The Helena independent., 1890-01-02
WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION
The President and Some Of the
Cabinet Ladies Greet Many
Visitors Yesterday.
Mrs. Harrison Represented by
Mrs. Mckee, and Mrs. Blaine
Is Also Absent.
brilliant Display Of the Army. Navy an,
Diplomatic Corps - The Elegant
Tuilcis Of the Ladies'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The new year began
with cold, disagreeable rain, winch con-
timed throughout the day. The whit,
house, MS usual, was the central point of in
tercst. No one of its predecessors exceeded
IN brilliancy the first official reception given
10y the head Of the present administration.
Certainly never before has there been az n
white house reception such u large and dis.
tinguishcd representation from other na
tions. This was due. principally, in addi-
tion 10 the regular diplomatic and consular
officers, TO the delegates TO the International
maritime and Pan American conferences.
The interior decorations, while not
elaborate, were very effective, consist.
ing of liberal distribution OF trop-
ical and Towering plants and cut
hdwers. The re option WAS held in the
blue pArlur from II tall 2 p. IN. Tue receiy-
,ng patty entered in the following order;
ihe President aud Mrs. Mckee. Wee. fFesi-
dent and Mrs. Morton, the scclct'ry of state
md Mrs. 5. II. EkIns, Secretary of the
treasury and Mrs. Window. Attorney Cen
raj and Mrs. Miller, Postmaster General
and Mis-. Wanamaker, Secretary Tracy and
AIRS. Noble, Secretary of Agriculture and
Mrs. Rusk. the secretary of sarand Mrs. l., -
gan. Mrs. Mckee occupied the place neai
the president and the other ladies assisting
were ranged next in order ns follows. Mrs.
Morton, Mrs. Window, Mrs. Miller, Mrs.
Wnnamaker, Mrs. Tracy, Mrs. Noble anu
Mrs. ltusk. The toilets of the ladies were
singularly rich aud becoming. The presen-
tations were in the following order: Diplo
matte corps. judiciary, members Of con
gress. officers of the army and navy. promi-
uent public officials, Grand Army men and
tie general public. AT the conclusion oi
tie reception al the white house, Vice Pres
Ident and Mrs. Morton held n reception at
their new house. Secretary Blaine received
the members of the diplomatic corps at his
residence. Secretary and Mrs. Tracy also
received the oiiicers Of the navy, and Seofo-
tary Proctor tue officers Of the army.
The reception Of the officers of the army
and navy and the marine corps WIS prob
ly the showicst feature of the day, they
Jam in full dress uniform and resplendent
with brass buttons, bright ,p' ulettes, gaudy
sashes, gold lace, etc. Mai n. Schofeld
heHded the army, and Rear Admiral JoGctt
the navy. Admiral Porter did not attend
on account q nc bad weather.
AZ H. O'Clock the reception became more
general IN its character. Indeed, the callers
became ~ numerous and followed
each other So closely that the presi-
dent was comIellel to restrict his welcome
toa single snnAe of tbe hand and n simple
GLAD 10 see YOU" Those received IN tnis
manner included the officers of the Smith.
snnian institution the civil service commits
sioners. The interstate commerce commits
sioners. assistant secretaries ami chief
piicers Of the various dep ,rtments, and the
- Guilty of the Columbian institute for the
deaf and dumb.
The next section of callers was headed by
a few sutvivOts Of the war of 1876 closely
followed by large representation of Grand
Army men and n smaller body of grny-
haired venerable looking men, known M the
oldest inhabitants Of the District of Colum.
bia. The reception of the public generally
was next in order, and the gates 20 th,
grounds. which had been closed up TO thin
time except to = privileged few, we're thrown
open and the crowd thrunged rapidly
INTO the mansion. The reception lasted
until ? O'Clock. and il is estimated that dur.
ing that time the president shook hand
with nearly 5000 people. When II was ovel
the president invited the ladies' whC
assisted him and u number of others to Join
him in luncheon. which had been prepared
expressly fOf them in the hallway up stairs
Mrs. Harrison's absence WIS due 30 the
recent death of her sister and II was at hel
request that her daughter, Mrs. Mckee
assumed the responsibility of hostess on
this occasion. Mrs. Blaine was unable "a
ussIst by reason Of the death Of her sister
Mrs. Proctor is in bad health, and was also
unable be present.
The following are the names Of the
ladies' at the White house RECEIPT 3: Mrs
Logan, Mrs. Hale. Mrs. Gorman. Nj n. Me-
MILAN. Mrs. Hi.cock, Mrs. Platt. Mrs.
Pub, Mrs. Quay, Mrs. Cockrell, Mrs. Reed,
Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs. Burrows, Mrs. Springer
Mrs. Lodge, Mrs. Butterwurth. the Msscs
Blaine and guests, the Misses ialstoad. tlf
Misses Window, the Misses Ernst. Mrs
Glover Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Rusk, Mrs. Drum
Mrs. Ernst, Mrs. j. /. Findlay, Mrs. X. NJ
g. Brown. Mrs. Wm. I. Harris, Miss Maudt
g luvemuer. Miss ANN Wilson, Mrs. Chas
Il nory Smith, Miss Shepard, MISS Grnc,
Davis, Miss Halford and guests Mrs. vii.
merding, Miss Tracy, Mrs. and Miss Han
d II. Mrs. Carey. Miss Proctor, Mrs. Em.
mons Blaine.
The toilets of the Indies were singularly
rich and becoming. and were greatly nd
mired on all sides. Mrs. Mckee wore u
beautiful dress of armure silk. with squar,
neck aud full elbow sleeves. her ornaments
were diamonds.
Mrs. Morton, who stood second in line
wore trained dress OF pearl gray satin, q
cJuit train of satin lined with PINK fctille
body V sh u d, back heart shaped. the
front edged with pink silk, ganze aud black
iel and steel passementerie; elbow sleeves
oi satin. edged with pink and trimmed with
j't and st,el crescents. She wore heI
conulo high.
Mrs. Window wore superb dress OF
vi llet back and train front bodice and skirt
ot wlstara nrd pearl brOcade; the square
opening WIS edged with point lace and
iabOt Of the same extended 10 the edge Oi
The body; the sleeves were pulled with vel
vet. and the lower part Of the brOcade edged
with lace; high collar Of velvet.
Mrs. Miller wore splendid dress of royal
purple velvet and lavender brucadc. The
IRAN WINS If plain faillc, bodice open in
squares, filed with crepe.
Mrs Wanamaker's dress vas composed
Of mouse colored silk and velvet, princes
bnck. and the train was of velvet pointed.
The front WAS filled with white net.
Mrs. Tracy wore trained dress Of hello
trope and white moire striped brocnde. the
front of silver brocade, trimmed with point
ace, that also fitted the open bodice.
Mrs Noble. ruby red velvet with court
train Of velvet. The hnlf high body war
dyed with fall ot white lace, fastened
with ruby pins, short sleeves, long gloyet
nd diamond pend nat on black ribbon.
Mrs. Rusk worea sweeping gown of green
mille with panels of brocRde, square
,pen in the bodice, in which she wort
diamond pendant.
Dry Administration.