Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-02
HAPPY NEW YEARS
THE RECEPTION OF TIE PRESIDENT. At THE
WHITE HOUSE.
A Vivid Description Of the Scene That Caught the
Register" Correspondents Eye - How the
First Lady Of the Land" Was Dressed
Lunch and Punch at Ma!ons
Special Telegram to he Register.

WASHINGTON, January 1.-The fog
that filed the air, and the slush that
covered the streets without made the
scene within the White House seem all
the more brilliant by contrast at Presi-
dent Harrison's New Year reception to-
day. While the crowd that came to pay
respects TO the Chief Magistrate was not
as large as those which annually attend
ed President Cleveland's receptions, it
was large enough and kept the President
shaking hands at the rate of forty-fve
minute for over three hours. AT least
5000 persons were present, including
the representatives of thirty-three for
eign nations, Justices OF the United
States Courts, Cabinet officers, officers
of the Army and Navy, Senators and
Representatives, high government Off
cials, Grand Army veterans and thou
sands of private citizens.
The President and Mrs. Harrison
seemed in unusually good spirits, and
greeted their visitors with more cor
diality than they usually display.
Mrs. Harrison wore bro
cade gown with wavy yellow
lines on pale blue ground The front
OF the skirt was of pale blue satin and Il
jeweled net. This net had deep bor-
der of leaves and flowers which glisten-
ed with mimic jewels-amethysts dia-
monss, rubies, pearls, garnets and
emeralds. Where the train fell away at
each side from the petticoat, punches of
pale blue ostrich tips were caught with
sprays of gilt wheat. The waist was
cut V shape in the back aud square in
front; the elbow sleeves were reached
by the wrinkled folds of pale blue suede
gloves. She wore high boots of
gold cloth. Her jewels were dia-
monds in her hair and corsage.
She was assisted in receiving by all the
Cabinet ladies, except Mrs. Blaine and
Mrs. Wanamaker, by her daughter,
and number of other ladies. wives and
daughters of Senators and Representa-
tives and private citizens.
Secretary Blaine presented the mem
bers OF the Diplomatic Corps TO the
President, and in the midst OF this duty
received the unpleasant news that his
big house near Dupont circle, which he
|
several years ago, was burning. Mr..
Blaine continued to present the diplo-
mats, however, as If nothing had hap
pened.
As the throng of callers grew large,
the scene i'm the beautiful and newly
decorated suite OF rooms was one OF
great brilliancy and animation. The
| nf Ia. fnlA Ia In
their rich court costumes, glowing with
color and gold lace, and cleaning with
the ieweled insignia OF the orders TO
which they belonged, fascinated the
eyes. In the throng were to be seen the
strong, handsome aud genial old face OF
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British Am
bassabor; the tall form and sharp, ac-
qualine countenance of Baron Fava,
the Italian Minister: the quiet
impressive features OF the little
Minister from Turkey, who
wore on his hoad the customary red
fez, while the big Chinese minister,
gorgeous in his flowing costume OF rust
ling silk staiked through the throng
and tried TO relax his hard oriental
features into smile. The representa-
tive of Corea In his fantastic head dress
of woven horse hair attracted more than
the usual amount OF attention, because
he had with him his wife, queer little
woman, most sumptuously arrayed.
| When one got iato the midst of the
Diplomatic group he felt that Babel
was come again, for the cross
fire of conversation in French,
Spanish, Italian, Chinese, German, and
most fearfully broken English was per-
fectly bewildering. The handsome uni
forms OF our army and navy, who were
present In considerable numbers, added
TO the brilliancy of the scene, while an
other element OF the picturesque and
CAV was the charming costumes OF the
ladies and the diamonds that sparkled
In their hair and about their white
thrOats.
A notable feature OF the reception
was the fact that very few of the ladies
present wore low necked dresses. Al
though there was large number OF
Senators and representatives in the city
IL was observed that few OF them took
the trouble to call on the President and
wish him happy New Year.
Vice President and Mrs. Morton held
a reception at their fine home on Scott
Circle, which was almost as largely at
tended as that at the White House.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Morton are very
popular socially, and their reception had
The advantage over the Harrison recep-
ton that they gave their visitors an
abundance of New Years cheer In the
shape of lunch and punch. Receptions
were also held at most of the Cabinet
house and generally by public officials
and private citizens. In short, the time
bonored custom of New Years calling
shows little if any falling of in Wash
ington, however itmay be in other cities.