The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-23
THE RECEPTION.
Que of the Most brilliant Social Event
Ever Held In Wheeling.


The guests had prepared for the re-
ceptIon before leaving the boat. so that
there was no delay at the hotel. The
reception began Immediately on their
arrival and lasted until midnight. It
was q perfect success In every respect,
rejecting great credit upon the coma
mittee and Of arrangements and the re-
ception committee. Saturdays lntelli-
gencer contained the names OF the MEM
bers Of the committees and a description
OF the decorations. The scene was a
brilliant one. Wheeling was out In
force. represented by her youth and
beauty, her business men and her
wealth and culture. There were prob
ably 400 guests present. All interests
were represented and all united In ex-
tending to the guests Of honor a hearty
welcome. Most OF those present were
Ia full evening dress. In addition TO the
party that came down on the boat, there
were representative delegations OF bus
inesx men from other points down the
river and out the Baltimore 4 Ohio
road. Parkersburg was represented by
H. p. Camden, Editors A. b. White and
r. L. Horner W. w. Vanwinkle, Col
lector Gilkeson, II. S. White, and Others.
Fairmont was represented by eX-Gov-
ernor Fleming, A. ]. Stone. =. Nj. Show
alter. and number OF other gentlemen.
Marietta sent UP large delegation OF
business men accompanied by an or
chestra OF seventeen pieces, which was
stationed In the lobby OF the Mcclure
house and made excellent music. Bell
aire. Martins Ferry, Bridgeport, Sis
tersville. Benwood, Moundsvllle and
other nearby points were largely repre-
sented.
The entire second floor OF the hotel
was used for the reception and 1t was
beautifully arranged for the occasion.
The decorations were placed under the
direction OF Architect L, Il. Franzheim.
and the effect was Something for him
to be proud OF. In. the centre OF the
dining room a table was banked with
palms and flowers. while about the room
there was a tasteful display OF flowers.
The curtains at the windows were en-
twined with smilax. The room was
brilliantly lighted, and in 1t were served
refreshments, the guests being seated
at small tables.
The corridors were all banked with
tropical plants and flowers. The ladies'
parlors were also decorated with hot
house plants.
Other rooms on the floor were used for
gentlemen's smoking rooms. In one
room punch and cigars were served; in
another lemonade was served.
The Opera House. orchestra was sta
| toned in the corridor overlooking the
hotel lobby and never made better mu-
sic than on this occasion. Vocal music
was rendered in the parlors. A trto'
THE Fountain OF Love-. was sung by
Mrs. Flora Williams, Messrs. w. b. Day
and Charles Zulauf, after which Mrs.
| Williams sang n solo. Messrs. Zulauf
and Day sang Excelsior" and other
numbers were rendered by both Mr..
Day and Mr.. Zulauk All were heartily
applauded. Prof Schockey was the
aceomp1nist
At eleven o'clock the floor OF the din
ing room was cleared and an hour spent
| In dancing by the young ladies and
gentlemen. At twelve o'clock the con-
gressional party was driven back TO the
| Vlrginia, where the might was spent.
and on Sunday morning left for the trip
to Parkersburg.
During the reception there was no for
NAL speech. making. President HULL
hen Quarter Of the chamber OF COM
merce, made a brief speech of welcome
| to the distinguished guests, and intro
| duced Colonel Vance. OF the Ohio River
| Improvement Association. who spoke
very briefly In his happiest vein, paying
a high. tribute to the Wheeling gentle
men who are taking such an active In
terest in the present movement. Con-
gressman Fenton. OF Ohio, also spoke
briefly. Congressman Dovener was one
OF the lions OF the evening. everybody
feeling that 1t was largely through his
untIring efforts and the efforts OF the
Wheeling committee. that the rivers
and harbors committee was present
As Others See Us.
In the course of an elaborate write-up
OF the rivers and harbors committee
reception ut he Mcclure Saturday even
ing, the Cincinnati Tribune's stan cor
respondent says:
The Virginia reached here at $50, and
the landing was made amid the cheers
OF an admiring and excited populnee'
that numbered at least 1000 people.
The broad but very muddy landing
was black with humanity. Carriages
were In waiting for the congressional
party, and with much pomp. ceremony
and urging OF steeds. they were whlrled
to the Mcclure house. The streets were
| brilliantly illuminated and stores decor
ated: people lined the sidewalks ten
| deep, for five blocks.
A person not familiar with the situa-
| ton might have concluded that some
great fete was In progress and that
| Presidents galore, klnRh IN plenty ana
| queens by the score were arriving.
But the intensity and elaboratencss OF
the reception. which,. by the way, Is
being in no wise exaggerated, did not
turn the heads OF the congressman.
They braccd themselves and looked az
| II this sort OF a thing was common as
an old shoe. The second floor OF the
| Mcclure was artistIcaliy decorated with
bunting, palms and various colored and
bright-hued flowers
Virginia women, who were radiant,
happy and expectant. was TO the arti.
ficial decorations as n slowly dying em-
her is to a vivid flash Of lightning. The
city OF Wheeling did herself proud. Her
men were hospitnble and clever, and her
women were revelation. Naturally
under such circumstances. the recep-
ton could not fail Of success, and II was
certainly most fitting climax to n day
OF great surprises and enjoyment.