Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-01-09

sent tnYee messages 10 Congress. The an
nual message. the Venezuelan commission
message and the financial message made
necessary by the acton of foreign holders
Of American securities. who, frightened by
the too evident desire Of this country for a
fight with England, rushed in the stock
market TO dispose Of their bonds-raiIroad
and U. s.
The appropriation Of eiOO 900 for the
expenses Of q commission TO investigate
and report IS soon as possible upon Eng.
lands right To the territory In dispute wss
granted with few dissenting votes and with
fine show Of patriotism. The Senate
after slight resistance from some, passed
the bill as !, came from the House and DOW
the President has named the commission
Judge Brewer, Of the Supreme Court;
Judge Alvey, Frederick Coudert, Of New
York; Prof Gilman, Of Johns Hopkins
University and Andrew White, former
Minister to Russia. Maryland can claim
two Of the Eve commissioners, and 81.
Mary's county one: Judge Alvey for whom
President Cleveland has the highest regard
Judge Brewer has been elected chairman
of the commission which has met and or
ganized and settled down 70 work. Per.
haps England will realize that il had been
better 10 arbitrate. for then in ell probable
ity she would have gotten all she claimed,
while under existing conditions she may
lose much
The social functions at the White House
commenced with the New Year reception.
Who inauguraied this custom can't say,
bu: no President ignores It. Death itself
has never stopped it. and each year the
setting is richer, the attendance larger.
The executive mansion il 40 well known
that description OF 1t is needless. The
East rooE il one of the handsomest saloons
in the world, and the blue and the red
parlors are gems in their way The cor.
ridor with its screen of jeweled glass is
monument TO the taste Of President Arthur.
In the East room the New Years greeting
to the President and his wife are made.
Eleven oc'ock a. m, is the hour. and the
diplomatic corps are always the first to be
received, and are prompt in their atten.
dance. The President with Mrs. Cleveland
on his arm and followed by the Cabinet
officers and their wives enter the East room
and take position IN line across the room
Back of the receiving party are those whom
Mrs Cleveland may have invited to be
present Usually personal friends visiting
her or the daughters If the Cabinet officers
md their frie d. The Diplomatic cOrps
gorgeous in uniforms or court dress of their
country. were presented To the President
10y the Secretary OF State From Sir Julian
P"unce'ort, the dean of the corps. TO the
Cnriens in their quaint dress and peaked
hats with few words of English that are
hard I" understand, the foreigners were
"ut in force. Many ladies' accompanying
heir husbands While the ladies Of the
4 receiving party were in full dress. those
Jay carriage Costumes for street dresses
must be severely plSin Z" be in style, while
| carriage costumes are more elaborate
Mrs. Cleveland wore heavy white satin.
and embroidered with god thread. " hiIe
white ostrich tips and IRE old lace were
the garniture. Diamonds flashed from
hair and throat and no one who has ever
cone the honors Of the Executive mansion
has excelled in beauty or courtly manner
he present mistress Of the White House.
The ladies assisting Mrs. Cleveland were
all magnificently gowned, aud few left or
retired until the last tramp citizen had
been presented. The Secretary of State
and Mrs Olney retired early, for according
TO custom they entertained the diplomatic
corps at breakfast. but for nearly four hours
the President and Mrs Cleveland stood
and shook hands with the passing crowd
The Army Off ers, with Gen'l Miles at
their head. all in the splendor of gold lace
The cavalry, infantry and artilery with
their distinctive coloring The navy, the
pets of society. The departments. Bureau
chiefs, chiefs of Divisions, society of Veter
ans, Sons of Veterans, the Oldest Inhabi-
tants, District Officials all passed in review
and then the long line OF citizens who for
hours had been patiently standing inla
line that reached from the portico of the
White House along the walk to the Avenue
by State, Wsr and Navy Department on
nth street and down that street. They
were of all ages ard conditions, Senators.
Members. the butcher. baker, candle stick
maker, white and black, stood in The mild
air, laughed and chatted until the White
House doors were open to them. If their
patience was great so was Mr. Cleyeland's,
for four hours ne stood and as Col Wilson
introduce the crowd he shook hands and
passed them on to Mrs. Cleveland u whom
they were presented by an army officer.
No wonder people said as the last hand
clasp was given. "How worn and tired
the President looks" No wonder. so %
people had passed in line. 5000 hands
had heen touched ard the pity Of Il, 5000
times he had said "Glad to see you" glad
TO meet you," or something else.
The White House reception commences
the social season, and from now until Len,
the fun will wax fast and furious The
President and his wife oniv accent invita-
ti"Ds irom the Cabinet officers, but they
have series Of dinners and receptions IT,
which are invited tho prominent officials
and an invitation TO the White House ia
Looked utSsp "a a command NJ, anr...n