The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-02
RI EvELAND RECEIVES CALLS.
u,r PRESIDENT HOLDS THE An
NUAL RECEPTION.


HarIike-The Pretty Wife OF the
chinese Ambassador and Her Pic
,uresaue Costume Attracts More
,,,ention Than Any other Woman
Present.
washington, Jan. 1.-The white house
&c roomy, but its capacity was taxed TO
tba utmost to-day by the crowds that
,.sssed in and out of what may be termed
the state departments blue room, where
,ba foreign ambassadors and ministers
have their first formal interviews with the
presltfent. the red room and the spacious
east room. the scene of so many incidents
that have become historical, and lastly
tbe generously proportions of the cor
rilor. extending nearly the entire length
of the mansion, with which all these
spartments communicate.
A force of decorators, under the direc-
ZION of Gardner Fisher, the veteran su-
perintendent OF the white house conserva-
tory and grounds, had worked hard last
night and early this morning in making
the mansion look beautiful for the great
show OF the year. The Conservatives mad
been robbed of their choicest possessions,
I'M not to such an extent that those
whose observation extended to their tropi-
cal precincts, were Impressed by sense
Of depletion. Wherever the eye wandered
i'm the blue room, corridor, east room or
other chambers, it was met by groups OF
palms and tall rubber trees, and by flow
ering bushes from the deepest or crimson
IN the most delicate of white rosebudS.
The mantels, fireplaceS and window en-
brasures were banked with floral beauty.
The chandeliers were almost hidden IN
vyreaths of green snlilaX, and ferns waved
delicate branches from the hooks and cor
ners. while stately and graceful specimens
of screw pine stood along in the alcoVes,
colt IN
TO the oval shaped blue room had been
given the preference of blooming plants
and cut flowers, whose perfume hung
heavily on the air. The west mantel was
a mass of brilliant color, with It's pro-
fusion of red roses, red camelias and red
poinsettas, standing in marked contrast
10 the decoration of the east mantel'
which was all in white, roses of white,
camelias of white, and white hyacinths
From the chandelier was pendant large
basket of roses hanging above the heads
Of me receiving party, while smilaX was
entwined with the juggling crystals ana
draped in chains above the doorWays
banked on the mantels and windows were
palms, a dozen feet in hight, azala ana
The east room, where most of the guests
assembled after they had paid their re-
spects to the President Mrs. Cleveland,
and the other members of the receiving
party, looked like tropical forest.
Palms ranging in size from the tallest
domestic variety to the small kind so
frequently seen in window gardens, were
the principal decoration of the east win
dow, and these We're surrounded by the
red poinsetta, or Christmas flower, and
a great variety of foliage plants. Every
fireplace and window had its profusion
of these varieties and the prevailing
decoration of smilax swreaths were also
noticeable.
Fiowering plants were everywhere in
the Green room. while in each corner
was a tall rubber tree.
The decoration of the red room was
much in keeping with that in the other
apartments, except that one mantel was
entirely in pink bego. las.
In anticipation of the large crowd and
in order to give it free movement,
few screw pine trees and some plants
plays in the corridor. The reception was
set for II o'clock. and just at that time
the members Of the receiving par
Mrs. Cleveland and the cabinet Off
GERS and their wives came down the pri-
yate staircase leading to the corridor,
superintendent of public buildings and
grounds in full uniform. The only absen-
tee from cabinet party was Mrs. Smith.
the wife of the Secretary of the Interior
Entering the blue room President and
Mrs. Cleveland placed themselves at the
right of the line and the others were
ranged in accordance with official prece-
dence. The march from the private apart
ments above stairs had been accompanied
by music from the United states Marine
band, under Prof. Fauncelli, which was
stationed in the public lobby.
The ladies' of the families of the mem
bers of the cabinet in the receiving line
were Mrs. Olney, Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs.
Harmon Mrs. Lamont, Mrs. Wilson, Miss
Herbert and Miss Morton. A numerous
array of matrons and young ladies had
Deen invited by Mrs. Cleveland to stand
behind the line as the term is. These
comprised the wives and daughters of
senators, representatives, justices of the
federal supreme court, assistant secre-
taries of the executive departments, bu-
feau officers, high officers of the army and
navy, and other prominent officials, with
number of personal friends of Mrs
IleVeland indirectly connected with Of
fetal life
According to custom the members of
me diplomatic corps were first received
and they came in force, headed by their
dean, Sir Julian Pauncefote, the tall and
nearly looking British ambassador, at
tired in his court uniform, who shook
hands warmly and exchanged smiles with
me President as though there had never
Deen such thing as "a Venezuelan
note or message to congress on the Mon
roe dictrine, the chief justice and assoc
cate justices of the supreme court of the
United states, the judges of the United
states court of claims, the judges of the
court or appeals, and the judges of the SUI
preme court of the District of Columbia.
senators, representatives and delegates
IN congress, the commissioners Of the Dis
Irlst OF Columbia and the judicial officers
OF the district eX-memberS of the cabinet
ana eX-ministers of the United States.
oHcers OF the army, navy and marine
corps, the general and general staff of
the militia of the District of Columbia,
the regents and secretary of the Smith
sonian Institution, the civil service COM
missioners, the interstate commerce com
mission, the assistant secretaries of the
departments, assistant postmasters gen
efal solicitor general, assistant attorneys
geeral, commissioners of the fisheries, the
commissioner of labor, the heads of bu-
reaus of the several departments and the
president of the Columbian Institute for
Deaf and Dumb, the Associated Veterans
OF the War of 1916, the Grand Army of the
Republic, the Loyal Legion, Union Vet
eran Legion, and the members of the
oldest Inhabitants Association of the Dis
trlct of Columbia. The reception of the
general public began at 1885 o'clock and
terminated at O'Clock.
Mrs Cleveland's. gown was of lavender
and white striped satin, trimmed with
point lace and high in the neck, as were
all the gowns of the members of the re-
ceiving party. 1t was a matter of par
ucular note that nearly all the members
OF the diplomatic body were accompa-
med by the ladies of their families, if
th'V had any, or by the ladies of some
oooy else's family if they had not. And
so happened that one of these women
attracted more attention from the special
tors than any one of the male members
OF the foreign contingent, despite their
req and blue. yellow and white coats