Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-01-09
Washington Letter. New Years Re
ception at the White House.
The President Handles
them Without Gloves.

President Cleveland's first New
Years reception will be memorable
one to all who attended it. The birth
day of 1886 was as bright and mild
here asMay. The most perfect New
Years day ever known in Washing
ton, was the usual comment. The
President pleased everybody with
his cordially and good humor. He
wore Prince Albert coat, black neck
tie and standing collar, but no white
kid gloves, no gloves of any kind.
He showed no fatigue over his task
of four hours of handshaking, and
after the official reception had closed,
and the public was passing through
the parlors, | noticed that he grasped
the hand of the drayman or colored
brother as respectfully and kindly as
he had that of Queen Victoria's rep
reSentative.
There was no marked degree of
simplicity at the reception. but on
the contrary, it was very brilliant
and delightful affair. 1t was quite as
imposing as any of its predecessors,
and in point of details for the conven-
fence and comfort of all, it was an
improvement upon them.
Half an hour before the reception
began, the Marine band, which fur
nisheS the music for state occasions,
was stationed in the large vestibule,
with its music stand and polished in
struments. The newspaper CORES
pondents were also there early, stroll
ing through the State apartmentsand
noting the decorations. The parlOrs
were fragrantwith flowers and lighted
with hundreds of gas jets. The chan
deliers were festooned with garlands
of smilax, there were baskets of cut
flowers on the tables, and ported
flowers and tropical plants were
grouped upon the mantles and Win
dow stills, and massed in hooks and
corners.
When the band struck up "Hail to
the Chief" the receiving party de-
scended slowly to the Blue Room,
and took their position in line. Mrs.
Bayard came down leaning on the
Presidents arm. Miss Cleveland
was attended by Secretary Bayard.
Secretaries Manning, Whitney, En-,
dicott, and PoStmaster-General Villas
came with the other Cabinet ladies.
These gentlemen, excepting Mr.. Bay.
ard, retired to the rear of the Blue
Room, where they remained most o.
the time during the reception, look
ing on the procession of callers, anC
chatting in groups with the young
ladies by whom they were joined
Among them were noticed the Mise.
Tilden, nieces of Samuel j. Tilden
who are guests of Secretary Manning
The Secretary of State took posi-
ton at the left of the President anC
introduced to him the Diplomatic
corpse Corps. For, bear it in mind
diplomacy is a mummy of past age
} and of effete systems of polity. 1
: has no legitimate place in this day o
5 printing presses, kilograms and oceal
: cables, when Kings and Cabinets ant
, Presidents learn State secrets from
the newspapers long before they ar
matured in their own councils. VIII,
: does not civilization shake off thi
, fine, old, antique, useless and expen
e sive heritage?
D The foreigners had congregated il
!. the Red parlor and were ready for re
: ception. Portugal, Italy, England
n France, Belgium, China, Austria
e Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey
+ Spain, Peru, Germany, the U, S
Columbia, Japan, Sweden, Norway
Denmark, the Netherlands, Ecuado
and Venezuela were represented an
said Happy New Year" and goo
), wishes to the President in broke
English and French. Some of til
~ Diplomatists came to the Whit
House in corOneted carriages, an
. many were in special court attir,
with a profusion Of gold lace an
sashesand badges and stars and crosse
3 upon their padded chests.
= They passed on to the great Ea.
u Room where they fingered awhile
y being reinforced by the Suprem
Court, Senators and Representative