Huntsville gazette., 1893-03-04
.NET DEPARTURES
The Old Ways That Are Now Fast
Being Discarded.
MR., MORTON'S RECEPTION
To the Vice President-elect Was Some
thing Entirely Out OF the Old
L.ae-Harrison's Last Levee
at the White House.

WASHINGTON. March 3.-The recep-
ton rendered by Vice President and
Mrs. Morton to Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson
at their residence on Scott Circle,
marked another deviation by Mr.. Nor
ton from the traditions surrounding his
position. 1t was an unprecedented
thing for an outgoing vice president to
bestow any recognition, official or So
cial, upon his successor, as the exchange
of such compliments has heretofore
been confined to occupants OF the pres1-
Dental chair, but when the cards were
issued giving notification of the vice
presidents intention thus to honor his
successor, it was felt to be gracious
and proper courtesy.
But the inspiration of the affair was
more than purely official.
Mr. Morton had served in the house
of representatives Of the forty-slxth
congress with Mr.. Stevenson, and ever
since, there had existed between them
sincere and mutual esteem and regard.
In anticipation of the event Mr.. Morton's
elegant mansion had been decorated
with palms, ferns, foliage, plants and
cut flowers.
Mr.. and Mrs Morton received their
guests in the doorway separating the
parlor from the corridor, out of which
rises a grand staircase and which occu-
pied the center of the west end Of the
house. At their side stood Mr.. and
Mrs Stevenson, to whom the passing
throng were introduced in turn by the
host.
1t was distinguished and representa-
tive gathering that greeted the new Off
cial and his wife. The invitations num-
bered 600 and but few Of the recipients
failed to respond in person, but there
was no crush to interfere with the full
enjoyment of the event by all present.
There were members of the senate al
most en- masse. with whom Mr.. Steven
son will be so intimately associated the
next four years; members of the cabinet,
assistant secretaries of departments,
heads Of bureaus, the New York and
Illinois delegations in the house of rep
resentatives, justices of the supreme
court of the United States and of the
District of Columbia and the court Of
claims, the diplomatic corps in all the
brilliancy of the insignia of their sew
eral orders and heads of army and navy
departments, and good sprinkling of
subordinate officers.
In addition to the official guests Vice
President Mrs Morton presented to Mr..
and Mrs. Stevenson a large number OF
their personal friends.
During the evening admirable musi-
cal selections were rendered by the ia
nous Marine Band under its new lead
er, Professor Fanciulli, and an elegant
collation. was served in the dining room.
Among the guests were members OF
Mr.. Stevenson's party, who accompa
MED him from Bloomington, including
his son and daughters.
MIR. Harrison's Last Reception,
held in the afternoon, was the largest
public function Of this character, in
point of attendance he has held since
the first few days of his term as presi-
dent when many thousands of visitors
crowded through the White House in
the hope of seeing the new executive
For more than half an hour, the presi-
dent shook hands with the throng that
filled the east room, lobby and portico
of the executive mansion, and it was
only by taking advantage of a break in
the line that he was enabled to make
his escape from the hundreds that fol-
lowed 1t is estimated that / 500 peo-
pie passed the president and that half
that number failed to get into the east
room before he left.