Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-24
THE WORLD OF SOCIETY
President and Mrs. Cleveland Held Their
Secord Lsvea


The levee last night at the White House
was the smallest gathering Of its kind
which has occurred there the last ten
years, and If only more Of the special
gusts for whom 1t was intended, Congress
| and the judiciary. had been present, it
might also have been said of 1t that ii was
the most perfect entertainment seen there
| within the same period The crowd was
just large enough for all to move about
comfortably. The corridor gave an easy
access to the conservatory Instead of pre-
senting the surgfng jam of humanity with
which it Is usually associated in the minds
Of those who have seen it at other levees
The weather was to blame for the small
attendance, but when the results conduce
| to everybcdy's comfort and satisfaction, as
they did last night the weather cannot be
too highly praised. Mr.. and Mrs and the
Misses Walkers were on hand just as
bravely If the sidewalks were covered
| with moonbeams instead of the young
rivers coursing their way to swollen gut
ter streams. The Misses Walkers were es-
pecially in evidence, decked out in all their
| best bibs and fuckers. For once their big
sleeves had room enough TO stand out UNI
crushed, but it was an awful night for
crimps and curls exposed 20 the playful
cumulate on the White House portico in
| such reckless and altogether useless guam
| titles. 1t was dull night for Jerry at the
hat boxes. Rows of empty ones stared him
| In the face Lots of the guests were OF the
eager but unbidden variety who would go
through fire and blood Just as cheerfully as
they did water to get the invitation, and
failing, came anyway, just to show they
| harbored no ill feeling There were n half
dozen members Of the upper house and a
Supreme Court justice two or three of
| them to leaven the assembly. Promenading
here and there, all were abundaatly able
| to do. these notables showed off at their
very best. A half dozen army officers in
uniform added pleasing variety. The
Mexican minister. Mr.. Romero; the Turkish
minister Mavroyeni Bey with Mr. de
Weckherlin, the Netherlands minister, did
| the honors for the diplomatic corps
1t was genuine small and early. 1t was
practically over, SO far new arrivals
We're concerned. about $50, and two-thirds
or the guests were in the mansion at $50
so they had charmingly comfortable
hour of 1t. The floral decorations and cleo
tric light effects were greatly admired.
The east room was especially elaborate,
with the flowers put about in their accus-
TONED places. and in the blue room bright
blossoms OF green vines added their sweet,
freShening touch.
Mrs. Cleveland wore one Of her most be-
coming, because youthful, gowns 1t was
OF pale pink satin, giittering with silver
spangles, crystal and silver fringes hang
ing from the edge of the low-necked bodice
covered the front, and a bunch of pink
roses was worn on the left shoulder. Her
Jew els We're especially appropriate.
Mrs. Olney was in black velvet and point
lace, Mrs. Lamont was in blossom pink
satin, silver embroidered and trimmed with
point lace: Mrs. Harmon wore a low-neck-
ed dress of silver brocade, with crystal pas
sementeries; Mrs. Wilson wore orchid pink
satin, with point lace; Mrs Smith, pale blue
bfocade, with lace and touches of cherry
velvet on the corsage, and Miss Morton
wore nauve moire antique. Secretary and
Mrs. Carlisle, who had dinner In their
own house, were little late Mrs Carlisle
wore old rose brocade, trimmed with velvet
and lace. Owing to the Illness of little
Herbert Micou, grandson of Secretary Her.
bert, neither the latter nor Miss Herbert
was present. The little fellow has mea-
sles.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. W. Baldwin of New
York the latter formerly Miss Katherine
Willard, are guests at the White House and
We're at the reception. With them in the
blue parlor were Miss Florence Bryant of
New York and Mr.. o. C. Willard of New
York An appetiZing odor in which cream
ed oysters. pates, salads and other season.
able essentials TO an IL o'clock feast were
in evidence, pervaded the mansion all even
ing, and the conclusion that the cabinet
families and White House guests partook
of them after that hour was a reasonable
deduction
Probably small disarrangement with the
ice cooler in the office at the southeast cor
ner of the mansion, upstairs, was remedied
by corkscrew, which was brought to that
ornate retreat shortly after the reception
commenced by the house butler and con-
signed, with much gravity of countenance,
to Arthur Simmons, whom neither fire. in
surrection nor wars alarm could budgefrom
ms post, unless to open the door for the
distinguished statesmen who are given the
pass word on function nights.
1t was like sudden transportation into
fairyland TO those vino left the rain and mud
of outdoors and entered National Rifles
Armory last evening. The annual full dress
E..1 nj 10 doc
withstanding the drawback of a stormy
right, the affair was enviable success.
The hall has Deen the scene of many grand
events ir its history, but the picture pre-
scented last evening was undoubtedly the
most beautiful of any of its predecessors
So said the committee in charge, and so said
every one who braved the weather to at
tend.
Every inch of the wall space including the
windows, hidden from view by yellow
draperies, which formed a background Cor
an artistic display of smiiaX and South Car
DINA palmetto. The light from the two
large chandeliers was softened by gigantic
shades, and each gas jet was similarly
treated. In addition row of incandescent
electric lights glowed in line which eX-
tended around the four sides of the hall
and tended to heighten the effect. The stage
vas furnished as a drawing room and
proved an attractive SPOT to rest between
dances. A small forest OF palms separated
the stage from the hall proper, and palms
resting in the window silis protruded
through the other decorations. The orches-
ira was seated in the billiard room leading
from the gallery. The ball of 1896 will long
be remembered as one of the most success
full ever given by the National Rides. The
committee in charge consisted of Lieut.
Geo. W. Evans. chairman; Will H. WAY
John w. Cameron. Edmund *. Fox. ]. Blake
Miller. DR.. c. Neil Barry, Schuyler c. Stokes,
Walter A. Maddox and DR.. VIII c. Cannon.
Those present were Miss Nora Cocker. Miss
Katie Wbeatley, Miss Stiles, Mrs F. l..
Harvey, Miss L. Callan, Miss r. Callan,
Miss NJ. Nelson. Miss c. Nelson. Miss NJ.
Guilford. Mrs. Minnie Tansill. Mrs. E. H
Ryan. Miss Mollie Duchane, Miss Hessler,
Mrs. w. A Morsell. Miss Hodges. Miss
Blanche Hodges. Miss May Johnson.
Mrs. E. H. Ryan. Miss E. A. Par
menter. Miss Mamie Donnelly, Miss
Blanche Wade. Miss Ida Miller, Miss Helen
Wells. Miss Selma Spelshouse Miss Smith,
Miss Simmons. Mrs. H. f. Hewitt, Miss r.
F. Jones. Miss Dena Crosse. Mrs. ]. c.
Walker Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. T. A. Garner. Miss
Rich, Mrs. Cannon, Mrs. Frank Blackstone,
Miss Doyle. Mrs. Mae Pullman, Mrs. f. C.
NARROW. Miss f. NARROW. Mrs. NJ Z. Guilford,
Miss Florence NJ: Brown. the Misses
Hawke, Mrs. and Miss Snyder, Mrs. y. S.
Sinton. Miss May Hohson. Miss Lille Kelly