The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-10-03
SECRETARY BLAINE
PRESIDENT OF THE NATION
Al, AMERICAN CONGRESS.
The Members Ofthe Congress are
Given an Informal Reception
and Lunch ia the White House
A Most Pleasant Affair.


Given an informal reception
and Lunch ia the White House
A Most Pleasant Affair.
WASHINGTON, October 2.-Shortly be
fore noon the delegates to the lnterna-
tional American Congress left their head
quarters at the Wallach mansion and re-
paired in a body to the department of
state. All the delegates to the Congress
were present with the exception OF Cool
itIge, of Boston, who will join the party
later on. After short stay i'll waiting
the delegates were escorted by Assistant
Secretary Adeer to the diplomatic rcccp-
ton room. Here they were met by Sec
retarv Blaine, who, without the cere-
monv of formal introduction, vel
coined personally each and ali OF the del
egates. After few minutes thus en-
ployed the delegates were seated and Sec
rctarv Blaine, standing alone at the end
of the long central table, delivered a tc-
Iicitous address of welcome. AT the con-
clusion of the address. which was received
with an amount of enthusiasm some
what remarkable in body OF this char
actcr, Secretary Blaine retired. EX-Sena-
tor Henderson,, OF Missouri was made
temporary chairman, who appointed as
a committee on permanent organization
the representatives of Mexico, Brazil,
Uruguay, Nicaragua and Colombia.
These retired, and i'll a few minutes re-
turned with the recommendation, which
was Immediately adapted. that Secretary
Blaine be mud, lnrs idcnL OF the Congress.
Resolutions were adopted providing
TOR committees on rules aud future order
of business, and for the temporary chair
manShip. On motion ut one OF the South
American delegates the following resolu-
ton was adopted:
"Rcsolvcd, That the members OF the
International American Congress accept
with pleasure the invitation OF the lrcsi-
dent of the United States Of America to
be the guests of his government i'll an en-
cursion through the territory Of the
United States; and that we express
thanks for this invitation"
At this stage Secretary Blaine entered
the room and was escorted to the presl-
dents chair A recess of fifteen minutes
was taken, and at it's expiration the con
gress adjourned until Monday, Nov. Is,
when it will meet at noon at the WallaCll
mansion.
After the adjournment the delegates
were escorted to the White House by Sec.
rctary Blaine, pauSing tor flew moments
at the eastern entrance Ot the State de
partmcnt to have their pictures taken in
in group.
The President gave a special reception
to the delegates at l.3O O'Clock, one ol
the features of which was an informal
lunch served in the state dining room at
2o'clock. The blue, red and green par
lors and the east room had been specially
prepared for the occasion and were liber-
ally decorated with tropical plants and
rare exotics. The Marine Band was sta.
toned in the main vestibule and played
almost continuously durimg thcrcccption
and lunch. The programme included the
national and patriotic airs of each OF the
countries represented and numbered
twelve selections in ALL
The reception took place i'll the blue
pdrlor. The President and Mrs. Harrison
and all of the members OF the cabinet
proceeded to that room before the houl
set for the reception, and awaited the ar
rival of the delegates. They arrived
promptly on time under the escort of Sec
retary Blaine and Leromme, the MeXicar
minister. Upon being ushered into the
blue parlor they were individually pre-
scntcd by Mr.. Blaine to the President ant
then to Mrs. Harrison, and subsequently
to the members of the cabinet. After /
short time spent in social converse, Mrs
Harrison retired, and the entire party
upon invitation of the President, repaired
to the state dining room and partook o
luncheon which was served as the dele
gates stood about the room. The center
piece of the table was a large flora
representation of the Western hemisphere
and it was fanked with other flora
devices betting the occasion. The menl
included soup, fish, oysters, salads etc.
with sherry, claret, and champagne
South American dishes and South Amcri
can cigarettes were served, and every
thing was done to show honor to Tho
DETERRENT countries represented. a lew o
the delegates were in full court costume
but the majority wore plain civilian
dress. The reception lasted about two
hours and was altogether informal IL
character.