Brewster wore gold
en-bronze silk, embroidered in bronze and gold
colored beads: Mrs. Teller wore ruby velvet and
satin, trimmed with duchess lace; Senator
pink gros grain and garnet velvet garnished with
point lace: Mrs. Field, wife of Justice Field,
wore copper-colored silk and SATIN, trimmed with
Egyptian blue Mrs. Miller, of California, wore
a train of white satin, hroeaded in bou-
quets of richly colore2 flowers and an embroid-
cred tabliere, and her laces and diamonds
were very beautiful; Mrs. Logan was richly
dressed in black velvet, with front breadth
points and vest of shrimp pink. trimmed with
applique embroidery in colors; Mrs. Don Gamer
and her cousin, Miss rachel Sherman, came
together, and wore elegant white dresses. al
the ladies who were invited to receive were in
evening dress while those who called to pay
their respects were in visiting dress, that is,
short skirts and bonnets The coors were dark
and subdued.
Mrs. Carlisle, who was published as among the
ladies who would assist the President was not
in the city.
Cabinet, the doors were opened and the diplo
matte corps received. In the absence of Mr..
Preston. minister from Hayti; who is dean of
the corps Viscount Das N1gueiras, minister
from Portugal, headed the diplomatic procession,
The Secretary of STATE stood on the left of the
President, and presented the representatives of
the foreign powers. There have been many
changes among diplomates within three years,
none of those now here having served longer
than six years. The members of the corps were
in court uniform.
Following the Diplomatic corps, the justices of
the United States Supreme Court, accompanied
by their ladies, were next received. In the alb
sence of Chief justice Waite, who is i'll, Justice
Miller was the first received. and he was fol-
lowed by the other justices The Chief justice
and Justice Matthews were the only absentees
The senators and representatives in Congress,
of whom there an unusually large attend
ance, came next These were followed by rep
resentatives of the army and navy, nearly every
officer duty or visiting the city being
in line. The army delegation was headed
by Lieutenant general Sheridan and
the navy officials by Admiral Por-
ter. Next came the chiefs of the various de-
partments, district officials ex-members of the
Cabinet now in the city, and civic associations.
The Grand Army Of the Republic had notably
large representation, both white and colored,
many being in uniform. !,
At o'clock the citizens reception began, and i
continued until 2l5. During the entire time al.
lotted for citizens to pay their respects to
President Arthur, representatives of almost all
grades of society passed through the various par
Tors. The employees of the executive mansion
were the last to extend New Years greeting to
the chief executive.
When the people had departed, the President
called for his horse and took short ride. He
returned to the White House and dined with the
members of his family