Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-01

this morning and just enough OF a cloudy
sky to enhance the effect of the flowers
and the lights and the generally festive
atmosphere prevailing at the White House.
AT 93O, while President and Mrs. Cleveland
were enjoying their breakfast with their
guests, Mr.. and Mrs. John h. RUSSELL the
former the defeated candidate for the gov
ernorship of Massachusetts, the florists were
putting In place the last fragrant touches to
the decorations. and the house servants
were tacking the strip of white linen that
was to mark the onward path Of every call
er across the lobby and through the state
apartments. FROM Capt. Dexter chief usher
down through his list OF assistants. every
body had something to do and was busy
with it. A platoon of police were early in
attendance. and at five minutes of ten, when
the presidential breakfast was finished and
the family had gone upstairs to don their
New Year clothes. there was little to do
FOR the busy hands around the mansion but
simply wait for something to happen. When
1t all did happen. it meant something like
this: The raising of the curtain on the first
act Of the official hospitalitfes Of President
Clevelands second term; the cast entirely
new. with here and there in the audience
a face or figure that recalled scenes famil-
lar enough eight. seven. SIX, five years ago,
and which have now gone on to make I'D
what is known as White House remi-
niscences. and later along may be history.
Private Secretary Thurber was one Of the
earliest and busiest on the scene of action,
and had the pleasing intelligence to convey
to his chief. nearly an hour before the re-
ception commenced. that everything was in
readiness.
The south grounds OF the mansion were
closed TO the public ali day-aii callers ap-
proached from the north front The police
men on duty in the house, two at each door
and at all necessary points, did not wear
their street uniforms and hats as formerly.
They had on their summer uniforms, which
Is the same as that ordinarily worn by The
policemen on duty in the house at all times,
and the change was considered a good one
not only by the men. but by every one else
The sightseers in the lobby were as numer-
Gus as usual and just as eager as ever to
see the grand doings an hour or SO before
they commenced.
Within the Mansion.
The decora tons Of the house were ex-
ceedingly tasteful and were confined to
the lavish use Of palms and potted plants
with quantities of smilax, another old
In the blue room the mirrors were half
screened with smilax ropes. and on each
mantel was a line of white blooming prim-
rose plants. In the window recesses. min
gled with the palms, were the scarlet
blooms of the poinsetta. In the newly
decorated red room the mantel had a line
of pots of white primrose and a double
garland of smilax fell from under them
In the green room there were more plants
in the windows, and pots of primroses on
the manteL The east room was entirely
ornamented with plants. palms, rubber
plants, &c, being massed in front of each
window and slanting row Of small foliage
plants decked each mantei. Everywhere
the chandeliers were twined with smiIax
with a pretty effect
Precisely as the hands Of the tall clock in
the nall pointed to IL, somebody made a
dash to the lobby door and signaled the
Marine Band, stationed in the corridor. Be
fore three bars of Hail to the Chief re-
sounded through the house the hand
some forms of Colonel Jno NJ. Wilson
and Captain Pitcher were seen making
the turn in the west stairway. Then came
the President and Mrs. Cleveland, followed
by the Vice President and Mrs. Stevenson,
Secretary and Mrs. Gresham, Mrs Carlisle
and Miss Herbert. the Postmaster General
and Mrs. Bissell the Attorney General and
Mrs. Olney, Secretary and Mrs Lamont
Secretary and Mrs. Smith, and the Secre-
tary of Agriculture and his sister, Miss
Morton. Secretaries Carlisle and Herbert
We're too late to join the official procession
to the blue room, but made good speed when
they did get in, ten minutes later, to get
within the envied precincts of that inclo-
sure.
Once in the blue room. the President and
wife and their lady aids at once took their
places, and for the first time the receiving
line was formed to which the American
public will have the pleasure of bowling for
some time to come. There was a general
shake hands and smiling all around for a
few minutes, when Secretary Gresham, TAX
ing his stand at the right of the President
introduced the first British ambassador
in the person of Sir Julian Pauncefote who
ever mad the felicity of exchanging New
Year greetings with a President of the
corps, then presented each of his colleagues,
and in fifteen minutes the diplomatic recep-
ton was over. The Secretary Of State and
Mrs. Gresham then withdrew from the blue
room and started back to the Arlington, so
as to be ready for the coming of the dipIo-
mats at noon.
The foreigners made a remarkably hand
some showing in their dashing uniforms
The representatives of Korea, China and
Japan were earliest to arrive, and rather
affected a somber style of dress. The Chi
nese minister was robed in bark blue, but
made up for il by wearing a number of
handsome ornaments hanging from his belt
Three members of his legation accompanied
him. Fewer ladies than usual were with the
foreigners.
Cordial Greeting.
From the start both the President and
Mrs. Cleveland shook hands most cordially
and vigorously, as is their won't Mrs
Cleveland, after her old custom, tucked up
her glove and went at 1t in the same