Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-10

O~I III passed again into
d 1T the deep shades
u wi ~ with their plumage
slightly disarranged So the knights and their
ladies attended the White House reception last
night. They waited long and endured much
to see the President and Mrs. Harrison and the
cabinet and their ladies. To most of the stran-
ger knights il was the event Of their visit. and
the event was something new in the history Of
White House receptions. 1t was the largest
four times over the largest-reception ever
held at the executive mansion. 1t was also the
best m anaged within the memory of reception
habitues. The knights had to pass through
three degrees. To prove their fitness as true
knights they had to show their patience and
goodwill in long suffering. The first degree
was that Of trials and discontinue. Those who
stood the test were admitted into the grounds.
and they struggled on with the brilliant
lights of the White House as a promise before
them By their patience and fortitude in this
trial they proved themselves true knights
and ladies. and they were admitted into the
presence OF the grand master of the temple of
political liberty. They were received by him
and then passed through the third degree,
which was the reward of their long suffering.
They passed into the brilliantly-lighted man
sion, strolled through the spacious rooms, and
winding their way down the stairs from the
vlne-clad and hag-hung balcony, were IN the
garden where a thousand fairy lamps shot many
colored lights among the dark shadows of the
trees-where fountains spurted and music al
ways filed the air. Those who endured with
out complaint all the annoyance and fatigue of
waiting at the gates deserved the reward they
got within A line of not less than twenty
thousand knights and ladies' stretched out from
the west gate at the north front Of the mansion
and wound itself IN and out along the
avenue, down past the White lot to the west,
around the State department. twisting and
turning and doubling ON itself, so as to take up
as little space as possible. Step by step, slow
marching without music. knights in dress
uniform and white plumed hats and ladies in
full dress slowly advanced upon the White
House. Crowded close together, they pressed
still closer and closer in their efforts to get
within the gate. until at the gate and at the
White House door there was such jam that
swords were bent. hats crushed, plumes
draggled and ladies' dresses pressed into many
wrinkles and sometimes torn.
FORMING THE LINE
The line began to form about o'clock. At
1130 the ragged and weary end of the line
reached the White House door, and vet there
was crowd of struggling free-lance knights
ready to form another line when the doors
were closed Meanwhile some ladies tainted
and were carried Off, and others gave
up the siege. Some weary OF wait
ing made assaults at many points, but were
repulsed and had again 10 drop in at the end
of the line. There but one entrance to
the White House that they could take. Every
other was closed and guarded. The sound Of
the distant music, the reflection of the colored
lights and the burst of the fireworks. inspired
them To persevere. Meanwhile they enter
tanned themselves and each other with Jokes
and comments usual On such occasions Dur
ing the early hour they were entertained By
watching for the arrival of cabinet officers and
other officials. The great ambition of them
ali seemed to be to see the plumed knight of
Maine. Several times the line WAS broken in
rush To see some one suspected of being Mr..
Blaine. Before the reception opened the
other cabinet officers were cheered the
arrived, but Mr.. Blaine not among them.
He came lase, thereby giving his devoted adj
mIrers some thing to watch for while they
waited When he came there was rush for
his carriage, and one daring lady broke from
line just at the White House door to step up
and put her arm over the neck of one of the
horses.
Il could not see him." she said, ''but I'll pet
his horse"
While at the remote end of the line scarcely
any progress at all seemed to be made there
was rush at the door almost like a charge of
sur knights In battle.
Looking back from the door of the mansion
there Was long scroll of white painted by the
plumes upon the darkness and vanishing
IN the distance. On the portieo the white
Plumes were waving tumultuously in the
charge upon the door.
Within the scene was changed. No crowd.
ably full of people. The ease with which the
reception was conducted a marvel to all
who had ever attended " hite House recep-
ton before.
When the receiving party appeared there
were 10000 people waiting outside and not
more than fifty people within the mansion.
The band. standing in the lobby, first an
nounced TO the waiting crowd that the doors
were about to be opened.
THE DOORS OPENED.
When the President, Nrs. Harrison and others
Of the receiving party had taken their places IN
the blue room the doors we're opened and the
knights and ladies permitted to enter
They were admitted slowly enough to prevent
any rush or GROWING within the building, and
after the rooms we're comfortably filed they
were admitted only as fast as others passed out
into the garden. During the whole course OF
the reception there was no time when one
could not walk through the rooms with perfect
ease. The knights had a chance TO press the
dents out Of their hats and adjust their rum
pied dignity and the Edies to shake the
wrinkles from their gowns as they promenaded
through the east room and admired the man
sion And 1t was courtly scene-a revival Of
the ckIvalric age Sir knights holding their
plumed hats in one hand against their left
shoulder walked about with their ladies on
their arms. When a sir knight had two ladies'
which was often the case, his plumed hat was
II the way, but he managed to hold it SO that
.