New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-01-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE PRESIDENTS FIRST new YEARS RECEPTION
the NEW SOCIAL LEADERS.

Washington, Jan. 9Th, 1850.
The new year was ushered IN at Inc
Capital with reception at the w n1'e
House. lust as all years have been Tor
half century or more. Mr.. CleVe-
lands Diplomatic, Judicial, Congress
sional, Military, Naval, and Clvlllan
callers of last Friday numbered about
5000 people. Much larger Groves
have attended previous New Years re-
ceptions but this was considered large
enonoh by the host and his assistants
before it was all over.
After the official world had passed
through the parlors with their gilt and
splendor Of attire, the public reception
began. The waiting crowd extended m
line of two and two from the eastern
gate far down the street in solid
mass. When they had streamed by the
President for.an hour the appointed time
to close had arrived. Still they came
and the President tried to be cheerful
for half an hour longer. The Cabinet
ladies and Miss Cleveland, who had
been receiving with him, had deserted
him about the time the officials had
been disposed Of. The ladies had gone
to their respective homes to look after
their own New Year callers, and the
President was left to meet the pr6mis-
cuous throng alone and single handed.
He grew very tired and hungry and
finally asked how much of a crowd was
yet to come. W ord was brought him that
a long line, probably a thousand per-
sons. He said, "Well, let them come,
1 can stand it little longer They
did come for half an hour, and chen the
Mansion was closed and the President
went to lunch.
At one time during the reception Mr..
Cleveland shook hands for an hour and
forty minutes at the rate of forty q min
ute by actual count. At first the aver
age did not run thirty a minute, but
lively airs by the Marine band, which
furnished music as usual from the
main ante-room, had the effect of
quickening the movements Of the
crowd. While one very lively air was
being played the hand-shakes ran up
to ffty-six, but only for o few minutes.
The majority of the feminine callers
were more intent upon gazing at the
toilets of the new social leaders than
anything else, and amusing remarks
were made about their manner and de.
meanor. Many thought the ladies
were stiff, ungracious, and lacking in
ease, and others compared them disad-
vantageously with some of their accom-
plished predecessors. It would be
frivolous and tedious to describe Miss
Cleveland's reception dress, or those
OF Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs.
Bayard, Mrs. Villas, but as the Presi.
dents attire was not elaborate / will
mention that he wore black frock
suit, bare hands, and no. flower in
his buttonhole.
The army and Navy officers marched
into the White House from the War
Department close by, Gen. Sheridan
preceding. the brilliantly uniformed line
and lingering near the President until
all were introduced. This division Of
the New Year procession gave more
brightness and color to the scene than
the representatives, all together, Of
England, France, Spain, Germany,
Russia, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Den
mark, Brazil, China, Japan, Turkey,
Mexico, Venezuela, Bouader, the Meth.
erlands, and other countries in Their
court costumes. But these officers dc
not wear their uniforms often enough
to appear comfortable in them. Mos
of them seemed i'll at ease. Each off
Ger was presented to Miss Cleveland
but few of them seemed to have the
courage to continue down the line O
ladies. The timid soldiers made gen
eral bow to the whole row and wer.
soon in the East Room. There they
chatted for a few minutes among the
thoroughly mingled gathering Of Sena
tors and Congressman. Supreme Cour
justices, Foreign Ambassadors AMI
other high officials. Then they start
ed out on their round Of calls.
The. venerable custom Of New Yea
calling will not become obsolete il
Washington SO long as the White Hous
is thrown open. officially on that day. Thi
is thesonly city in the country wher
the ladies can hold an annual reviel
4 of statesmen, warriors and Diplomat
in their official splendor. As these ger
tlemen are required to don their gol
Il -. -, fo,. 1I,+v of tho EVnnr