The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-01-04
| NEW YEARS RECEPTION
A DRHLEIANT EVENT AT THE PRES
IDENT'S MANSION.
Annual Reception of the President
and the Popular Hostess OF the
White --North,vesterners in
Washington Observe the Day.

Washington Observe the Day.
w ashlngton, Jan. ?. 49, New Years
! opened bright and clear, with more snap
ana crlspness IL the Tic th6n during the
holiday week. The day was more OBJ
F; served here than in the other cities
! throughout the country, and, while the
custom OF keeping open house is falling
lnt'' desuetude with the most fashionable
! set, official society observes the custom,
! and IN many homes parties were made up
| to receive callers. These receptions.
however, do not begin till after neon,
and the event in the morning and early
! AFTERNOON was the presidential reception
at the White House. The executive
mansion had been made specially attract
i've for the occasion.
The arrangements for the reception
were interrupted about 10 o'clock by an
! 1lntoward incident, which fortunately oc-
curl ed at al hour when it could not mar
the reception. A mild-mt Dnered woman,
evidently of unbalanced mind, arrived
e:rly at the house with the announce
II ent that she was there to take possess
SIGN. She as politely shown through
the lower floors by Capt Dexter, the
chief usher, and then quietly escor led
away by a policeman.
Promptly at IL o'clock the Marine
bs nd, located in the outer corridor of the
mar sion, struck up Hail to the Chief.'
which was the signal for the opening of
the reception. Another moment and the
presidential party appeared at the middle
landing from their private apartments
above the reception room. First came
Capt. Wilson and Capt Pitcher, U. S.
A., in full uniform. Then followed Pres
ident Cleveland with Mrs Cleveland on
his arm. The president wore his con-
ventonal garb Of black, with Prince Al
bert coat. There vas a boutonniere in
his lapel. Mrs. Cleveland smiled and
bowed to those in the double rows which
lined the Railways leading to the recep-
ton room. 1t was her first public appear
ance since the birth of little Esther, and
necks were eraned to catch a glimpse of
the popular mistress of the White House.
Her hair was braided up and back in
the simple manner remembered in her
early pictures. Her high-necked gown
was almost entirely free from Jewels.
and the jeweled comb in her hair was
the only noticeable ornament to her IT.
tire. Following the presidential couple
came Vice President and Mrs Steven
son, Secretary and Mrs. Gresham, Secre-
tary and Mrs. Carlisle, Secretary and
MIS-. Lamont, the attorney general and
Mrs. Olney, the postmaster general and
Mrs. Blssell, Secretary and Mrs. Her
bert, Secretary and Mrs. Smith and Miss
Smith, aud Secretary and Mrs. Morton.
once lnslde the receiving room Mrs.
Cleveland quickly drew off her long
gloves IN order to continue a custom in
which she is almost alone Of giving the
New Years greeting with bare hands.
She leaned her left arm on the back of
a dlvan and with the right received the
guests. Mr.. Cleveland was first at the
door through which the callers came.
lie -grasped the hand of each one, smi]-
ing and giving >Happy New Years."
and then dextrously moving the callers
on to Mrs. Cleveland and the line of
cabinet ladies, who extended across thu
Blue Room to the exit door on the other
side
At Senator Davis home Mrs Davis,
Mrs. w. w. johnson of st. Paul, Miss
Cora brown of Bloomington, Mimi, and
Mrs. Roche of Was1 ington kept open
Rouse. Senators and cabinet officers and
n:en bers OF the foreign legations came
and went in rapid succession. The Min
n@soto delegation, including Congrcssm IN
Is elfer and Congressman Fletcher, called
during the day. Senator and Mrs. WASH
burn have not returned from their trip
to Cuba, and will not be back u,.t til the
middle of this week. At Congressman
NJ. n. Johnso1's home OH Capitol Hell
Mrs. johnson. assisted by o. number of
young ladies, received during the day.
Mrs. John A. Picker and Mrs. w. Y.
Lucas of South Dakota received at The
, hf use Of Congressman Pickler