St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-02
The Harrison Party Throw
Open the White House
Corridors.
Cabinet officers Lead the Van
Into Ben's August Pres
enee.
Foreign Diplomats Follow,
With Congressman in the
Rear.
Secretary Blaine'S New Years
Opening is Caused by a
Blaze.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-Social and
official Washington was present to-day
at the executive mansion to pay their
respects to the chief magistrate of the
United States at the beginning of the
new year. The drizzling rain which
set in last night continued all day and
had the effect of making the attendance
very slim. Within the executive man
sion scene of animation, in striking
contrast to the somber and dismal scene
without. was presented. The whole first
floor was thrown open almost as one
room. About the halls were placed
dropping palms, and upon the mantels
were pOtted plants and flowers. The
Blu room, where the receiving party
stood, was beautifully decorated. The
mantel was banked with roses. with a
fringe of smilax, and the chandelier en-
twined with running fern. Darling out
like stars from dark sky, the brilliant
rays of the electric lights found
their way through the ferns and
shown on a multitude of moving
forms, bright faces and elaborate tot
lets. The Red room, into which visitors
were ushered on their entrance to the
mansion, was simply decorated. From
this room the crowd passed into the
Blue room, thence into the Green room.
and thence to the great East room.
which was deliberately decorated with
palms and ferns. The entire lower floor
of the mansion was lighted by electric
ity for the first time, and the general
effect was very beautiful. Promptly at
IL o'clock, to the strains of "1ail to the
Chief" 10y the Marine band, the receiv-
ing party entered the Blue room in the
following order:
The president and Mrs. Harrison, Vice
President and Mrs. Morton, Secretary
Blaine and Mrs. Russell Harrison, Sec
rotary and Mrs. Window, Attorney
General Miller, Postmaster General
Wanamaker. Mrs. Dimmick, Secretary
Tracy and Mrs. Mckee, Secretary and
Mrs. Proctor. Secretary and Mrs. Noble,
Secretary and Mrs. Rusk.
The ladies of the party formed line
with the president and Mrs. Harrison
on the end as the guests entered the
Blue room. Next toMrs. Harrison was
Mrs. Morton, Mrs. Window and the
other ladies of the cabinet forming the
receiving line. The toilets of the ladies
receiving were very elaborate. Mrs.
Harrison were brOcaded delicate pink
silk with flowers. The diplomatic corps
was ushered in at 11:10 headed by
Baron Faava, the dean of the corps. He
was presented by Secretary Blaine.
Following came the German, Mexican,
Japanese and French ministers and
others all attired in full uniform, and
many wearing decorations upon their
breasts AS they passed along the line
each i'll turn was presented to Mrs. Hair
riSOn and the ladies of the receiving
party They wendell their way through
the brilliant thrOng until the East
room was reached. Following came the
members of the international monetary
conference, and the American interna-
tional railway conference. The judicial
branch of the government came next.
and was represented by Chief Justice
Fuller and Justices Field, Rradly, Gray
and Lamar. They were followed by
the judges of the court of claims and
the local Judiciary. Senators and rep
representatives. next filed i'll. There were
few in attendance, many having gone
home to spend the holidays with their
families. The army was represented
by Mai. Gen. Schofield. Gems. Vincent,
Kelton, Williams, Beck, Casey and
Benet. and a number of officers of less
rank all in full uniform. A long line
of naval officers followed, including
Commodores Ramsay, Farquhar. Folger
and Sicard and Col. Remy, u. S. nj. c..
Following came a line of minor Off
cials, including the various assistant
secretaries III the executive departments
the members of the Grand Army of the
Republic. Associated Veterans of the
War of 1913, who. from the earliest times.
have annually paid their respects to the
president on New Years day. The gen
eral reception to the public began at
1918. but the slippery sidewalks made
walking very diSagreeable and the at
tendance therefore was very light, and
the official reception closed half hour
earlier than usual. During the recep-
ton at intervals, the Marine band,
which was stationed in the lobby of the
mansion. played a number of national
airs. Receptions were very general
among people in official life. but the
private receptions were comparatively
few. The weather was warm and the
rain fell steadily so that the numbers Of
pedestrians were few.