Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-02


Mrs. Folsom, Mrs. Chief Justice Fuller, Mrs.
Speaker Carlisle, Ms Villas Hugh McCul-
loch and Mrs McCuioch. Miss voorhees,.
| Mrs. Randall, Mrs. springer, Mrs r. W.
Townshend, Miss Letter, Mrs Coverneur
Morris, of New York, and Mrs. franklin
MacVeagh. and an exceptionally long list of
other la;lies aud gentleman
1t reQuiItd but a moments time for the
arrangement OF positions to be made, and
then the reception began, the diplomatic
corps, with their ladies, entering first MANY
of the foreign representatives were in mill
tary uniform and radiant with insignia of
various orders. They presented a spectacle
of great attractiveness and splendor The
diplomats filed into the Blue room in the
order of their appointment, and in turn pre-
sented the attaches of their legations Mr..
Preston, the Haytian minister, the dean of
the corps, was unavoitlably absent from the
city, so Baron De Fava, the Italian minister.
presented the members of the corps to tho
president and Mrs. Cleveland The corps
with their ladies passed through the Blue
| room and into the large East room, convert
| ing that apartment into a scene OF animated
splendor, where every thing in the wav of
brilliant costuming,> gay decorations, gold
lace, and rich trimmings mingled il dazzling
array.
Then followed the reception of the supreme
court justices, senators, and representatives
After these came the army and navy officers
in full dress uniforms. All grades were rep-
resented, from the two stars ami four stars
OF the major general and admiral in the
army and navy, down to the single bar and
silver anchor of the army lieutenant and
naval ensign. Following these came the
officials OF the government, and then the
associated veterans of the war of 1916. the
Grand Army of the Republic, and the men,
bers of the Oldest Inhabitants Association of
tie District of Columbia.
All of the callers were presented to the
president by name by Col. John NJ. Wilson
and Liout Duval, of the army. They passed
through the Red paflor, at the door of which
these two officers stood. The receiving line
extended across the Blue parlor to the door
leading into the great East room, whence
the visitors departed through win
dow which had been transformed into
a temporary exit, under canvas
awning and out of the east gate of the
White House grounds All pedestrians were
admitted to the grounds through the west
gate and carriages through the east gate
The scene in front of the grounds was ami
mated. heavy guard had been placed at
gan to assemble at an early hour, waiting
for the public reception. The police ar
ranged the expectant visitor in double
line past the White House grounds and
down the avenue. The public reception was
announced for 1873, but it was nearly
o'clock when the gates were thrown open to
admit the visitors in small squads and de-
tachments From that time until the close
Of the reception the crowd poured cease
lessly through the parlors. At . o'clock, the
hour fixed for the conclusion of the recep-
ton, the crowd was still great and the presi-
dent said that he would remain and receive
all who came
Toward the close Of the reception the
crowd, which had been unusually orderly,
manifested disposition to trespass upon
the Blue pdrlor through the doorway that
led from the main hall, and il became neces-
sary at first to place four policemen at the
door and finally to close it. When the last
guest had greeted the president and Mrs
Cleveland, the police squad joined hands and
quietly cleared the hallway and the east
room while the band played alone Sweet
Home" few of Mrs Cieveland's friends
remained and joined her in her private par
lor. The reception was not as large as the
reception of last year. A notable absentee
was Senator Ingalls,.
The reception was brilliant and men,
orabls scene OF those who thronged the
parlors perhaps the greater number
were bidding adieu to the execu-
tive mansion and to the busy political
world for four years at least. In the ex
pressions of their face it was evident the same
thought was lingering in the miuks Of all
the thought that this was the last Demo-
cratic New Years Day at the White House
for time. Many whispered comment
passed from Democrat to Republican and