The herald., 1896-01-02
THE DAY At WASHINGTON
Celebrated in Good OId-Fash=
iOned Style
ELABORATE DECORATIONS
Make the Presidential Mansion Thing
of Beauty
The Band Plays Patriotic Music, srd the
Ladies' and Diplomats Display Their
Brilliant Costumes
Associated Press Special Wire.

WASHINGTON, Jan. New Years day
was celebrated here in the good old-fash-
ioned way. All the officials received.
1t was an ideal day. Interest, of course,
centered in the presidents reception. The
White House had been elaborately decor
ated with flowers and foliage plants. The
Marine band of sixty pieces, under the
leadership of Professor Fancuilla, were
stationed just within the entrance and
added color and brilliancy to the scene.
The musical program included a melange
of airs of all nations, arranged by Sousa as
= compliment to the diplomatic corps.
Just before IL o'clock, President and Mrs.
Cleveland descended the stairway from
the private portion of the While House,
followed by members of the cabinet, and
exchanged greetings with members OF the
diplomatic corps, who came Respondent IN
full court costumes, The president then
took his place in the blue parlor next to the
door, with Mrs. Cleveland on his right. In
line beside her were the wives OF members
of the cabinet and Miss Herbert, daughter
of Secretary Herbert. Mrs. Smith was
prevented attending by the illness OF her
daughter.
Mrs. Cleveland's gown was of white
mauve, stripped satin with MORE in front:
In the bodice was a high stock collar OF
mauve velvet and pretty jabot OF lace
falling over a vest of white satin, richly
embroidered with pearls. Only few dla-
monds sparkled in her corsage and the en-
tire effect of the toilet was one OF great
simplicity.
Mrs, Oiney wore gown of grey velvet.
The bodice had jacket effect with re-
verse of lilac velvet and a jabot of lace.
Mrs Carlisle wore gray satin brocade
stylshly trimmed with pointe lace.
Mrs. Lamont's gown was white broad
cloth edged with a band of sable. The
bodice was of white satin and entirely COW
cred with real antique lace of handsome
pattern. The front OF the waist had a
pleated fold of satin embroidered in n
flower design, with parts of it painted. The
puffed sleeves, which reached to the elbow,
were striped with cloth bands similarly or
namented. AZ diamond crescent brooch
and other diamond ornaments were worn.
Mrs. Harmon, who was assisting at her
some figure in the line. Her gown was an
elegant one, of rich lavender brocade, sty-
lishiy made and worn, and trimmed with
duchess lace. Some sparkling jewels were
worn. w S,ls s.-,,--.-., =
Mrs. Herbert wore a French gown of
light blue brocade silk, combined with blue
velvet, chiffon and gold passamenterie.
Miss Morton wore wine-colored silk and
real point lace, giving becoming finish to
the bodice.
The ladies of the diplomatic corps wore
elegant visiting dresses, which reflected for
the most part the latest creatlons OF thelr
pars dressmakers.
In rear of the line were the members of
the cabinet and ladies invited to assist in
the reception.
Among the ladies who assisted were !:
Mrs. Fuller, Mrs. Brice, Mrs. Mills; Mrs.
Mrs. Hit, Mrs. Newlands, Mrs. Daniels,
Mrs. Crisp, Mrs. Sayres. Mrs. Mcclellan,
Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Catchings, Mrs. Miles,
Mrs. Sternberg, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Ram
sey, Mrs Stewart, Mrs. McAdoo, Mrs. Doe,
Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Scott, Miss Letitia Steven
Mrs. Gray, Mrs. A. A. Wilson, Mrs. Mat
thews, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Walker, Mrs.
Brooks, Mira. Bryant, Miss Knott, Miss
Todd, Miss Mabel johnson, Mrs. w. X.
Carlisle, Mrs. Reed, Miss Barry, Mrs.
Whitmore, Miss Quay, Miss Jane Fuller,
Miss Conrad, Miss Crowell, Mrs. Wharton,
Mrs. Wright and Miss Lucy Wright.
The band struck up Hail to the Chief as
the presidential party descended the west
ern stairway at o'clock. After the party
had taken their stations the band burst
forth with Falciulli's Inaugural March,
dedicated to President Cleveland, and the
reception began with the entry of the diplo-
. ma,ic corps, headed by the dean, Sir Julian
Pauncefote. Many of the corps exchanged
salutes with the president and Mrs. Cleve-
land, passed in the rear of the reception
party and engaged in conversation with
the pretty women who were assisting in the
reception.
Following the diplomats we're the mem.
bers of the United States supreme court,
headed by Chief Justice Fuller, the judges
of the court of claims, of the court of ap-
peals and of the supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The senators and representatives and
delegates in congress were next in line, not
very many in number, but including most
of the men of national renown. Speaker
Reeds tall figure loomed above the others
who rather impatiently waited in the cold
entry.
The order of reception from this on was
not very closely observed, and senators,
members of congress. judicial officers,
commissioners and other officials fell into
line where they happened to reach the
the officers of the army stationed in Wash
ington appeared in a body, in full dress
uniform, headed by Major General Miles
with his personal staff, and in their rear
came the officers of the navy. led by Com
modorcs Matthews, Pythian and Melville,
and in their turn the officers of the District
of Columbia National Guard, with General
Ordway at their head.
The regents of the Smithsonian insti-
tute. the civil service and interstate COM
merce commissions, tne assistant Secretar-
les of the various executive departments
and bureau chiefs came along rather loose
in order, and with the G.. A. r., Loyal
Legion and Veteran organizations, wound
up the official contingent, and preceded
the general public, which had gathered
several thousand strong on the sidewalks,
waiting patiently for hours their opportun-
ity to grasp the hands IF the President and
Mrs. CieveIr nd.
Just beyLhd the place where the band
discoursed in the great vaulted corridor of
the White House, the decorations were
composed of gigantic screw palms in al
coves and stands of potted plants.
The red parlor. into which the visitors
we're 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 exchange greetings with guests
behind line of heavy gilt framed sofas,
abounded with cut flowers arranged in
tall stand on the central divan.
The most attractive feature of the great
reception was the scene in the vast east
room. The daylight was excluded by
heavy curtains, and the room was flooded
with the soft light from the great hemi-