The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-01
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
New Years Day Will Be Observed in
the Usual Manner.
THE BLUE PARLOR
The President VIII Formally Re-
ceive All Kinds of People-Floral
Decorations. Music by the
Band. Policemen.

January survives only in Washington.
The official reception Is still one of the
great events of the year at the capitol
IL is the first of the official receptions
held at the presidents mansion, and 1t
is the only one at which the public and
the office holders mingle freely. Moth
| ing more democratic than the New
Years reception at the white house is
known even in the democratic United
States. On the first day of the year
| statesmen, diplomats and reverend
| judges rub elbows with the public. A
clean face and hands and a tidy cos
tune are the only passports required at
the gates of the white house grounds.
Carriages begin to fly about at an
early hour. Men in the uniform of
army or navy are seen hurrying from
! place TO place, many of them awkward
I'm the unfamiliar garments for uni
forms are little worn in Washington
life
At the white house the police have
taken charge early in the day. The
grounds have been closed to all but
those who have business in the man
sion putting the last touches to the
decorations The presidents hothouses
have not sufficed to provide the floral
adornment for the parlors. The great
hothouses of the propagating gardens
nave been robbed of their choicest
blooms and their finest plants. In the
broad but shallow lobby just within the
entrance palms have been arranged to
screen the musicians OF the Marine
pand. Seats have been placed in
semicircle for them at the left of the
entrance, and beyond the Tiffany glass
screen has been swung aside so that
the concord of sweet sounds" may
penetrate undiminished TO every part
OF the mansion. The door at the other
end OF the screen, too, has been thrown
open, and through this the crowd is to
pass on its way to the reception rooms
IN THE BLUE PARLOR.
In the long hallway extending from
the conservatory to the east parlor
door beyond the screen palms have
been grouped here and there, but the
passage has been left almost free for
those who will want to observe the in
coming crowd and study human nature
developed under the binding light OF
authority. 1t is a curious study. and
queer things happen in front of the re-
celVing line in the blue parlor.
In the three connecting parlors-the
req the blue, the green-which form
the reception suit most elaborate floral
preparations are made. and in the east
parlor, which Dolly Madison used as a
drying room on wash days the mantels
and CRATES are hidden by a great mass
OF brilliant foliage and bloom, while
the corners are tropical with palms and
talns In all these rooms are drawn, and
the glow from 'sunbursts" of electric
light illumines the east parlor. In the
other parlors the softened radiance OF
frosted electric bulbs. springing from
the tapestried walls. lends brilllance TO
the spectacle
The first arrivals are the members OF
the presidents cabinet-superfiuous To-
day II overland their wives or daugh-
ters or Whatever woman is at the head
or the household of each. Secretary
Herbert's daughter is his social repre-
sentative, and Mr.. Morton is represent
ed by his sister. All the women of n
cabinet household may attend a New
years reception and stand behind the
line, but only the head OF a house
hold may stand at the presidents right
unless the head OF the household is alb
sent from the city or sick. Even then
II Is still a mooted point whether the
next in authority should claim her
place in the official line. and great was
rhe dispute and many heartburnings
because Katherine Bayard took the
place or her invalid mother at the head
OF the cabinet women on the occasion
OF one of Mr.. Cleveland's first official
receptions.
The cabinet members and the cabinet
women are ushered TO the private
apartments OF the presidents family on
the second floor of the white house.
and there wraps are laid aside. and
possibly a little primping is done-not
by the cabinet members. OF course. Be
fore the last hairTdn is in place or the
last dab Of the powder pun has been
given the members OF the dlplomatIc
corps have begun to arrive and have
been shown to the state dining room.
which Is the apartment next to the
red parlor on the first floor. Here the
diplomats put aside their hats and
coats. and. IL II rains, their galoches.
While this n going on the younger
members Of the official circle are com
ing down stairs under escort 10 the
blue parlor to take position behind the
row or chairs which has been placed
for the official receiving party Others.
both men and women, who have been
invited by Mrs. Cleveland to be the
special guests OF the occasion. are com
ing In. and the blue parlor is filling up
rapidly.
Meantime without the public has be-
gun TO gather, ready for the opening OF
the gates. Carriages are admitted az
the east gate of the grounds, but the
west entrance Is dedicated 20 the pub |
lie. and here. be there rain or shine. |
the patient people gather at an early |
hour and form in single file 20 wait for |
the doors TO be opened. Those at the /
an hour and a half before they achieve |
their ambition. and / have seen the line |
extend past the white house grounds |
the full width OF the treasury building |
beyond and end at the junction OF 18th /
street and Pennsylvania avenue |
enough. IL Is composed in /
great part OF the citizens Of washing |
ton. though there is a liberal sprinkling /
of strangers. 10 whom the reception at /
the presidents mansion Is a unique /
spectacle
fhe newspaper correspondents are
red tape OF the occasion Is brushed /
away for them. No hour is set for /
them TO be received by the president. |
and few of them go through the empty /
Formally Of shaking his hand. but any /
one OF them who can Identify himself /
as a newspaper writer has access freely /
10 the white house grounds and TO any /
enc OF the white house pariors except /