Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-01-25
WA-KEENEY. KANSAS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1896.


are opened to the waiting thousands of
plain people who come ostensibly to
''pay their respects" to the president,
but really TO be IN the swim so that they
may afterwards tell their friends that
they attended the presidents recep-
ton, and give details of what they saw
and heard.
Phe best place to see the reception in
detail, if you can get inside of the man
sion, is in the main corridor where the
Marine band is playing all the while.
Through the open window a IA
vored visitor may stand and di-
rectly face the president and his
assistants, thereby witnessing every
movement which occurs in the big blue
room. AS the officials enter the room
to the left of the president, the master
of ceremonies announces their coming.
First be will cry: The Chief Justice
and Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States"
Immediately thereafter the learned
lawyers approach. The chief justice
takes the presidents right hand, bows,
and says: MIR. President, l wish you
happy New Year The president re-
turns the pressure of his hand, and
says: Mr.. Chief Justice, thank you,
sir" Then comes each associate jus-
tice, taking the hand of the president
and making the same bow and uttering
the same words, to each of whom the
president responds with thanks, call
ing each man MIR. Justice" so and so,
whatever his name may be. Then come
the other officials, each one addressing
MIR. President" with j similar felici-
tous expression, and being addressed
in turn, according to his title, rather
than by the name given by his spon-
sors in baptism. The entire affair is
severely official. 1t is not enjoyable
10 an on-looller, except as a matter of
curiosity. OF course, this is splendid
time, and an excellent place, to see
all of the distinguished men; and
those who have never witnessed such q
{. scene would be delighted with the
opportunity. Once is enough, how
ever, for one who lives in constant con-
tact with the people who participate
in the affair. Upon no other occasion
during an entire administration can
anyone see the president for SO long
a time, and observe his manner of
receiving the people.
But there is always something out of
he ordinary when the regular pnnlic
reception commences. Here come the
dear people who are out for good
time, and who have not been accus-
toned to seeing a president or bril-
hant gatherings. The wife of the
president stands Immediately on his
right, aud gives her hand to all al the
officials who call; and they in turn
shake hands with the ladies CT the cab
met, who stand in line on the right of
the presidents wife. But when the
crowds come in they shake The hand
of the president, and go bowing down
the line to the ladies. who are already
too tired to extend their hands to the
hundreds who throng past them. AS
each individual enters the room, the
master of ceremonies whispers q;iick
ly: What is your na1ne?' The re-
sponse is given in a low tone, and the
master Of ceremonies says: MIR. Pres
ident, Mr.. Smith" The president ex-
tends his hand and says: Good morn
ing, Mr.. Smith," The president imme-
diatcly turns about and gives his hand