The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-02
HARRISON'S OPEN HOUSE.
TIE RECEPTION ONE OF THE MOST
BRILLIANT IN YEARS.

An Unusually Large Number of Dis
tin9uished Foreigners Among the
Callers, Owing to the Pan-American
and International Marine Confer
euces-The Mansion Beautifully Dec
Grated.
WASHINGTON, Jan. The new year be-
van with cold, disagreeable rain, which
continued throughout the day and naturally
had depressing effect upon those who had
prepared a programme of visits. The
white house was as usual the central point
Of interest. There have been, of course,
many similar occasions at the historic man
sion, but those whose memory aud expert
snce add weight to their Judgment agreed
that no one of its predecessors has exceeded
in brilliancy the first official reception
g;ven by the head of the present
administration. Certainly never before
aad there been at white house
reception such large and distinguished
representation from other nations of the
world. This was due to the presence, in ad-
dition TO the regular diplomatic and consular
officers of other countries, of the delegates
and the delegates to the Pan-American
Conference. The presence of these dis
tinguished foreigners was naturally lead
ing feature of the reception. The mansion
had been especially prepared for the
occasion, and when the reception was at its
hight it presented a spectacle of unusual
beauty and splendor The full Marine
band in gay uniforms of red and
blue was stationed in the vesti-
bule just inside the main
entrance, and with but few intermissions
played lively and inspiring music from the
lime the President took his stand at the
head of the receiving line in the blue parlor
until the last Of the callers had taken his
departure-a period OF little over three
hours.
THE DECORATIONS.
The interior decorations, while not elabo-
rate, were very effective consisting of a
liberal distribution of tropical and flower
ing plants in all places where they could be
displayed to advantage. The ge eral effect
was also heightened by brilliant illumi-
nation of all the parlors, bright
gaslight being reflected from myriads of
iridescent crystals and numerous French
plate glass mirrors. Tall india-rubber
plants mingled with delicate ferns, and ivy
lined the main corridor and flied every
alcove. In the east room, op-
posite the corridor, was a huge bank
of tropical plants tastefully arranged,
reaching nearly to the ceiling, and the
broad mantelS of the east room were orna-
mented with choice plants in gilded pots
Ihs red and green parlors also contained a
profusion of plants and flowers, but the
blue parlor, where the reception was actu-
ally held, gave indication of having
received the greatest share of attention
from the decorators. In this room, in ad-
dition to liberal display of rare plants,
ferns, and smilax, there was a profusion Of
cut flowers, including roses, poinseltas,
tulips, camellias, hyacinths, azaleas, carna-
tons, japoncas, and begonias. These
were banked in bright designs
upon the mantels, and served TO form a
huge bouquet on the central divan. The
large door way at the back of the room was
concealed by number of tall. large-leaved
plants, which formed a beautiful back
ground for the receiving party.
BEGINNING OF THE RECEPTION.
The reception did not begin until II
O'clock, but the Vice President and mem
bers of the cabinet, with the ladies of their
families, arrived shortly before that hour,
and were shown directly into the Presi-
dents presence, in the private parlor, up
stairs. When everything was in readiness
the President and his party descended to
the blue parlor and took their
places in line. The Marine band
sigualed their arrival with the extremely
familiar air, "Hail to the Chie.n The
party entered the blue room in the follow
ing order: Col. Ernest, U. S. A.. and Lieut..
Parker, u S. N, the President and Mrs.
Mckee, the Vice President and
Mrs Morton, the Secretary of State
and Mrs. S. B. Elkins, Secre-
tary of the Treasury and Mrs. Win
dom, Attorney General and Mrs. Miller,
POSTMASTER General and Mrs. Wanamaker,
Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. Tracy,
Secretary of the Interior and Mrs. Noble,
Secretary Of Agriculture and Mrs Rusk,
and Secretary of War and Mrs. Logan.
THE MASTERS OF CEREMONIES.
Col. Ernest of the army and Lieut..
Parker of the navy acted as masters OF
ceremonies, the former making the pres
entations to the President except in the case
Of special presentations, aud the latter re-
peating the inrroductions to Mrs. Mckee,
who occupied the place next to
the President The other ladies assist
ing were ranged next in order as
follows: Mrs. Morton, Mrs. Window,
drs. Miller, Mrs. Wauanaker. Mrs.
Tracy, Mrs Noble, and Mrs. Rusk. The
toilettes of the ladies were singular y rich
and becoming, and were greatly admired
on all sides. Mrs. Mckee wore a beautiful
dress Of white armene silk, with square
neck and full elbow sleeves made
la Martha Washington, the front
being embroidered in white ar
mousseleine de sole. Her ornaments
were diamonds. Her manner was gracious
aud cordial, and added to her delicate
beauty created decidedly favorable i'm
preston. She carried large bouquet OF
Catherine Mermot roses, and followed the
example of her mother in acknowledging
general introductions by bow instead OF
by shaking hands. The President, how
ever, adhered TO precedent, and shook hand;
With each one of the thousands who called
SPECIALLY INVITED FRIENDS
Back Of the receiving line were a large
number of specially invited friends, includ
ing nearly all the debutantes of the season:
Among them we're the following named
ladies: Mrs. Harlan, Mrs. Logan, Mrs
hale, Mrs. German, Mrs. Mcmillan, Mrs
Hiscock, Mrs. Platt, Mrs. Pugh, Mr.. Quay
Mrs Cockrell, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs
Burrows, Mrs. Springer, Mrs. Loige, Mrs
butterworth, the Misses Blaine and guests
Miss Wanamaker, the Misses Halstead
tne Misses Window, the Misses
Ernst, Mrs. Clover, Miss Miller, Miss Rush
MRS Drum, Mrs. Ernst, Mrs. j. V. Ia Find
LAY, Mrs. r. NJ. G.. Brown, Mrs. William
1. Harris, Miss Maud Gouveneur, Mis-
anna Wilson, Mrs. s. B. Eikins. Mrs
Charles Emory Smith of Philadelphia, Mis-
shepard of New York, Miss Grace Davis
StiSs halford and guest, Mrs. Wimerd'ng
d., Ill Mra