The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-02
IN THE GOOD OLD WAY
The First Citizen Greeted Thousands
of New Years Callers.


Of New Years Callsrs.
WASHINGTON, January 1.-The historic
White House, which has been the scene of
so many brilliant spectacles, never looked
prettier than 1t did today. Special pains
were taken with the decorations. and every
thing was done to make the Mansion as at
tractive as possible. The government con-
servatores and hot houses were taxed to
their utmost capacity for flowers and plants
and the supply being inadequate to meet
the Presidents desire recourse was had to
private dealers. In fact, 1t was found nee
essary TO go to New York and Philadelphia
for some of the flowers used in the devices.
These were all of a patriotic character, be-
ing fac-simies of the flag of the Union a.d
were pre- emineDtly displayed in different
parts of the house. The decorations were
confined to flowers and plants, but the gen
eral effect of the scene was heightened by
the system of electric lights which has Just
been introduced In the house.
The reception began at IL o'clock, the re-
ceiving party taking their places in the Blue
ParlOr at that hour to the familiar strains of
Hail to the Chief" played by the full Ma
bule just inside the main entrance. Vice
President Morton and Mrs. Morton and all
the members of the Cabinet with the ladies
of their families, with the exception of Mrs.
Blaine, had previously Joined the President
stairs to the reception room. Here all the
gentlemen, with the exception of the Presi-
dent, retired to the rear of the blue
parlor, where a large number of
The receiving party then formed in
line between the entrance and exit doors in
the following order: The President, Mrs.
Harrison, Mrs. Morton. Mrs. Windom, Mrs.
Pructor, Mrs. Miller, Mrs Wanamaker, Mrs.
Noble, and Mrs. Rusk. The following named
ladies also assisted in the reception, taking
places iD the Blue Room back of the line:
Mrs. Mckee, Mrs Russell b. Harrison, Mrs.
Dimmick. Mrs. George W. Boyd of Philadel-
phia, Miss Blaine. the Misses Window, Miss
stead, Miss RusR, Miss Jeanette Halford,
Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. .Aldrich, Mrs Blair, Mrs.
Catey, Mrs. Cuilom, Mrs. Gray. Mrs. Hearst,
Mrs. Jones, Arkansas, Mrs: J. f. Andrew,
Gro-venor, Mrs Gen. Sheridan, Mrs. Porter
and many others. The members of the Dip
Iumatlc Corps were first received They
were nearly all present. All wore full court
costume, which. in many cases, notably
the, Russian. German. Austrian. French.
gorgeous description. They were presented
| by Secretary Blaine and Assistant Secretary
Wharton, and made b illaBt spectacle.
Baron. Fava OF Italy, who Is Dean of the
corps Dy VlTIub OF seniority Oh service, leo
| the procession, and was followed by Senior
Romero of Mexico. Nearly all the diplomats
were accompanied Dy ladies. Sir Julian
| Pauncefote. the British minister, was ac-
companled by his family and all the mem
| bers of the British Legation with their
families. Accompanying the corps were the
members of the International Monetary
| Conference and the members of the Ameri-
Can International Railroad Conference. They
were followed soon after by the Chief
L o..A faHa 1f eha Tr;A Il
States Supreme Court, the Judges Of the
| United States Court of Claims and the
| judiciary of the District of Columbia.
| Then came the Congressman and other
officers of tie government, Army and Navy
| officers, the Loyal Legion, Grand Army,
veterans of l848, and the others usually re-
/ cefved.
fhe doors were thrown open to the publ'e G
at IL 80 p. M quarter of an hour earlier than
was expected. By this time the President
was the only one of the receiving party still
| In line Mrs. Harrison had to retire to a sofa
in the rear because of fatigue, and the other
| ladies' were called away by their own recep-
tions. Secretary and Miss Blaine were the
| first to leave and were followed soon after
by Vice President and Mrs. Morton and the
members of the Cabinet, witl the ladies OF
their families. Col. Ernst made the pre-.
seDtatioDs to the President from this time on
The general attendance was large consider.
ing the bad state Of the weather, and the re
ceptiOn lasted until nearly 2 O'Clock. When
the last person passed through, the President
and Mrs. Harrison and about twenty invited
guests proceeded to the second floor and par
took of luncheon.
Secretary Blaine gave the diplomatic corps
breakfast imme ediately after the reception OF
the corps at the White House and afterwards
received the public. Miss Blaine assisted
him. The Secretary of the Treasury was as.
sisted by Mrs. WindLm and daughters The
wife of the Secretary of War, Mrs. Proctor
received from / to Up. m. Mrs. Noble, wife
of the Secretary of the Interior, also received
from to 4 p. m. Mrs. Wana.naker, the wife
If the Postmaster General, received from
to 6p.m. Mrs. Miller, the wife of the Attor
wife of the Secretary of Agriculture received
from to 6 D. m. The Speakers wife did mo-
receive. The wife of Chief Justice Fuller
received from to 4 p. M.