Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-22
SOCIAL MATTERS.
The State Elmer at the White House
Last Night-Personal Mention.

i
Last Night-Personal Mention.
The White House was brilliantly illuminated
last night for the state dinner given by Presi
| dent and Mrs. Harrison to the diplomatic corps
| The mantels and mirror rests Of the state draw
\ ing rooms were banked with a profusion of Gu
| flowers and tall palms blooming azalea tree,
and poinsetta bushes filed the corners ant
window recesses; the mantels of the red par
Tor with growing blooming white hyacinths il
/ gilded baskets. The quantity of narcis
sus blossoms used in the blue room
decorations filed that end Of the
| house with heavy perfume The usual Ia
accommodate the large party that the assem-
| bled members of the diplomatic corps make,
| by the placing Of transverse boards at each END
| of it, giving it the form Of a letter l. Upon the
main board at each end were floral hemisphere
| representing IN geographical outlines the
northern and southern half of the globe. The
water was represented by the glossy green
leaves OF the cypress and the continents
| were done in carnations. In the center
OF the table was an oblong cushion composed
OF orchids and mlgnonettes. At each corner OF
| the table were fiat squares of roses set in smi-
lax. The silver and gold candelabra were
| hlled with white tapers that burned under
white and pale yellow shades in the form OF
water lilies. For each man there was a single
orchid by his name card, and the ladies had
bouquets of delicate pink orchids tied with
| white ribbon. The wonderful blossoms were
OF the rarest and each bunch was obtained at a
cost of $40. There were also round plates of
strawberries on the table and the usual confec-
tions. The table was laid with forty-eight
covers.
The President and Mrs. Harrison received
| their guests in the east room, though quite a
number Of them had arrived before they came
down stairs. Mrs. Harrison wore a most be-
| coming dinner dress Of rich white faille made
Ivrith full loiv
draped with white moussefine de sole, and the
body, which was cut round at the neck. was
richly trimmed with pearl embroidery and
bangles At o'clock the Marine band, led by
Prof. Sousa, struck up the first bars of the
| Presidential Polonaise" and the President led
the procession with the wife of the Mexican
minister upon his arm. They were followed by
the French minister, M. Roustan, and
Madame Guzman. There were but ten ladies
at table. The number that sat down was forty
six, as at the last moments Senior Salvador de
Mendonca, the envoy extraordinary from Brazil
on special mission, came in dressed in full diplo-
matte attire and announced to the President
and Mrs. Harrison that Nine. de Mendonca had
been taken violentlyill while being attired. He
then withdrew and returned to his home Mrs
Romero, wife of the Mexican minister, who
took precedence in the absence OF the Italian
minister and the Baroness Fava, who sent re-
grets, being in court mourning for the death Of
the duke OF Aosta, sat at the Presidents right
was exquPitely attired in princesse robe of rose
heliotrope brocade and satin. The gown fitted
her figure with a clinging devotion that made
it seem inspired with living grace. Madame
GuZman was In white silk embroidered in gold
Lady Pauncefote, who went out with Mavro-
yeni Bey, the Turkish minister, wore
superb gown of sumptuous crimson en-
bossed velvet with a court train. The
body was cut out in an obtuse angle at the
neck. The Countess Sponneck, who went to
dinner on the arm of the Spanish minister, M.
Muruaga, was in black silk draped with black
Chantilly lace, made demi-train and with a
slight opening at the throat She wore a white
ostrich feather in her hair. Mr.. r. X. HIT who
is the chairman of the committee ON foreign
affairs. took out Mrs. Allen of Indianapolis
who wore a handsome dress of lilac satin cut
a la princesse. Madame de Varas was taken out
by MIR. de Strive, the Russian minister: the Ha-
waiian minister, Mr.. Carter, walked with Nine.
de Hurtado of the French legation; the assistant
secretary of state, Mr.. VIM. F. Wharton, who
escorted Madame Zegarra to the table, sat at
the left of Mrs. Harrison. The Netherlands
minister, Mr.. de Weckherlin, was assigned
Nine. de Bolet PeraZa of Venezuela. The other
guests were the British minister. Sir Julian
Pauncefote; the CHILEAN minister, Senior Varas;
the Peruvian minister, Senior Zegarra; the
minister Of Belgium, Mr.. lie Chant; the
German minister, Count dArco Valley; the
minister of Nicaragua, DIR. Guzman; the Aus
triaa minister, Chevalier de Tavera; the min
lister OF Colombia, Senior Hurtada; the Swiss
minister, Mr.. de Claperede; the minister for
Sweden and Norway, Mr.. j. A. W. Grip; the
minister of Ecuador, Senior Caamano OF New
York city; the Bolivian minister, Senior Velarde;
the Danish minister, Count Sponneck; the
charge d'affairs of Costa RIGA, Senior Volio;
the Venezuelan minister, Senior Bolet Peraza
the Chinese minister, the minister Of Guata-
mala, Senior Cruz; the envoy on special mis-
sion from the Argentine Republic, Senior Quin-
tana; the Portuguese minister. Baron d'Almei-
ri m Ne pitv tba hare 1fafr Of tbo
Argentine Republic, Mr.. du Bosch; the charge
daffars of Japan, Mr.. Sato; the charge DAT
fairs of Corea, the new Haytian minister. Mr.
Hannibal Price; the Brazilian minister, Mr.
Nalente, and the minister from Honduras, Mr.
Zeiaya. The dinner was served by corn of
excellent walters, and the wines, five in num-
Der, were Chateau Yquerm 1868; old Amontill-
ado. 1910; Schloss Joannisberger, Prince Met
ternich; Chateau Margaux, 1865; G. H. Mumm's
extra dry, and liquors.
One of the handsomest and most ENJOYABLE
of the afternoon events was the tea given by
Mrs. W. X. Riley in her beautiful home at No
Iowa circle from to YESTERDAY. The rooms
were lighted from mural groups Of candles and
were fragrant with the perfume of the spring
blossoms with which they were graced. band
of musicians was placed in the back hail.
screened by wall Of palms, from
whence they, sent forth enlivening
melodies all the afternoon. The
tea table was laid in the pretty dining room
and was attractively decorated in white and
yellow. The central floral piece was composed
of yellow tulips and white hyacinths. Two
Dresden candelabra were furnished with
tapers shaded with white and pale yellow. and
from the table was served all the dainties
known to French confectionery. The con-
servatory was lighted with colored lights and
afforded pleasant retreat for friends inclined
to quiet conversation. Mrs Riley received her
guests inside the door of the first drawing room,
dressed i'll a trained gown of black silk draped
with black net. Miss Riley stood at her side In a
ball dress OF pink crepe made with a
low bodice. Other ladies assisting were
Mrs, c. r. Coleman, in a dress of
net; Mrs. Everett r. Todd, trained gown of
faille franchise trimmed with duchesse lace and
pearl ornaments; Miss Fauntleroy of Baltimore,
m mousseline de sole, embroidered bouquet of
La France roses; Miss Patten, the stepdaugh-
ter of Chief Justice Bingham, in black tulle
embroidered in gold; Miss Johns, pink silk and
white lace; Miss Elliott, dancing toilet of blue
tulle; Miss Rose Mcdonald; Miss Ellen Riley,
heliotrope wool and green ribbons; Mrs. F. II.
Crump Of Virginia (who poured teal, an ele-
CANT toilet of white silk, and Miss Getty (who
presided over the chooolate), fascinating con-
lection OF mousseline de sole over
pulled sleeves, a great bunch OF Duchesse
OF Albany roses. The ladies were ably as
sisted by Mr.. w. ID. Riley, Mr.. Robinson Riley
and Mr.. A. T. King, who wore boutonnieres of
Carnations in their coats. Among those present
| were Judge and Mrs. John Blair Hoge Col, and
Mrs. Marshall Mcdonald, Mr.. and Mrs. C. E.
Foster, Senator and Mrs. j. c. s. Blackburn
the Misses Blackburn, Mrs. b. H. Warner, MT,
Geo. ". B. White, Miss White, Mr.. and Mrs LIE