The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-01

that which is reserved for the president
and the receiving party. So by the
time the. whole of the diplomatic corps
is assembled there is quite an army OF
the correspondents gathered in the
long hall.
WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENED.
In the blue parlor is a chatting mob.
mostly women, all in elaborate toilet.
No ray of daylight enters the recep-
ton rooms, and the women of the re-
ceiving party are arrayed as for an
evening reception. A line OF attendants
stretches across the lobby and the hall
way to the door of the red parlor. In
the lobby Professor Fanciulh and his
red coated men are assembled ready
for the presidents coming. A late COM
er hurries across the hall and joins
the diplomats In the red parlor. where
they walt for the reception to begin.
Some member of the receiving party,
delayed In the dressing room, comes
down the stairs and is admitted to the
blue parlor by the captain of the watch.
who stands guard by the brass gate.
An attendant stands at the foot of the
stairway, which is at the west end of
the hall. He waves his hand to anoth-
er attendant who stands at the door.
The signal passes to Fanciulli, and
with a crash the band strikes UP the
familiar and unimpressive strains of
Hail to the Chief" II any one of the
long line of presidents of the United
States had had any music In his soul.
l think he would have issued a procla-
nation against the playing OF that air
on official occasions.
To the crash of brass and the sound
OF flute and horn the president comes
down the stairway. 1t is customary for
him TO bring down the wife of the vice
president Mr.. Cleveland has violated
h IL t.s.fr. -.
down his own wife, and fortunately
the rule on this subject Is less rigid
than the rule of precedence. for whom
soever the president brings down stairs
his own wife stands at his side when
he takes his place in the blue parior.
On this occasion. too. Mrs. Stevenson
will probably not be present. as she Is
in mourning for her daughter.
Behind the president and his wife are
the secretary OF state and his wife and
then the other members of the cabinet
escorting each others wives. The hus-
bands lose the order OF official prece-
dence on this occasion, but their wives
maintain II for them. The wife OF the
secretary of state must precede the
wife OF the secretary of the treasury,
and the sister OF the secretary OF agri-
culture must bring up the rear. or
there would be a revolution. Amid the
buzzing comments of the group gath
cred in the hallway the president
makes the passage 10 the door OF the
blue parlor. The brass gate Is shut 10
with a snap as the sister of the secre-
tary of agriculture passes the thresh-
old. From this time none may pass
through the doorway. But a curious
crowd gathers in the opening and
makes comment on the favored ones
within. The society reporter is here
with her busy pencil, a very welcome
visitor, for the society reporter is a
popular person tn Washington and
counts her friends in high places.
THE HANDSHAKING BEGINS.
There is a little chattering among the
members OF the receiving party, ex-
changes of mods with those who are
behind the line, the final preening OF
gay plumage. Then the president takes
his place at the entrance OF the red par
Tor, and the secretary OF state presents
to him the dean OF the diplomatic !
corps. that pompous but rather demo- /
cratic knight. Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Another representative OF the state de- 1
partment standing beside Mrs Cleve- I
land presents the diplomats to her. but
the presentation is a useless formality
in most cases. An but a few OF the
ngureS are familiar TO the presidents
wife Sir Julian is in a brilliant mill
tary uniform. He carries a gorgeously
gibded cooked hat in his hand. Behind
corps attired in the gayest OF uniforms
or silk robes. The Chinese minister
and his attaches keep their little skull +
caps on their heads. and. save when
they shake the presidents hand, keep
their own buried in their flowing
sleeves OF silk
The hour named for the reception OF
the diplomatic corps is IL O'Clock. Be-
fore that time the supreme court tus-
tices nave arrived. for they are next In
order. Chief Justice Fuller. looking
pygrnylike beside the stalwart Harlan
or the broad shouldered Gray. occupies
the place or honor. He presents his
colleagues to the president, Justice
Field In the van, and they pass down
the receiving line and into the red par
Tor and the east parlor beyond IT, A
few OF the diplomats have gone through
the parlors. but most of them have
slipped behind the receiving line to
greet their friends and wish them a
happy New Year.
The senate and house follow the
members OF the supreme court And
here the regularity Of the reception Is
broken. for among so many II is DIM
cult to keep any order Of precedence
and senators and members become
hopelessly mixed. The vice president
DR. the president pro tempore OF the
senate makes the introductions of the
senator's, and the speaker introduces
he members of the house. But there
are always stragglers, and the MEM
oers OF the house pop up singly and In
pairs at intervals all through the re-
nainder of the reception time.
Then come the army and navy off,
sers. General Miles leading the one
,orps and the senior admiral the other.
And the odor OF moth balls follows In
heir trail Secretary Lamont will in
.roduce the officers OF the army, and
Secretary Herbert will perform a like
luty for the officers OF the navy. Many
II these will go behind the receiving
inc. for the potency OF brass buttons
$ no less in Washington than in the
Teriest American village.
Now come the department officials.
md the superintendent OF public build
ngs, Col. John NJ. Wilson, takes his