The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-01-02
NEW YEAR RECEPTION.
A GALA TIME AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.
President and Mrs, Cleveland Keep
Open House Assisted by Wives
Of the Cabinet Officers,
DIPLOMATS, STATESMEN AND JUDGES
GRACE THE OCCASION.
Handsome aud Elaborate Toilets Worn by the
Ladies' Foreigners in Full Regimcntals,
Hearty Handshakes for All,


Washington. January 1.-The new year
| opened bright and clear with more snap
and crispness in the air than during all
OF holiday week. Tho day is more gcncr-
| ally observed here than in most cities
ana while the custom OF keeping open
I house is falling into desuetude with the
more fashionable set. official society oh
served the custom. and In many homes
parties were made up to receive all cali
ers. These receptions, however do not be-
| gin until afternoon and the event of the
morning and early afternoon was the
| presidents reception Mt the White House
! The executive mansion had been made
specially attractive for the occasion. The
/ floral decorations were tasteful. but not
/ elaborate. Fcstoons of smiles were every.
| whore in elaborate promsjon. In the
! State dining room palms were placed. in
| the rcd room a row of Chinese rmroses
stood en- the mantel piece lacked by green
! plants Palms were clustered before he
| fireplace and IN the corners Of the room.
/ The blue room, in which the president
and receiving party stood showed the
brightest flowers and the effect was beau
uful Daylight was shut out OF this room
and the great chandelier with It's glitter
ing crystal pendants was all ablaze. Be-
fore the window to the southwark we're
grouped palms and plants, the gorgeous
scarlet leaves OF the Christmas plant be-
ing conspicuous feature. on the mantcl-
piece to the westward were Chinese print
roses again. The shelf on che other side
of the room was bank OF bright flowers,
roses. llacs. carnations, tulips and white
hyacinths The cast room decorations
were confined to green, With a few Chneee
primroses peepins from iecesaes here and
there
The official programme for the presi-
dents reception Is as follows:
AT 1.-The president received the vice
president members Of the cabinet and
the diplomatic corps.
At 1lI5-The chief justice, associate jus
tees OF the supreme court, judges OF the
court OF claims judges OF the court Of
appeals and Judges OF the Supreme court
OF The District of Columbia.
At u.2J- senators, representatives. ana
delegates In congress, commissioners Of
the District OF Columbia judicial Officers
of the district eS-membcrs OF the cabinet
and ex-uiluisters Of the United states
At ll:40-Oriccrs of the army and navy
and marine corps
AT Noon-The regents and secretary Of
the Smithsonian institute, civil service
| commissioners Interstate commerce cum-
mssioners, assistant secretaries OF depart
ments, assistant postmasters general,
solicitor general, assistant attorneys, gem
I eral commissioner Of labor, heads OF bu-
reaus and the president Of the Columbian
institute for tho deaf and dumb,
I At l9:25-Assorate veterans of the war
| of 1896 Grand Army Of the Republic, loyal
legion and mombcrs of the oldest iuhab.-
-nts' association NJ the District OF Co
lumbia.
At l2;35-Reccption Of citizens. which
terminated at .
Arrangements for the reception We're in
terrupted nbout 40 o'clock by an untow-
ard Incident which fortunately occurred
at an early hour and could not mar the
reception. a mild hammered woman, evil
IDENTIFY OF unbalanced mind. arrived early
at the White Oouse and announced that
she was there TO take part In the recep-
ton. She was politely shown through tho
lower floor Of the building by Captain
Newell, chief usher, and then quietly es-
corted away by policeman.
As the hour for beginning the reception
drew near there was n tangle Of haud-
some vehicles drawing up 20 the marble
! portico. The crowd on foot was not
large. as the public reception was 10
come later. First came carriages Of diplo-
| mats, many OF Nntn WIN UeTdlulC lISfHhii
| on their boxes, and after that long lines
of carriages carrying Justices OF the SUI
preEc court, senator's, representatives ana
other officials The other carriages were
arranged In a double row extending the
! entire sweep OF the White House drive
ways.
Promptly at II o'clock the Marine band
stationed in the outer corridors Of the
I mansion struck up HAL to the Chief.
| which was the sign OF the opening OF the
reception. In another moment the prcsi-
Dental party appeared at the doors lead
ing from the private quarters above 20
| the reception room below. First came
| Colonel Wilson and Captain Pitcher, l.,
! s. A., In fun uniform. Then followed
I President ClcV land with Mrs, Cleveland
on his arm. The president wore his con-
ventlonal garb OF black with Prince Al
/ bert coat There was a bouttonlere In his
! lapel Mrs. Cleveland smiled ana bowed to
those In the double rows which lined the
! Railways leading TO the reception room.
II was her first public appearance since
! the birth of little Esther and necks We're
craned TO catch glimpse OF the popular
! mistress OF the White House, Her hair
was brushed up and back In the simple
manner remembered In her early pic
! lures. The high neck gown was almost
/ free from jewelry and a iewelei comb in
/ her hair was the only noticeable ornament
: TO her attire.
/ bo.ipWlnB inc pIeSlueHthl coupe came
/ the vice president and Mrs. Stevens, Sec
rotary and Mrs Gresham Secretary and
/ Mrs Carlisle, Secretary and Mrs.
/ Lamont, Attorney General and
| Mrs. Olney, Postmaster General
and Mrs. Blssell, Secretary and MISS
/ Herbert. Secretary and Mrs Smith. ana
! Secretary and Mrs Morton.
/ Once inside the receiving room. Mrs.
/ Cleveland drew off her long gloves In or
/ der to continue a custom IN which she Is
! almost alone Of giving New Years greet
/ ing with bare hands, She .eaned her left
arm on the back Of a diyan, and with
/ her right received the guests. Mr.. Cleve-
4 land was the first az the door through
which the callers came He grasped the
I hand OF each one. smiling ana giving a
| 'HareH New Year" and then dextrously
moving the callers on TO Mrs. Cleveland
and the line or cabinet ladies. who ex-
! tended across the blue room 10 the exit