Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-10
THE WORLD OF SOCIETY
Splendid Uniforms and Gowns and Spark
ling Jewels
The White House Levee In Honor of
the Foreigners Per-
sOnals.

The White House levee last night was
| without doubt the most brilliant event
which has occurred there during this ad-
| ministration, or. indeed, perhaps ever in
its history. The throng was very large
and while those who formed it had some
few uncomfortable moments in being push
ed about, nevertheless, had the satisfac-
ton of knowing they were part of a splen-
did pageant The moral of getting to the
White House early in the interests Of per-
| sohai comfort did not bring the early
birds any peculiar advantage. for the worst
part of the jam was experienced a half
an hour before the reception commenced
Guests began arriving a few minutes after
3, ana at o. when the receiving party came
down stairs, 1t was with some difficulty
passage way was made for them. The
company then filled the corridor. halls lob
by and cloak rooms, and overlooked into
the east room. The Presidents guests, Mr..
and Mrs. Parkinson of New York, and Miss
Woodward and Miss Bryant of New York
who are visiting Mrs. Lamont, We're in
the blue room to meet the President and
the receiving party. All the members OF
the cabinet and all the ladies were in the
procession except Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Clcveland'S dress, of white velvet
deliberately spangled In silver. was ex-
tremely becoming. The bodice had jaunty.
short pulled sleeves, and glittered with the
spangles, a rich design covering both the
revers front and back. She wore her dia-
mond necklace, several diamond ornaments
in her corsage. and diamond side combs
with other diamond ornaments in her hair
Mrs. Olney was in brocaded white satin,
Mrs. Carlisle in brocaded velvet rose
shades, trimmed with fur; Mrs. Lamont, a
Dresden brocade, with touches of pink vel
vet and duchess lace ruff1es on the waist
Mrs. Harmon, mauve brocade, with velvet
and pearl passamenteries; Mrs. Wilson,
u, nd 6no Ties IJar
bert. black velvet. with bodice of striped
chiffon and shoulder knots of black vel
vet. and Miss Morton in silver gray satin
and point lace.
The brilliant pageant began with the
presentation Of the diplomatic corps, which
pleasant office Col. Wilson as gracefully
performed as he did the announcements of
the names Of the hundreds of other guests
Cleveland during the evening. The British
ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote, preced-
ed his diplomatic family. The French,
Italian and German ambassadors were all
present. accompanied by ladies, and there
was scarcely a noticeable absence among
the ministers and the rest of the corps.
The uniforms seemed to vie with each
other in gilded gorgeousness, and the trap
pings of military millinery. While the
| men were thus richly appareled, the ladies
of the corps fairly glittered with Jewels
In such crowded rooms sparkling gems are
more effective than rich gowns, but in this
case the two went together.
Lady Pauncefote wore a low necked dress
OF white satin combined with garnet velvet
| A diamond tiara, a coharette OF diamond
crescents and stars, diamond bracelets and
diamond corsage ornaments were the fin
| ishing touches.
Mrs. Patenotre was in black velvet, the
necklace was of large solitaires Diamond
stars in her hair and in her corsage were
worn.
Baroness Thielman was in light straw
hVrn ~
diamond stars and other diamond and pearl
ornaments. broad blue and white sash
! across the corsage held an imperial decora-
ton In diamonds and pearls.
Mrs. Romero wore Nile green MORE
spangled In silver, and the lace at the neck
caught with knots. and rosettes of pink
velvet. A diamond necklace was worn with
a diamond rose spray, and the tiniest watch
encrusted with diamonds, were worn as
corSage ornaments
Mrs. Mendonca was superb in white satin,
trimmd with gold lace. Diamond stars in
her hair and diamond corsaee ornaments
enhanced it's elegance.
Mrs. Dupuy de LONE. black satin, with
diamond necklace and other diamond orna-
ments.
Mrs. Lazo Arriaga, black velvet. with a
! low-necked bodice of silver brocade Dia-
mcnd and pearl necklace, diamond crescent
and side combs.
satin, and her jewels were magnificent. Her
necklace was entirely of large diamonds but
the triple tiara had great emeralds spark
ling amidst setting Of solitaires
Mrs. Cana wore pink velvet with duchess
lace. A necklace of huge solitaires was
worn, and diamond stars in her hair.
Mrs de Neck was in white satin, with
emeralds surrounded by diamonds in cor
sage ornaments and earrings
Mrs. Rengifo wore white satin and duchess
lace, and the prettiest of pearls, with en-
eralds in antique setting.
Mrs. knagenhtelm was in white satin
with pearl necklace.
Mrs. de Grandprey was in black satin and
tulle.
The Misses Andrade wore white satin,
trimmed with lace and fur.
Mrs. Covarrubias wore white satin ana
lace, tiara Of diamond stars and superb
diamond corsage ornaments.
The Vice President, with his daughters
and nieces, came in when the reception was
at Its height. Miss Stevenson wore a
Frenchy combination of blue chiffon and
golden brown velvet; Miss Letitia Steven
son, white satin and chiffon; Miss Scott,
pink satin and chiffon, and Miss Julia Scott
in yellow satin and chiffon.
Mrs. Parkinson of New York wore black
satin; Miss Woodward of New York, white
satin with pearls ornaments and Miss
Bryant of New York was in canary moire
antique and chiffon. Miss Mendonca wore
pale pink satin, with chiffon on the bodice.
Miss Harmon wore Dresden silk
The reception was practically over at half
past 10, and the President and Mrs Cieve-
land had then chance to exchange a word
Win the guests VINO renamed in the blue
pSrlor.
There were more elaboration in the floral
and electrical effects at the White House
last night than was ever attempted before
me ceiling OF the east room was canopied
With smilax garlands. in which red white
and blue lights twinkled. The chandeliers
were topped with palm leaves and from
these the garlands reached to the side walls
The effects on the mantels in floral mosaics.
the grouping of the palms in the window
inches, was very fine. In the blue room
asparagus garlands stretched from the
chandelier to the walls and the mantels
were banked with red and white camellias
and orchids.
Two three times the crowd in the cor
ridor between those in the line entering the
red room and those wishing to reach the
cloak rooms or to wander about the con-
servatories. was simply unmanageable.
Fine gov ms, especially those of lace and
fluffy materials, were almost wrecked, and
those who found comfortable corner in the
east room remained wisely where they were
at least partially removed from the crush