Crawford avalanche., 1886-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.


was ushered In at the Capital with a
reception at the White House. just as
old years have been for half century
or more. Mr.. Cleveland's Diplomatic,
judicial, Congressional, Military, Naval
and Civilian callers of last Friday num-
bered about 6,0O0 people. Much larg-
er crowds have attended previous New
Years receptions but this was consider
ed large enough by the host and his
assistants before IL was all over,
After the official world had passed
through the parlors with their gilt and
splendor, the public reception began.
The waiting crowd extended in a line
of two and two from the eastern gate
far down the street in a solid mass.
When they had streamed by the Presi-
dent for an hour, the appointed time
for the reception to close had arrived.
Still they came and the President tried
to be cheerful for half all hour longer.
The Cabinet ladies and Miss Cleveland,
who had been receiving with him, had
deserted him about the time the off,
cials had been disposed of. The ladies
had gone to their respective homes TO
look after their own New Year's call
ers, and the President was left to meet
single handed. He grew very tired
and hungry and finally asked how
much of a crowd was yet to come.
Word was brought him that there was
a long line, probably thousand per-
sons. He said, "Well, let them come,
can stand it little longer" They
did come for half an hour, and then
the Mansion was closed and the Presi-
dent went to lunch. At one time dur
ing the reception Mr.. Cleveland shook
hands for an hour and forty minutes
at the rate of forty minute by actual
count. At first the average did not
average thirty a minute, but lively
airs by the Marine band which fur
nished music as usual from the main
ante-room, had the effect of quicken
ing the movements of the crowd
While one very lively air was being
played the hand-shakers ran up to fif-
ty six, but only Cor 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
demeanor. Many thought the ladies
were stiff, ungracious, and lacking in
ease, and others compared them disad-
vantageously with some of their ac-
complished predecessors. 1t would be
frivolous and tedious to describe Miss
Cleveland's reception dress, or those of
Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs.
Bayard and Mrs. Villas, but as the
Presidents attire was not elaborate
will mention that he wore a black
frock suit, bare hands, and no flower in
his but.onhole.
The Army and Navy officers march
ed 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 divi-
sion of the New Year procession gave
more brightness and color to the scene
than the representatives, oil together,
of England, France. Spain, Germany,
Russia, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Den
mark, Brazil, China, japan, Turkey,
Mexico, Venezuela, Eucador, the
Netherlands and other countries in
their court costumes. But these Off
GERS do not wear their uniforms often
enough to appear comfortable in them.
Most of them seemed i'll at ease. Each
officer was presented to Miss Cleve-
land, but few of them seemed to have
the courage to continue down the line
of ladies. The timid soldiers made a
general bow to the whole row and were
soon in the East Room. There they
chatted for few moments among the
thoroughly mingled gathering of Sen
ators and Congressman, Supreme
Court Justices, Foreign Ambassadors
and other high officials. Then they
started out on their round of calls.
The venerable custom of New Year
calling will not become obsolete in
Washington so long as the White
House is thrown open officially on that
day. This is the only city iW the
country where the ladies can hold
an annual review of statesmen, warri
ors and diplomats in their official
splendor. As these eshtlemen. are re-
quired to don their gorgeous vestments
for duty at the Executive Mansion on
the first day of the year, it is easy and
pleasant for them to supplement- their
official calls by round among their
circle Of lady friends.