Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-01
an EnKaAxr plxNER
At the whitney Mansion Tor Oh
presifissut and Mrs. Cleveland.

President and Mrs. Cleveland.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York Times says; One OF the most
magnificent dinners ever served In Wash
ington was that given by Secretary and
Mrs. Whitney Thursday night forthe Pres
ideni and Mrs. Cleveland. The table OF
polished mahogany was laid for 70 guests,
four at each end and nine on each side.
The centre piece was floral novelty be-
cnuse IL contained no flowers, II was oh
long IN form, o. feet by 81 feet, and
composed OF deeply green maiden hair
ferns, an oasis OF rest and GOODNESS in
the midst Of the necessary warmth OF q
dinner At each corner of the ferns WIS
set tall taper in n silver oandlestick,
and at either end Of the table
were silver, fiye-bTanched candela-
bra, with the tapers all shaded
by pink, laced edged hoods. On the cor
ners were four cut crystal bowls Of roses,
set upon bevel-edgcd table mirrors. Two
Of the bowls held la France roses, and the
others were filled with Gabriel Louisettes,
"A new French rose in pink. The service
was solid gold, Tho bon bon stand and
the high crystal dishes for confectionery
had gold bases md stalks in antique pat
terms. The claret pitchers were gold
mounted. and the spoons and dessert
knives were gold The dinner cards were
gilt-edged aud bore the Whitney mono
gram. The diuner was naval affair.
| The President and Mrs Whitney sat ut
the upper end OF the table, with Vice
Admiral Rowan on the right OF the hos
tess and Mrs Porter, the wife of the Adj
miral, ON the Presidents left. Sec
rotary Whitney and Mrs Cleveland
sat at the foot of the table Ad-
miral Porter sitting on the right of
Mrs. Olevelond and Mrs. Queen on the
left of the host. On the upper side of the
board sat Rear-Admiral Jouett, Mrs.
Green, Commodore Walker, Captain Ram
sey Mrs. Schley, Engineer in Chief Iior-
ing, Commandant McCawley, Mrs Sicard
and Commodore Green; and opposite
them sat Mrs. Harmony, Commodore
Queen, Commodore Sicard, Miss Olymer,
Surgeon General Gunnell, Miss Gregg,
Commodore Schley, Mrs. McCawley and
Commodore Harmony. No gaswas lighted
in the room, the light of the candles on
the table being supplemented by that Of
candles set in sconces on tho wall. The
bill Of fare was model Of refined deli
cacies for II midsummer nights
| dinner. There were four wines
served III .he colored glass
finger bowls very tiny bouquets
Of forget me nots aud verhena lenyus for
boutonniereS They wore set in friuged
linen doilies embroidered in oolurs and
royal Dresden plates. The drawing rooms
and the superb ballroom were in gala
dress Of flowers. A largo bouquet of
Japanese lilies md low basket of cut
roses had been sent from tho White
House conseiVatories Mrs. Whitney re-
ceived her guests in n Worth gown of
ivory satin embroidered in silver The
edges of the Louis NV. coat were hor
dered with silver, and the tulle that
| covered the neck and bosom was hangled
with silver droplets, The court train WINS
edged with ruehe Of satin. There was
great diamond star at her throat and
diamonds in her ears. Mrs. Cleveland
| appeared for the tirst time with her
neck and arms uncovered The bodice
was cut rather high square, The dress
was OF Chantilly lace, embroidered in iet
oats over faille FrauGais. The train was
composed of jet lace and bows, and the
body of spending Sly 10 rad matsrial,
with small bows on the straps that were
the only covering Of the shoulders. A lin.
mond necklace glnterod on hurneck Mrs.
Porter wore trained dress OF III elk bro
cade, Mrs, SchlCy wore cream ottoman,
with train and hieh bodice Nias az ~
| wore trained rnbU Of white SIX with
| trimmings OF mlilucs lace The naval
| officers We're in full uniform 4 paltN Of
naval officers with their families, 10 the
number of m were iryit,l "A 10 n'plnnk