The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-01-04
NEW YEARS RECEPTION
A BRILLIANT EVENT AT THE PRES
IDENT"S MANSION
Annual Reception of the President
and the Popular Hostars of the
White HOusc--Northwestern I'm
Washington Observe the Day.

Washington, Jan. 2. - New Years
opened bright and clear, with more snap
and crispness in the ri: than during the
holiday week. The day was more OBJ
Sci we'd here than in the other cities
throughout the countr~, and, while the
custom of keeping open house Is falling
tntb 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 all
nntoward incident, which fortunately oc-
CURED at an hour when it could not mar
the reception. A mild-mt Dnered woman.
evidently of unbalanced n.ind, arrived
etrly at the house with the announce
IT ent that she wGs there to take posses
sion. She as politely shown through
the lower floors by Capt. Dexter, the
chief usher, and then quietly escor ed
away by policeman.
III IL U CLOCK IUe
bt 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 Oh
his arm. The president wore his con-
ventiOnal 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 craned 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 lair was
the only noticeable ornament to her 1T
tire. Following the presidential couple
came Vice President and Mrs. Steven
son, Secretary and Mrs. Gresham, Secre-
tary and Mrs. Carlisle, Secretary and
Mrs. Lamont, the attorney general and
Mrs. Olney, the postmaster ger reral and
Mrs. Bissell, Secretary and Mrs. Her
bert, Secretary and Mrs. Smith and Miss
Smith, and Secretary and Mrs. Morton.
Once inside 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 divan and with the right received the
guests. Mr.. Cleveland was first at the
door through which the callers came.
He grasped the hand of each one, smil-
ing and giving Happy New Years"
and then sdextretisly moving the ealle1s
on to Mrs. Cleveland and the line of
cabinet ladies, who extended across the
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 Washington kept open
| bouse. Senators anu cabinet officers and
mem bers of the foreign legations came
and went in rapid succession. The Min
rtsoto delegation, including Congressm 4 n
Keifer 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 uLtil the
middle of this week. AT Congressman
M. N. Johnso1's home ON Capitol Hill
Mrs. johnson, assisted by number of
young ladies, received during the dag.
Mrs. John A. Pickler and Mrs. w. V.
Lucas of South Dakota received at the
hC use of Congressman Picker.