The evening times., 1896-12-24

the ladies of the receiving party have ar
rived. some of them with their husbands.
But men, with one exception, cut very
small figure at the New Year reception
The members OF the Cabinet and their la
dies 60 upstairs.
Tie other ladies are ushercd into the
blue parlor, behind the line of chairs which
extends from the western almost to the
eastern door. Some of this ushering is done
by the doorkeepers Of the White House and
some by the ubiquitous and oblging Pr-
vate Secretary Thurber.
In the lobby is stationed the Marine
Band gorgeous in red and blue uniforms,
which vie in brilliancy with the costumes
of the diplomats hurrying to their places
in the red parlor. At just IL o clock Mr..
Thurber goes to the head of the stairway
leading from the second floor of the man
sion 10 the floor below. He waves his hand
The signal is passed along, and as the
President and Mrs. Cleveland appear at
the head OF the stairs, descending, the
band strikes up the well-worn but inevita-
BILE Hail to the Chief" Beh ind the
Clevclands are the Vice President and
his wife and the Cabinet people in pairs.
The procession moves down the stairs and
through the hallway to the blue parlor,
where the Vice President and all the Cabi-
net members but Mr.. Olney disappear be-
hind the line.
The President and Mrs. Cleveland and
her assistants form the line across the east
parlor. Mr.. Olney takes his place at the
Presidents left, and the annual parade
begins with the prese sentation of Sir Julian
Pauncefote, Mrs. Pauncefote, Miss Paunce
fote, Miss Sibyl Pauncefotc and Miss
Audrey PauncefOte. Sir Julian, as the
dean OF the corps diplomatique, leads the
ambassadors, ministers and attaches of the
legations. He sin brilliant scarlet and gold
uniform, W caring a sword which threatens S
to trip him up at intervals in hi s progress
down the line. The other diplomats, a S a
rule, are in uniforms more or less gaudy,
and the Chinese minister and his suit are
in parti-colored silk robes.
Order of Precedence.
When the diplomats have passed, Mrs.
Cleveland will remove her right glove, 81
that she may shake hands with the Amcri-
can citizens, official and unofficial, who
will follow them. Mr.. OIney will retire
and Col. John NJ Wilson will take his
place at the Presidents left to make the
introductions. A junior army officer Will
stand beside Mrs. Cleveland to intT Dduce
the guests to her.
First will come the members Of the Su.
preme Court OF the United states and the
District judiciary, fed by Chief Justice
Fuller then the members OF the Senate and
House, officials of the District govern
ment, minor officials of the departments
and then the army and navy officers.
Attending the New Years reception is a
duty with these officers, and they come in
full uniform, adding brilliant touch Of
color to the scene. After them will come
the Mexican veterans and other organiZa-
tions, recognized by namcfn the orders for
the day, down to the Oldest Inhabitants
Association.
Finally the doors will be throw open to
the pubic, and the long line of patient
men and women which has stood outside
the White House grounds all morning, Will
begin to move. 1t is about 1890 usually
when tie public is admitted, and at .
O'Clock the reception ends. Last year Mr..
and Mrs. Cleveland shook hands with about
5000 people.
The White House reception on New
Years day is a great event for the local
papers. 1t affords an opportunity for de-
scriptive talent and for the rehearsal OF
decorations and costumes at almost inter
minahlc length. Usually some of the best
men and women workingOn the local papers
are assigned to the duty OF writing about
the reception, and since calling and re-
cciving on the first OF the year have become
so iDfrequent outside official circles, the
papers OF thefirst day the year al wa VS. de-
vote the ma jor part of their ne ws space to
the great White House event.
The Man With the Dress Suit.
A few years ago the White House re-
ception was no olessimportant a-fews event
but the newspapers didnot have so man yre-
porters at their command, and only one
man was assigned to the White House.
This man was always a good space writer,
who could fill two or three columns with
descriptive matter, leaving a like space
to be occupied by the official program, the
names of the people in the receiving party