Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-01-11
WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION
Executive Mansion Presents
Gorgeous Scene.
a Force of Decorators Beautify the
Presidents observation-disclosures
Crowds Attend the New
Years Reception.

Washington. Jan. 1.-The white hous
Is roomy, but it's capacity was taxed te
the utmost today by the crowds thai
passed i'm and out OF what may be
termed the state departments, namely
he blue room, where foreign ambas.
sailors and ministers have their first
formal interviews with the president
the red room. the green room and tbs
spacious east room, the scene OF sc
many incidents hat have become his.
torical. and lastly the generously pro
portioned corridor. extending nearly the
entire length OF the mansion, with
which all these apartments communi.
cate.
A force OF decorators. under the dl
~rection OF Gardener Fister. had worked
hard last night and early this morning
In making the mansion look beautiful
for the great show of the year. Wher.
ever the eye wandered I'm the blue room
the corridor. the east room or the other
chambers, IL was met by groups OF
spreading palms and tall. dropping rub.
Der trees. by Towering bushes from the
deepest OF CT imson poinsetta blooms &c
the most delicate Of white rosebuds.
The mantels. the fireplaces, the window
~embrasures were embarked with flora.
beauty. The chandeliers were almost
hidden in wreatbs OF green smilax.
Ferns waved delicate branches from
hooks and corners. while stately and
graceful specimens Of the screw pine
stood alone in alcoves. more impressive
| n their solitude.
The reception was set for II o'clock,
AMI just al that time the members Of
the receiving party. comprising Presi-
dent and Mrs. Cleveland, Vice President
and Mrs. Stevenson and the cabinet and
their wives, came down the private
staircase leading TO the corridor, head.
ed by Colonel John NJ. Wilson, L. s. A.,
superintendent of public buildings and
grounds. in fun uniform. The only alb.
sentee from the party vas Mrs. Smith.
the wife Of the secretary OF the interior
Entering the blue room, the president
and Mrs. Cleveland placed themselves
at the right u the line and the others
were ranged in accordance with official
precedence. The march from the pri
vate apartments above stairs had been
accompanied by music from the United
States Marine band. under Prof. Fanci.
ulli. which was stationed in the public
lobby.
The cabinet ladies in the receiving line
were Mrs. Olney. Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs.
Harmon, Mrs. Lamont. Mrs. Wilson,
Miss Herbert and Miss Morton.
A numerous array of matrons and
young ladies had been invited by Mrs.
Cleveland 10 stand behind the line" az
the term Is. These comprised the wives
and daughters of senators, representa-
tiyes. justices Of the federal supreme
court. assistant secretaries Of the exec
utive departments, bureau officers, high
officers OF he army and the navy and
other prominent officials, with a num-
Der Of personal friends OF Mrs. Cleve-
land $ o directly connected with Of
fcial life.
According to custom, the members OK
the diplomatic corps We're first received
and they came in force. headed by their
dean. Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
ambassador, attired in his high court
uniform. who shook hands warmly and
exchanged smiles with the president, as
though there had never been such q
thing as a Venezuelan note or a mes
sass 40 coners-s on the Aaonro@ aos-
trine.
Mrs. Cleveland's gown was of laven-
der and white striped satin. trimmed
with point lace and high neck. as were
all the gowns Of the members of the re-
ceiving party. Nearly all the members
OF the diplomatic body were accom-
panied by ladi 5. Mrs. Yang Yu, the
wife Of the Chinese minister was the
cynosure Of all eyes. The most wonder
full thing abolt her attire was the head
dress. which lparkled with gems and
shimmered in the soft light OF the cleo
trio globes. Silk of a most beautiful
texture formed her gown. Following
Sir Julian Pauncefote came the secre-
tary OF the British embassy and at.
taches; Jules Patenotre, the French am.
bassador, in uniform, with secretaries
and other attaches. and Baron Fava,
the Italian ambassador. Baroness Fava
was with her husband. Baron Won
Thielmann, the German ambassador.
headed the German representation. Sc.
NOR Romero, the Mexican minister.
plainly attired, followed with Sonora
Romero on his arm and a host OF at.
taches in his wake. Mavroyeni Bey,
the Turkish minister. and his secretary
OF legation attracted attention from the
fa pf that thew wore the feZ