The Washington times., 1895-01-25
SOCIAL SAYINGS AND DoINGs.

SUClAL SA1lNGS AND DOlNGS.
The state dinner given last night by the
President and Mrs. Cleveland in honor of the
diplomatic corps marked an epoch in such en-
tertainmcnts. The decorations were not
only more elaborate than upon any previous
occasion, with the single notable exception OF
the Presidents marriage day, but the arrange
ments for seating the guests were something
so entirely out of the usual line as to render
the dinner on that account most notable
one.
For the first time on record the state
dining-room was not used. The brilliantly
apparelled diplomats and the guests asked to
me them were seated under an avenue of
palms, and dined in the inner corridor, down
which, heretofore, all guests of state din
ners have walked to greet the President be-
fore the announcement was made for dinner
in the state dining-room.
The effect OF the palm-lined corridor with
the long table running the entire length with
Its gorgeous settings, the walls festooned
with smilax and brilliant food of light
pouring down from ev ry direction, was gor-
geons beyond description. When to this was
added the magnilicence of the court costumes
and the unriyaled display OF flashing jewels
and gay sashes on the ambassadors and min
listers plenipotentary. there resulted scene
that has never before been equaled and will
never again be surpassed in the history OF
the brilliant social events OF the White
House.
In the East Room the President and Mrs
Cleveland received their guests in what
seemed a bower of green. In addition to the
usual elaborate massing of palms in the win
dow recesses and corners and banking OF the
mantels with scarlet and white blossoms, the
D linz
and ropes of smiax These radiated from
the three crystal chandeliers and extended to
every portion of the ceiling, clustering in
garland effects about the circular electric
lights. The pillars were twined with smiax
and the spaces above each doorway were
filled in with splendid array of small palms
and foliage plants.
In the upper corridor the business portion
OF the Executive Mansion was screened of
by the drapery of two immense American
flags, that extended from the ceiling to the
floor.
AS the setting of the table in the corridor,
instead of in the state dining-rocm, necessi-
tated q different arrangement of the manner
OF entrance of the guests at the dinner the
business portion of The White House was
utilized and elaborately decorated. The dip
lomats upon entering were shown at once TO
the elevator, aud, after laying aside their
III OAc VI ptihAt0 IOOulo On ll1o 6tC-
ond hoor passed down the length of the
upper corridor to the doorway leading to the
off1clal portion of the mansion. and so down
the public stairway, which was lined with
ferns and tall growing plants. The window
recess at the foot of the stairway was entirely
filed in with palms, about the base OF which
were foliage plants. The upper corridor
was also Lined with palms.
The dinner was further remarkable from
the fact that never before has so large
number of guests been entertained at one
time in the White House. The immensely
long table was set for sixty-six guests, three
sitting at each end. The Presiden. occupied
his usual place on the north side OF the
table. Immediately facing the Blue Room, di-
rectly in front of which Was the place at
which Mrs. Cleveland presided.
! In the Blue Room the decorations were en-
1 tirely in green and white; the three windows
/ at the rear were filed in with palms. among
which were white azalia bushes. and tie
mirror rests were banked with white and
Z green effect.
/ The seating of the Chinese aud japanese
] ministers at the table was matt r in which
general interest was felt, as all society is
aware that The social relations OF the two
dignitaries are decidedly strained nj present.
Accordingly at the expenditure OF considera-
/ bic gray matter on the part OF these in charge,
/ il was finally settled TO have the Chinese
minister on one side OF the table. aud opp0-
site, at sale distance. was seated the minister
from Japan
The decorations of the table were in keep
/ ing with the beautiful red corridor. and there
/ were no regular set pieces. rs il generally
customary, but instead the Iragniilcently-
( spread festive board was decorated III circular
/ plats OF ferns and scarlet carnations. inter-
/ spersed with fine iruit pieces. The cande-
T laLra We're caprei in red and Il effect
I further heightened by garlands of snilax
studded with scarlet carnations radiaung
from the chandeliers TO the ceiling on all
sides. The first service OF china Is ed was in
white and red. In the corners and inches OF
I the corridor were large orange trees heavy
! win the golden-hEtd fruit.
The guests at dinner were the British Am
bassa1or aad Lady pauncofote, the amuas-
sadur OF France. the Aubass ador of Italy and
i Baroness Faya. the German Ambassador and
Mss Carmen Won Sanraaa, The Mexican Min
ister aud Madam Romero. the Netherlands
minister. the Turkish minister the charge
d'ailairs Of Colombia. TIE minister of Bel
GUM The minister OF Sweden and Norway,
the Brazilian Minister and Ma.am de Men
1 doEca. the Bra ilIau Special Envoy Ba on de
Rio Branco. the Brazilian Spec al Envoy Gen
I eTal CergGe.ra aad Madam Cerqaera. the
minister OF Russia tie iIIinis er oi Hayti. the
Z minister os S. ain. Charge d'Aaaires Of Costa
kIca and Sonora de Calyo, the Minister OF
Guatamaa and Madam LaZo Arriago. the
Hawaiian minister the Chiliaa Minister and
NADIA Il Cana The Chinese Minister and
Madam Zang, the Argentine Minister aud
Madam Zehalos, the &icaragGan Minister
and Madam GuZmaD. tue minister Of Dem
marx. the Een&kaeian NJ mister and Senori;a
AndrSde. the japanese minister the charge
q 'ailaires 0. the Dominican Republic the Aus
tr5a-HUngarian Minister a2d Airs Hengen-
mueller. the charges q 'afiaires Of Switzerland
and Portugal, the Secretary Of State and Mrs.
Gresham. Senator and Mrs. Sherman, Rey re-
sentative and Mrs. McCreary Representative
Bradbeer Mrs. PER- NJ. Miss Willard, Miss
Lonise Benedict. Miss Florence Bayard, Miss
Helen Erice. Miss Ciementina Furness. Miss
} Tackerman. Miss Harlan, and Miss Dimock.
Mrs. Cleveland wore a gown of white satin
the Iow-necked bodice trimmed with point
lace and diamond ornaments. On her head
was the diamond star generally wcrn upon
/ ocg asions of state. Among the notable gowns
was that worn by Lady Pauncefo;e, whom
the President escorted 10 dinner. II was of
light Powered brocade and point lace, with
diamond ornaments ant coronet of dia-
monds. Baroness Faya wore light blue satin
with diamonds and large coronet of the
same jewels; Madam Romero, Nile green
moire antique spangled in the same color
the low-necked bodice trimmed with point
( lace and diamond ornaments: Miss Carmen
Won SGurma. cream striped silk trimmed with
moss green veiyet; Mrs. Gresham, light blue
satin brucaGed in stripes Of silver: Mrs. Gray
4 white corded silk, point lace. and diamonds;
/ Madam Lazo Arriago. mandarin-colored moire
/ antique. tie front spanGled in iridescent