Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-24
THE WORLDOF SOCIETY
The Public Reception at the White
House Last Evening.
A PLEASANT OCCASION.
A Model Crowd Received by President and
Mrs. Harrison-Mrs. Blaine's First Appear.
ance-Senator and Mrs. Gorman's Friends
Notes.

There was neither crowding nor pushing nor
anything else to mar the pleasure of the pub.
lie reception last night at the White House All
the arrangements went forward in a we'll
| planned way and tie line of people which
stretched out in solid wall from the very
| Threshold Of the White House to the outer
gate, had only to exercise their patience. All
| that could be done to facilitate their presenta-
ton to the chief executive and his wife was
| thought OF Tor them. 1t is sad to rente. but
when society stays away from the White House
all the rest OF the people who 60 have a better
time. The lights and the music seem gayer
ana more pleasing, the floral decorations
| snow TO the best advantage and every
thing runs along much more smoothly
.han when throng of the petted darlings Of
potn sexes come along and clog up the
| machinery. Under Mrs. Harrison's personal
| supervision the mansion was as deliberately
decorated as it was possible to have it if n
crowned head was expected instead of a thousand
or two OF Washingtonians mainly, who have not
even vote. The blue room was really gen.
The mantels were banked with the most odor-
Gus blossoms that bloom in the spring and
| much earlier in green houses. pinks ard hya-
clnths, and in the east room the mantels were
covered with the olG-time mosaics in bright
| hued flowers. There were dozen or
two carriages drawn up in front of the man
sion, but the majority of the guests walked. so
the awning was not much needed, but it was
ready all the same. Only a dozen more car
| riages came over the graveied roads in the
| south grounds, the occupants of which en-
tered the red room window. The hundred OF
| favored souls who waited in the corridor for
the receiving party to come down had a chance
to move around and not become lost in the
throng as ordinarily happens at these evening
| receptions There was no hubbub of voices to
drown the glorious music Of the relocated
marines as it hOated all over the house. In fact
In every possible detail the great American
public, represented by the citizens OF this Dis
| trict and visitors, made a presidential leyee
what it should be, digni6ed and stately cere-
monial.
Before the President came down the young
ladies of the cabinet families and other guests
came down with Mrs. Mckee, Mrs Russell Har-
rison and Mrs. Dimmick. In this group we're
Miss Foster. Miss Rusk, Miss Wanamaker and
her guests, Miss Carpenter and Miss Morgan,
Miss kerens, who is stopping at the White
House, and Miss LeOnore Halste6, with Miss
Edith Foster and Miss Hawkins, her guests.
Col. Ernst and Lieut. Buckingham preceded the
receiving party to the blue parlor. After the
President and Mrs. Harrison came Secretary
and Mrs. Blaine. Secretary Tracy and Mrs
Foster, the Postmaster General and Mrs. Wanna
maker, Secretary Noble, Mrs. Elkins and Sec
rotary and Mrs. Rusk and DIR. Scott When
the reception commenced Miss Turner, pretty
young lady in blue silk gown, had the honor
of being the first presented to the President
About 10 per cent OF the throng were in even
| ing dress: the rest came along with overcoats
and wraps. 1t looked little novel to see
| ladies with bonnets and wraps on moving
around the blue room, but friends there called
| them in and they had just as good time as if
| they were daintily arrayed in evening dresses
| There was no pushing or crOwding to get into
the blue room, to start with, any more than any
| where else. All sorts and conditions Of hu-
mainly passed along before the.:receiving party,
| and yet it was the very smallest guest of all
| who created the greatest furore. One proud
/ Init hrouOhf hia al tha-o
baby with him to greet the President He
showed more enthusiasm than judgment in ex-
posing the youngster to the night air, but if
| ever man was rewarded he was
| by the smiles and gentle touch of
| the President and his wife, and then by every
| body else in the blue room, showing that all
| the world feels akin on the question Of baby
| worship Now and then came stop in the crowd
and the receiving party had q chance to see
| what was going on behind them. Secretary
Blaine established himself cozily in q corner Of
| a sofa and had quiet chat with his colleagues
| in the cabinet. Mr.. Wanamaker and Secretary
| Rusk, who like to feel in touch with a crowd.
left the seclusion of the blue room to mingle
with the promenaders all over the house. DIR.
| Scott was where he likes to be best-in the
center of group of bright young girls He
| STAYED down stairs till nearly 10 o clock.
Mrs. Blaine made her first appearance in the
| line with the cabinet ladies. At 10 o'clock all
| the people had been presented and two-thirds
L o.
| which is always the rendezvous Of the news
paper people and the scene of much busy life
| at evening receptions, was as quiet as a church
| ard. Secretary Halford in his Office was
busy with his mail, Assistant Secretary Pruden
| had naught to disturb him in dispatching more
| of the public business in his office, the pens
| manipulated by two women writers at the hall
table finishing up their story Of the reception
| scratched away in unison, and down the corri-
| dor Steward Mckim was busting around su-
/ tha nf ha
| to the reception party.
| Mrs. Harrison had a new gown for last night.
| 1t was OF white silk with elaborate pearl and
| gold beaded passementeries. 1t had short
pulled sleeves but her long gloves reached up
| to them. In her hair she wore simple cOronet
of white ribbon, tied in pretty bow. She
carried bouquet of sweet peas.
Mrs. Blaine was in black silk and jetted lace.
Mrs. Foster wore pink brocade with a jacket
bodice OF garnet satin.
| Mrs. Elkins wore pale blue satin and lace and
a becoming white ostrich boa round her neck.
| Mrs. Wanamaker in a superb gown Of gray
| satin, with sable trimmings.
Mrs Rusk was in pale blue and light yellow
| brocade with fine lace.
Mrs. Mckee wore pink satin striped silk, with
| ecru lace and olive bows.
Mrs Russell Harrison wore pale blue satin,
| with the bodice crossed with black velvet rib
! bons.
Mrs Dimmick was in white silk and net.
Senator and Mrs. German were at home
last night to their friends, and brilliantly en-
tertained one of the largest companies of the
season. The house was fragrant with flowers.
A stringed orchestra made delightful music.
| Elegant gowns were the rule, and in every
direction one saw the faces and forms Of those
! whose movements are always OF interest in O
political or social way, The Senator and his
wife, who was handsomely gowned in black
| lace and Jet. had their charming group oil
daughters with Mrs. Stephen Gambrill and
Mrs. Z. G. German of Laurel to assist them in
receiving their friends.
Miss German wore black satin with gold
passementeries Miss Hattie German ecru satir
and chiffon. Miss Daisy German wore white
satin with pearl trimmings. Mrs. p. c. German
wore black brocade, Mrs. Gambrill black lace
and Miss Lily Compton was in pink silk.
Among others present were the Vice Presi
dent, Mrs. Elkins, Miss Grace Davis, Senator
and Mrs. Charles II. Gibson, Senator and Mrs
Hale, Senator and Mrs Vance, Senator epG
Mrs. Cockrell. Senator and Mrs. Walthall Sen
ator Sawyer, Mrs Howard Ganson White, Sen
ator Hawley, Senator Hiscock, Lieut.. and Mrs
Il NJ. q. Brown, Representative and Mrs. Oates
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert A. Wilson, Mr.. and Mrs. Z
Kurtz johnson, Mr.. Ii. NJ. Larner. the Missei
Larner, Mr.. and Mrs. David Barry, Mr.. and Mrs
Charles Gurley. Mr.. and Mrs Charles Chester
Bassett, Miss Walthall, the Misses Nugent, Mr.
and Mrs. Seaton Perry, Mr.. and Mrs. b. II
Warner. Miss Lester. Mrs. and Miss Gouveneur
Mr.. and Mrs. Ye, Minister Tsteno, MIR. and Mrs
James Montgomery, Representative ard Mrs
hemphill, Senator and Miss Blackburn, Mr.
and Mrs. Isaac n. jackson, Representative ant
Miss Compton, Mr., Mrs. and the Misses Hutch