Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-01-02
THE RECEPTION.
Many Pay Their Respects to the
President.
The DIPLOMATS IN COURT COSTUME
Mrs. Cleveland Was Assisted b. the Ladies'
Of the Cabinet Dsscrlp.Io Of Her
Dress-The Floral Decorations
Were Elaborate.

VAsnlNOiONt van. "'-ACN iVut
day was celebrated here in the good,
old-tashioned way. Washington Of
late years Is almost the only city thai
has retained the old custom. Calls
were exchanged by everybody In
official and private life. All officials
received, the president first Of all, the
vice president, the members Of the
cabinet, heads Of bureaus and so on
down to the humblest officials, and
after that the great social public. II
was an ideal day, clear sky and
bracing breeze from the north.
west making walking pleasant, but
it was rather hard upon the occu-
pants Of the gay equipages and the
vast throngs on foot who were
obliged to wait in the long line outside
of the white house to pay their respects
to the president and exchange greet.
ings with Mrs. Cleveland and the ladies
Of the cabinet. The main interest, Of
course, conferred in the presidents re.
ception. The white house had been
deliberately decorated for the occasion
with flowers and foliage plants. The
marine band Of 60 pieces, in their red
coats, under the leadership of Prof.
Fancuilla, were stationed just within
the entrance and added color to the
brilliancy Of the scene within
The red parlor, into which the visit.
ors were first shown, was adorned
with rubber plants, trails OF smilax
and pink begonias to match the tone
Of the apartment. The blue parlor,
where the receiving party stood to ex-
change greetings with the guests
behind line Of heavy gilt-framed
sofas, abounded with cut flowers ar
ranged in tall stand on the central
divan. The mantcls were banked
with a2aleas and ponsettias, red
camelias, red roses and hyacinths. The
green parlor, through which the visit
ors next passed, was lined with green
jardinieres filled with foliage plants
ferns and palms, and the great east
room was beautifully adorned with a
vast group Of tall palms and ferns,
which made a forest of green in the
large east window. Stands of potted
plants graced the mantels, and wreaths
and runners OF smilax found their way
about the mirrors
Just before II o'clock the president
and Mrs. Cleveland descended the stair.
way from the private portion Of the
house, followed by the members Of the
cabinet, and exchanged greetings with
the members Of the diplomatic corps,
who came resplendent in full court
costumes, The president then took
his place in the blue parlor next the
door, with Mrs. Cleveland on his right.
In the line beside her were the wives
OF the members of the cabinet and Miss
Herbert, daughter Of Secretary Her.
bert. Mrs. Smith was prevented from
attending by the illness Of her daugh-
ter Mrs. Cleveland's gown was of
white and mauve striped satin, with
MORE in front. The bodice had high
stock collar of mauve velvet and
pretty iabot of lace, falling over vest
of white satin, richly embroidered with
pearls Only a few diamonds sparkled
in her corsage and the entire effect of
the toilet was one Of great simplicity.
The most attractive feature of the
great reception was the scene in the
vast east room. The daylight was ex-
cluded by heavy curtains and the room
was flooded with the soft light from
the great hemispheres of opal glass in
the ceiling, which lit up in most at
iractive style the toilets of the ladies
and the splendid uniforms of the diplo.
matte corps and of the army and navy
officers As the general public began
to enter the house, however, this scene
dissolved, and soon the room was filed
with vast thronr, curously viewing
the decorations and discussing the APP
pearance of the presidential party and
other features of the New Years day
The marine band had turned |
Its strains into a lively air, we'll calcu-
lated TO set feet stepping nimbly along
the line, and by two o'clock the recep-
ton was over