Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-02
In WASHINGTON.
COW THE FIRST WAS CELEBRATED
AT THE CAPITAL.
yhs white House an Unusually Central
Point Of tnterest--why IL
Was Made So.



,,oint al interest. There have been, Of
confsc. many similar occasions at that his
tnr,e mansion. but those whose memory
and experience add weight to their
Judgment agree that no one OF Its
Predecessors has exceeded In brilliancy
she first official reception giyen oy the nesa
nj the present Administration. Certainly
never before has there been at the White
Uouse receptions such large and distin-
cuished representation from other nations
OF the world. THIS was due to the pres.
ence. in addition 90 the regular diplomatic
and consular officers of other countries, OF
the delegates 20 the international Mail
time Conference. and the delegates TO the
Pan-American Conference. The presence
of these distinguished foreigners was
naturally the leading feature OF the
reception The mansion had been espc-
cally prepared for the occasion. ana
when the reception was at rs heIght
presented q spectacle on UNUSUAL peauty
and splendoT The full Marine Band
in CAV uniforms OF rcd aud blue, was sta
toned in the yestibule, Just INSIDE the
main entrance and with but little inter
missions played lively and inspiring
music from the time the President took ms
stand at the head Of the RECEIVING line IN
the Blue parlor until the last OF
the callers had taken his departure.
period of little over three hours. The in
i<rior decorations while not elaborate,
were very effective. consisting Of O liberal
distribution Of tropical and Towering
plants in oil places where they could be
jispIaved 10 advantage. The general effect
w. also heightened bv the brilliant illu-
mination of all the paTlors. bright gas lights
being reflected from myriads OF iTidescent
CRYSTALS and numerous French platc-glRss
mirrors. tall tndia-rubber plants mingled
with delicate ferns and ivy lined the main
corridor and filed every alcoye IN the East
a. . l,.. IAr "A
bank Of tropical plants tastefully arranged
reaching nearly 60 the coilidR, and many
broad mantes of the East room were oTna-
ynented with choice plants IN glided pots;
The Red and Green parlOrs also contained
81 prOfusion of plants and howers, Dut the
blue parior. where the reception was actu-
ally held, gave indication OF having re-
scived the greatest share of attention from
the decorators. In this room in addition
70 the liberal display Of rare plants, terms,
and smilaL. there was profuslOn OF cut
flowers. including roses, ponseltas, Tulips
camelias, hyacintbs. ezaieas, carnations
japonicas and begOnias, and these were
banked In bright designs upon the mantels,
and served 20 form huge bouquet on the
centre divan. The large doorway at the
blk 81 the room was concealed by num-
her of tall large-leaved plants, which
formed a beautiful BACKGROUND for the re-
cciving party. reception did not begin
n.
members Of the Cabinet, with the ladies' OF
their families, arrived shortly before that
hour. and were shown directly into the
Presidents presence. III the private parlor
upstairs. When everything was IN rendi-
ness the President aud party descended 10
the Blue parlof and took their places IN
the line. The Marine Band signalled their
arrival with the extremely familiar air
Hail to the Chief.n The party entered
the Blue room in the following order: Col
oncl Ernst, United States army. and Lieu
tenant Parker. United States navy; the
President and Mrs. Mckee, the Vice-Pres'c.
dent and Mrs. Morton. the Secretary OF
State and Mrs. $. II. Elklns, the
Secretary Of the Treasury and Mrs;
Window. the Acknowledgement and
Mrs Miller. Postmaster-General and
Mrs Wanamaker, Secretary of Navy and
Mrs Tracy, Secretary of Interior and Mrs.
Noble. Secretary of Agriculture and Mrs.
Rusk, and Secretary of War and Mrs;
Logan. Colonel Ernst. of the army. and
Lieutenant Parker, of the navy, acted rs
masters of ceremonies, the former making
the presentations to the President except
IN case Of special presentatlons) ana the
latter repeating introductions TO MRS.
Mckee, who occupied the place next TO
the President. Other ladies assisting were
ranged next in order az follows Mrs. Nor
ton, Mrs. Window, Mrs. Miller Mrs. Wanna
maker. Mrs. Tracy, Mrs. Noble, and Mrs.
Risk. The toilets OF the ladies were
singularly rich and becoming, and were
greatly admired on all sides. Mrs. Mckee
wore beautiful dress OF white ermene
silk with square neck and full elbow sleeves
made "a Lamartha Washington, the front
being embroidered in white n,0us@letne. de
sOie, her ornaments were diamonds, her
manner was gracious and CORDIAL ana
added TO her delicate beauty created q
decidedly favorable impression. She car
RED large bouquet, of Catherine
Mermot roses, and followed the ex-
ample of her mother in acknow-
lodging general introductions bv bow
instead OF by shaking hands. The
President. however, adhered to the prece.
dent and shook hands with each one OF
the thousands who called. Back OF the re-
ceiving line were large number of spe-
cially-invted friends, including nearly all
the dtbuidni,s of the season. Among them
were the follOwing-named ladies; Mrs.
Harlan, Mrs Logan Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Cor
iman, Mrs. Mcmillan. Mrs. Hiscock, Mrs.
platt. Mrs Pugh, Mrs. Quay, Mrs. Cockreil,
Mrs. Reed. Mrs: Carlisle, Mrs. Burrows
Mrs. Springer, Mrs. Lodge, Mrs. Butter
worth, the Misses Blaine and guests, Miss
Wanamaker, the Misses Halstead, the
Misses Window. the Misses Ernst. Mrs.
Clover, Miss Miller, Mrs. II. NJ. g. Brown,
Mrs. William H. Harris. Miss Maud Gouve-
nur, Miss Anna Wilson, Mrs. 5. Il. Elkins,
Mrs. Charles Emory Smith, of Philadei-
phia; Miss shepard. of New York; Miss
Wremerding Miss Tracy, Mrs. and Miss
Ransdell, Mrs. Carey, Miss Proctor
and Mrs, Emmons Blaine. The mem
bers OF the diplomatic corps were first
received. They were presented by Secre-
tary Blaine, assisted by other officials OF
the State Department. All were IN fun
court costume and added a brilliant color
an. a., fhn with thpiF lpyplIe1 1rtRfS
and profusion of gold lace. The most
striking costumes were those worn 10y the
yepIo. ontatives OF Russia, Great Britain,
France, China, and Corca. All the iega-
tons were epresentcd-Engllsh and Chi
Nose being the largest in point of numbers.
Most Of the diplomats were accompanied
by ladies. The absence of Hadja Hassln
khool Khan Mahomet Elvesari, the only
Persian Minister ever accredited to this
county was frequently remarked, and none
seemed able 10 answer the inquiry which
followed as tc whether he will ever return
10 Washington. The column was headed
by Baron FaNa. the Italian Minister, who
is dean Of the corps by virtue of his length
of service nj this capital With the diplo-
lnatlc corps were the delegates 20 the
Maritime and Pan-American conferences.
ia many instances the resident ministers
are delegates 10 these conferences but
only 10 u limited extent as u large majority
% ikt NNA'H0ttH Ntt ANb itpNAtu
bers OF the legations at this capital.
The President showed special pleasure IN
the reception Of delegates. congratulating
those of the Maritime Conference upon the
successful issue of their deliberations. The
only other diplomatic visitors were the
members OF the Venezuelan Claims Com
mission. The Judiciary was next received,
including Chief-Justiee Fuller and his as
hociates Of the Supreme Court Chief-Jus-
tice Richardson and his associates OF the
Court of Claims, and Chief-Justice Bing-
ham and his associates OF the supreme
Court Of the District. Nearly all were ac-
eompanied by the ladies Of their families:
The congressional contingent followed, and
consisted of nearly all the Senators and
Representatives now in the city, be-
ine. however. only small por-
tion OF the total number in Congress.
Among those present were Senators
scuiiom. Coekrel, and Aliens. Speaker
Reed, Burrows, and Cuicheon, and with
them were the Commissioner aud other
officials of the District Of Columbia aud
ex.Minister Foster. The reception of the