The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-02
THE WELCOME TO 'S4.
President Olsveland's Official New
Years Reception.
4 SCENE OF DAZZLING sPLEHDoR.

. y ~
A SCENE OF DAZZLING sPLENDoR.
Tho on,cors Of the UnItcd states Army
and Navy Took the Palm for Personal
Appearnncs -Thousands Of tho Public.
shut out.
WASHINGTON, Jim 2.-The presidents
New Years reception for 1894 has never
been exceeded In brilliancy by any sim
1lnr gathering. II was a scene Of dazzling
spiendor throughout. As the hour cor boz
ginning the reception drew near there
was q tanele Of handsome vehicles draw
ing up to the marble portico. The crowd
on foot was not large as the public -.
ception was TO come later.
Promptly at II o'clock the Marine band,
stationed In the outer corridor Of the man
sion. struck up Hail to the Chief. which
was tho signal for the opening Of the re
ception. In another moment the prssi-
dentiai party appeared at the middle
landing leading from the private quar-
ters shove to the reception rooms below.
First came Colonel Wilson and Captain
Pitcher. U. 8. A., In full uniform. Then
followed President Cleveland. with Mrs.
Cleveland on his arm. The president wore
his conventional garb Of black, with
Prince Albert coat.
Mrs. Cleveland reyer looked better than
in her gown Of a vivid magent moire with
= bodice OF Irish point, finished with an
artistic mass OF chiffon at the front Of the
bodice. The skirt was entirely without
trimmings. She wore her hair parted In
front and drawn back at each side into
simple knot at the back of the head. Her
high neck gown was almost entirely free
from Jewels, and the jeweled comb in her
hair was the only noticeable ornament to
her attire.
Following the presidential couple came
Vice President and Mrs. Stevenson, Sec
rotary and Mrs. Gresham, Secretary and
Mrs. Carlisle, Secretary and Mrs Lamont,
the Attorney General and Mrs Olney, the
Postmaster General and Mrs. Bissell,
Secretary and Mrs. Herbert, Secretary
and Mrs. Smith, and Secretary and Mrs.
Morton.
Back Of the line OF the cabinet ladies
were two or three score of ladies and
young girls, oilic ial and personal friends
Of Mrs Cleveland and the cabinet ladies.
They took no immediate part in the re-
oeiving, but their brilliant costumes and
Jewels formed an effective background
for the official party in front
First In the line of callers came the
members of the diplomatic corps. ih the
full regalia Of their station. They were
attended by their suites, including mill
tary and naval attaches In the bright
scarlet and crimson uniforms of hussars,
uuirassiers, etc. The dean OF the corps,
Bir Julian Pauncefote, ambassador OF
Great Britain. was the first to extend
greetings to the President and Mrs. Cleve.
land. With him came Mrs. and Miss
PRuncefote and the numerous members Of
his suite, all in gold embroidered cos
tunes.
Following Sir Julian came NJ. Pateno
trs, the ambassador from France, also In
red and gold embroidered court Dress and
with chapeau in hand. He also was nc
companied by his army and navy attache.
IN their bright uniforms. Then came
Baron Saurma-J eltsch, the German am
bxssador, and suite, all in uniform. ant
She ambassadors daughter. Baron Fava
fhe Italian ambassador, and his snite fol
bowed Then came the long line OF minis
tsrs and their wives and families Mos
Of the ministers were quite ms elaborated,
uniformed as the ambassadors.
----- fsfffaf Js;stise failer and The associatl
Justices OF the supreme court came afte
khe diplomats Then came senators anl
congressman with their families. Thei
tame the department officials, followed b,
number of organizations, the Oldest In
babitants' association of the District o
Columbia being first on the list Eigh
veterans Of the Mexican war followed
There was long line of members Of tn
Grand Army.
1t was subject of general remark tina
the officers Of the United States army an
navy were the finest looking body Of men
n whole, that passed In the line. TIL
retired officers, with their white hair an
still vigorous frames, were picture. Al
ter these came General Sehofield and tn
line Of those In active service. As these al
gathered In the east room and passe
from one group to another with Ne'
Years greeting 1t produced the fines
ceremonial effect of the day.
While the special guests were bein
greeted tho public at large were waitin
outside with considerable impatience I
be admitted. They came through th
westerly gate on Pennsylvania avenue u
to the front door Of the White House, an
after passing through the red room shoe
hands with the president. They the
passed on through the green room, tt
east room, and back through the hallwa,
and out OF window, from which a ten
porary gangway Of planks TO the paw
ment had been constructed, and then,
out of the grounds.
The gates to the grounds were closed
Noclook, as it was evident at that tin
Mat 1t would be impossible to get throug
with the long line still standing outsid
Several thousand persons were thus n
esssarily Disappointed. Mr.. Cleyelar
showed signs of fatigas as he left Il
blue room and went back up stairs. Mr
Cleveland endured the ordeal with gre
pluck. shaking hands with practicall
every one In the line. She showed mus
less weariness than her husband after
was over.