Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-12-27


the other is the social reception to the
public which is one OF the great evening
receptions given by the President
every year. BY far the more interest
ing of these two social occasions ts the
reception given by the President on
New Years day, for then are mingled
the representatives of official life with
the people who have no official stand
ing. and who have come, hat in hand,
to pay their respects to the first citizen
of the United States and TO wish him
a prosperous administration of the
public affairs In the months 20 come.
The arrangements for the annual re-
ception this year are in the hands OF
Colonel j. NJ. Wilson, who is the SUI
perintendent Of public buildings and
has charge of the White House. In
Arthur's term the marshal Of the DIS
trict Of Columbia was the social drum
major. He made all arrangements for
the Presidents receptions and present
ed the guests. When Mr.. Cleveland
came into office he assigned Colonel
Wilson, OF the army, to perform these
social official duties. Colonel Ernest
succeeded him in the Harrison admin
istration, bu. four years later Colonel
Wilson returned to his old place.
WHITE HOUSE DECORATIONS.
The decorations for a White House
function come from the government
Conservatives. In the east parlor the
large windows will be screened with
fan and date palms. The three crystal
chandeliers will be hung with ropes OF
smilax Beneath the long mirrors Will
be banks of small palms and foliage
plants, varied with pots and jardinieres
brilliant with flowers.
Scattered about the blue parlor will
be few chairs. but the space behind
the receiving line will be crowded dur
ing most of the morning by the people
who i:eve been invited TO assist Mrs.
Cleveland.
Among these will probably be Mrs.
John Sherman, Mrs. Francis Newlands,
Mrs. A. A. WilsoG, Mrs. Thomas B.
Reed, Mrs. Calvin S. Brice, the Misses
Brice. Mrs. Benjamin M'cou, Mrs. T
c. Catchings, Mrs. r. R. Hit, Mrs.
Roger Q. Mills, Mrs. Colonel Haywood
the Misses Hamlin, Miss Mott, Mrs
Shelby NJ. Cullom, Miss Wetmore
Mrs. Wharton, Mrs. Stanley Matthew
Mrs. s. W. Cobb. Mrs Melville Fuller
Miss Fuller, Miss Stevenson, Miss Quay
Miss Harmon, Miss Wilson, Miss Scott
Mrs. Minot. Mrs. John NJ. Wilson, Miss
BOYD. Mrs. George NJ. Sternberg. Mrs
Admiral Ramsay, Mrs. Nelson Miles
and Miss Gray.
These ladies are the supplemental
receiving party. The principal receiv-
ing party will form line between the
east and west doors Of the blue parlor
It will be composed Of the President
Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs.
Olney. Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs. Lamont,
} Miss Herbert, Mrs. Harmon, Mrs
Francis. Mrs. Wilson and Miss Nor
ton. The President will wear the con
ventional black frock coat, with DARK
trousers, and he will hold a pair Oh
! gloves In his left hand. Mrs. Cleveland
and the other ladies will be In full re-
ception gowns.
Behind the line the ladies will b.
in gorgeous reception toilet. Most oil
! the men will be in frock and cutaway
| coats. The exceptions will be the peo
J ple in uniform or court costume and the
! one man in a dress coat. That solitary
dress coat is an unfailing feature Of G
New Years reception.
THE RECEPTION HOUR.
The hour fixed for the beginning OF
the reception is II o'clock. Before
that time the ladies Of the receiving
party have arrived some Of them with
, their husbands. But men, with one
/ exception, cut a very small figure at the
! New Years reception. The members
of the cabinet and their ladies go Ut
stairs. The other ladies are ushered
into the blue parlor behind the line OF
chairs which extends from the western
almost 10 the eastern door. Some OF
this ushering is done by the doorkeep-
ers OF the White House and some by
the ubiquitous and obliging Thurber.
In the lobby is stationed the marine
: band. gorgeous IN red and blue uni
forms. which vie in brilliancy with the
costumes of the diplomats hurrying tC
their places in the red parlor. At JUS
II o'clock Thurber rushes frantically
TO the head OF the stairway leading
from the second floor Of the mansion
to the floor below. He waves his hand
The signal is passed along and as the
President and Mrs Cleveland appear
at the end of the stairs descending, the
band strikes up the well worn but in
evitable Hail TO the Chief" BEHIND
the Clevelands are the vice president
and his wife and the cabinet people il
pairs. The procession moves down The
stairs and through the hallway to thu
blue parlor, where the vice president
and all the cabinet members but Mr.
Olney disappear behind the line. Tn;
President and Mrs Cleveland and he
assistants form the line across the cas-
parlor, Mr.. Olney takes his place at thu