The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1890-01-02
A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.
THE NEW YEAR RECEPTION
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
II is Said to Have not Been sur.
passed by any Of its I.resieces-
sOrs-shakinx Hands with Six
Thousand People.

.
passed by any Of its Preslece,
sOrs-shaking Hands with u
Thousand People.
: WASHINGTON, ID. c., January l.-Nc,
Year began with cold disagreea BILE raj
which, continuing throughout the da,
naturally had depressing effect upo
those who had prepared program {
visits. The White House was as usua
the central point of ofintercst. There hav
been OF course, many similar occasions a
that historic mansion, but those who's
memory and experience add weight t
their judgment, agree that no one of it
predecessors has exceeded in brillianc
the first official reception given by tn
head of the present administration; Ger
tainly never before has there been at tn
White House reception, and such larg
and distinguished representation iron
other nations of the world. This wa
due to the presence, in addition to tn
regular diplomatic and consular officer
OF other countries, of the delegates to TIN
International maritime conference, ant
delegates to the pan-Amcrican confer
ence. The presence of these distinguished
foreigners was naturally the lcadn,
feature of the reception.
The mansion had been specially pre-
pared for the occasion, and when the re
ception was at its height, presented &
spectacle of unusual beauty and splendor
The full Marine band, in gay uniforms o
| red and blue, was stationed in the vesti
bulc just inside the main entrance, anC
with but few intcrmissons, played lively
| and inspiring music from the time the
President took his stand at the head o
the receiving line in the blue parlor, unit
the last of the callers had taken his de
parture, a period Of little over three
hours. The interior decorations. while
not elaborate. were very effective. con.
sisting of a liberal distribution ottropical
and Towering plants where they could be
displayed to advantage.
The general effect was also frightened
bv the brilliant illumination of all the
parlors; bright gas light being reflected
from myriads of iridcscent crystals and
numerous French plate glass mirrors.
Tall India rubber plants mingled with
delicate ferns and ivy lined the main
corridor and fitted every alcove. In the
east room opposite the corridor was a
huge bank of tropical plants tastefully
arranged, reaching nearly to the ceiling.
and many broad mantcls of the east
room were ornamentcd with choice
plants in gilded pots. The red and green
parlors also contained profusion OF
plants and flowers; but the blue parlor
where the reception was actually held
gave indication of having received the
greatest share of attention from the
decorators. In this room, in addition to
a liberal display of rose plants, ferns and
smilax, there was n proiusion of cut
flowers, including roses, poinscttas,
tulips, camclias, hyacinths, azalcas. car
natious, japonicas and bcgonias. These
were banked in bright designs upon tn,
mantcls and served to form a huge bou-
quct on the central divan.
The large doorway a'''h" back ot the
room was connected by number of tall
large leaved plants which formed beau
tiful background for the receiving party.
The reception proper did not begin un-
til eleven o'clock; but the vice-prcsidcnt
and members of the cabinet, with the la.
dies of their families arrived shortly before
that hour, and were shown directly into
the Presidents presence in the private
parlor up stairs. When everything was
in readiness the President and party de-
scended to the blue parlor, and took their
places in line.
The Marine band signalcd their arrival
with the extremely familiar air, Hail to
the chief" The party entered the blue
room in the following order:
Col Ernest, United States Army, and
Lieut.. Parker, United States Navy; the
President and Mrs. Mckee, Vice president
and Mrs. Morton, the Secretary OF State
and Mrs.-S. B. Elkihs. the Secretary OF
Treasury and Mrs. Window, Attorney
General and Mrs. Miller, Postmaster
General and Mrs. Wanamakcr. 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.
Col. Ernest Of the Army. and Lieut..
Parker OF the Navy, acted ms masters oi
ceremonies; the former making the pre-
scntation to the President lcxcept in the
case OF special prcscntations), and the
latter repeating the introductions to
Mrs. Mckee, who occupied place near
to the President. The other ladies' assist
ing were ranged next in order as follows:
Mrs. Morton, Mrs. Window. Mrs. Mil
Ter, Mrs. Wanamaker, Mrs. Tracy. Mrs.
Noble, and Mrs. Rusk.
The toilcttcs of the ladies were sing,i.
larly rich and becoming, and were greatly
on all sides Mrs. Mckee wore
n beautiful dress of white arcne silk with
square neck and full elbow sleeves made
ala. Martha Washington, the front being
in white "Alousccline dc
sole. Her ornaments were diamonds.
/ lar "a urnasn,tS nI sArltnl
and added to her delicate beauty created q
n large bouquet OF Catherine Mcrmct
roses, and followed the example of her
mother in acknowledging the general in.
by bow instead OF by shak.
ing hands. The President. however,
adhered to precedent and shook hands
with each one of the thousands who
called. Back of the receiving line were a
large number especial invited friends, in.
rluding nearly all dcbutants ofthe season.
Among them were the following named
ladies': Mrs. Harlan, Mrs Logan, Mrs.
Hale. Mrs. German, Mrs. Mcmillan, Mrs.
Hiscock. Mrs. plntt, Mrs. Pugh, Mrs.
Quay, Mrs. Cockrcll, Mrs. Reed, Mrs.
Carlisle, Mrs. Brewers, Mrs. Springer,
Mrs. Lodge. Mrs. Buttcrworth, the
Misses Blaine and guests, Miss Wannma-
kcr, the Misses Halstcad, the Misses
Ernest, Mrs. Glover, Miss Miller, Miss
Rusk. Mrs. Drum. Mrs. Ernest, Mrs. ].
V. L. Findlay. Mrs. X. NJ. G. Brown.
Mrs. Vim. T. Harris, Miss Maud Gouver.
ncur, Miss Anna Wilson, Mrs. 5. Is. FL.
kins, Mrs. Chase Mary Smith Of Philn.
iclphia, Miss Sheppard OF New York.
Miss Moracc Davis, Miss Halford and
guest, Mrs. Wilmcrdng, Miss Tracy, Mrs.
and Miss Randsull Mrs. Carey, Miss
Proctor, Mrs. Emons Blaine.
The members of the Diplomatic Corps
we're frat received They WEIR prcsented