The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-01-15
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1891.


Ring out the old year, ring in the new.
1t has been done. The metropoli
tan chimes broke the midnight silence
in lively manner, blending strangel,
with the fog whistles, fire bells, pisto
reports and footing of tin horns, upor
which no injunction had been laid
verify, "There was sound OF revelry
Dy night" but exuberance died away
as the day dawn revealed only leaden
skies, with never beam Of sunshine
Soon the rain came pattering down
and the streets were mass OF slusll
most uninviting to pedestrians. The
time honored custom of making calls
was largely observed, Notwithstanding
the unpropitious weather. OF course
the center of attraction, especially for
visitors, was the White house. The
mansion was in full holiday attire,
and the different rooms were resplend-
ent with flashing lights and gorgeous
flowers. The east room was hand
somely dressed with potted palms, and
the glossy leaved rubber plant, with
here and there flaming poinsetta to
give warmth OF color. In the green
and red parlors preference was given
to the bright little primrose and deli
cate orchid, whose fragile blossoms
gave silent welcome to every guest.
At Mrs. Harrison's request the blue
room WAS almost without decoration,
being so beautiful i'll its artistic finish
as to need no other adjoining. The
mirrors were simply draped with ropes
of smilax, scarlet poinsetta flashed out
its gay color from the blue plush man
tel, and bouquet of many hued flow
ers in pyramidal form graced the CEN
Ter piece in the divan. A bright
wood fire glowed on the hearth
of the red parlor, giving it such an air
of conf TT and Old fashioned home
likeness, as would make stranger,
especially, feel himself back under the
old roof.
At IL o'clock the marine band
sounded the notes OF "Hail to the
Chief" as the president appeared
on the west stairway accompanied by
Mrs. Harrison. Immediately behind
we're the vice president and Mrs. Nor
ton, Secretary Blaine and Mrs, Russell
Harrison, Secretary and Mrs. Win
dom, Secretary and Mrs. Proctor, the
postmaster general and Mrs. Dimmick,
Secretary Tracy and Mrs. Mckee,
Secletary and Mrs. Noble, Secretary
and Mrs. Rusk, Mr.. E. J. Halford ami
Mrs. Geo. w. Boyd and Mr.. Boyd.
This formed the receiving party and
as they passed intd the blue room the
scene was brilliant in the extreme.
The diplomatic corps in full court
dress, headed by Baron Fara, who is
dean of corps, were the first to be
received, and as our relations with
foreign countries are being constantly
enlarged each year increases the num-
Der of representatives. For fifteen
minutes Spanish and French were the
prevailing tongue, then America was
again represented in her judicial
branches OF government by the United
States supreme court, the district
court and court of claims; next came
senators and members, officers of the
army and navy, regents OF the Smith
sonian, civil service commissioners,
and on, and on, until it came the gen
eral public's turn. The said general
public turned in at a lively rate and it
was estimated that in the brief hour
and half allotted the president
grasped the hand of 1850 persons at
the rate OF as per minute, Now, to do
that thing cordially, gracefully, and
speedily, requires considerable tack
and power OF endurance as we'll, but
the pr sident was equal to the oc-
casion.
cannot bow out from the White
House without giving (for the benefit
of The STATEsMAN's fair lady readers)
a hint OF some of the beautiful toilettes.
Mrs. Harrison wore pale blue bro
cade, threaded with lines Of gold. The
front was of satin, draped with
jeweled net of exquisite pattern, the
deep border being in leaves and
flowers of the different jewels,
amethysts, diamonds, rubies, pearls,
garnets and emeralds. Where the
train fell away from the petticoat,
punches of pale blue ostrich tips were
caught with sprays of gilt wheat. The
bodice was in V shape at the back,
square in front, with high medici col
lar edged with jeweled lace. Pale