The Washington times., 1895-01-02
OUTSIDE The PORTALS
OF The WHITE HOU Sc
Scenes on the Pavement in Front
of the Executive Mansion.
THOUSANDS WE'RE THERE
Line Of Callers Extended All the Way
Down Seventeenth Street.
Many Had Their Troa5le for Their Pains
and Failed to See the President
Glasses of People Were in the Crowd
Even the Baby That Wanted to Get
Peep at "ooth and Ethster Was There"

AVN IAio DeADf 4Act w 0ALCu " 0CL q
Peep at "ooth and Ethster Was There"
81 wouldn't stand out here for an hour
waiting TO get in if the Old Nick himself was
in there to see, much less Grover Cleveland"
And the big co!ored coachman to whom
one of the men on duty at the White House
grounds yesterday made this remark showed
his white teeth.
mo, sub: an 1 bin waitin heah MON that
TO some quality white folks that was seein'
the city and coined here and fell in wild de
res. It's been so long ago 1 most forgot EN-
viii de freezin'"
But it amt such big thing as it used to
be- SAID bystander. "See its half past l
and the lineis drawing in-oniy half way, only
at Executive avenue gates, and I've seen it
stretched clear around the corner of the War
and Navy and way down Eighteenth street,
THIS time in the reception"
The walk in front of the White House
grounds began to show that it was New
Years before 10 O'Clock. The big policemen
shivering in white gloves wers already stand
Ant, tlbOut lHO e.1LNo, anu VI lLOuAlCA
police came up to help preserve order.
When the Diplomatic Corps arrived about
10:39 there was a crowd to see their gorgeous
uniforms and their picturesque costumes,
and there were plenty of both in the party
that was sen. into the White House as the
nations first guests On New Years day IL the
year OF our Lord 1885. Then the people
around the outer wall broke up INTO little
a
uaEy. too, remained to head the column when
the gates opened at noon to admit the gen.
erai public. There were the usual toy balloon
men and one or TWO other street dealers to
artrdct and interest children and country
folk, while all were waiting in the bright sun
shine that took Il little OF the edge OF the
the frosty air and toned down the deadening
chill of the
ICY SLABS UNDERFOOT.
The veterans of the Mexican war, a little
band. and the Grand Army Corps in bright
uniform, great throng. came and went as
did the sober-hucd American citizens who
constitute the Supreme Court, the heads Of
departments, and the ike. gay tie or
bright flower here and there relieved the
neutral colors of the lines as these passed in.
At noon a long line hal 70 rmed down in
front Of the War Department. Great thrOngs
poured in from private conyeyaneeS, from the
ears. aad afoot from the streets. The head
OF the column moved into the grounds and
was soon upon the steps and passing in al
the deor. Outside the line grew rapidly rs
the first half hour passed. and the rear dlsap-
peared from Pennsyivan avenue around the
corner OF Seventeenth street as il always does
at a welI-regulated reception Then 1t stood
with Little variation Till nearly l O'Clock.
-.
again and down the front OF the big War
building and n ross Executive avenue, and al
lao O'Clock passed within The gates
little more carefully il crept up the as
phalt and at last stood on the broad stones
Letween the columns OF the portico. little
after p. m. tue policemen who had been
stamping about the entrance trying TO keep
their feet from freezing were invited in
Parties OF twenty and ten kept coming in.
and then groups of six, four, three TWO, till
at last the doorkeepers Eood-naturslly said:
No, more: it's ali over, and closed one
door.
Then a Lalf-tipsy grizzIed veteran, in light
blue army overeoat with navy blue Jacket
and Ioosely-adiusted trousers. pushed fer-
ward and begged to be admitted. He was
refused. Well Iii go back and tell the
boys you wouldn't let me in he said. and ne
moved off slowly and stood on the sidewalk
and
EYED THE ENTRANCE RUEFULLY.
Every class was represented in the grea'
procession of the people. The gentleman
with silk bat and fashionable evercoa;, glis,
ouing shoes. and holding lightly handsom,
gold headed cane with glove in one hand
while he touched his w;fes arm with tn:
other and talked gayiy with two ladies ii
front Of him, was there. Ali the aides Of th'
little group were elegantly and fauitiessly at
tired
The little colored veteran. wrinkled and
bent with the potent ''GT. A. II. in gilt let
tiers on the crest OF his cap. was there, an,
with him his little grandchild. The seedl
Office seeker. the ex-ludge from the interior
with h.s visitor. the stately matron, school
cir bv tWoS and threeS. the mother IN Is
raeI who by reason of strength had passed
the three score and ten. the baby in arms
I with proud, well-dreSset; father and mother,
. were all there.
/ All were good natured and chaffed eact
/ other On the o!ly OF it. The vivaeiou!
maiden OF twenty told how Gt her first recep
ton in Harrison 5 day she had marched IL
/ the snow for more than an hour one nigh
/ and had onv missed two since. The dis
gruntled husband, prisoner to the females o
the household. insisted that he would never
4 be caught In such u snap again. As th'
3
would tfy To edge in Tar M the line, but the
policeman usually sent him down TO the re;tl
[ with sharp Come, none o that. you can
4 get in that way
At the portieo the line moved near tn
! steps and baby III the second story windoV
/ caught the eye of n diGnifed. motheriy lady
/ She stopped a moment looking up. the crow,
! pressed ON from the rear aud she toppIe,
down the steps, but kept her balance as sh
stumbled across the roadway. 1t was mar
row escape. but the officers gently assisted
her back TO her place and the procession
/ moved on.
Among the last who went in was 2 broad
sh houidered Senegambian with gold rings il
his ears. a bright tie, and a plug hat. Te
minutes later the ingoing crowd was met b
a counter stream passing out at the mai
door.
Good Joke that !" said ole.
WHAT" was the inquiry.
why they let us in, but the President
| gone and the reception is all over"
And disappointed faces were returning 10
fifteen minutes after. Among them was tn
baby just learning TO talk. and, rot to b
cheated out of its lesson, cried:
''BY-BY, 'ooTH AND EITHER"
As they were passing out some one eaugt
sight of the baby at the window, and crow
formed to watch it, "Leoks like Il boy,
Wonder what stufTs that it's dressed in,
maybe it's Esther were remarks rs the
fingered and looked and gossiped. An
through this group came out richly dresse
lady, while her carriage was called. As Il