The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-01-07

brilliant Uniforms and Gay Co.'S
tunes In Evidence.

Washington, Jan. 1.-Seven thousand
persons shivered outside the White house
today for ics.Jds varying from one to
six hours, but patience had its reward
in every case, for the president and Mrs
Cleveland shook hands with every one
of them.
The closing reception was the mos
brilliant of Mr.. Cleveland's whole eight
years in office, and old Arthur Simmons
the presidents famous colored messen-
ger, whose service in the White house
dates back 30 years. shook his head sage
ly as he viewed the far-reaching crowd
from an upper window, and declared 1t
DE greatest inception since de war;
The cold, gray sky that threatened rain
which did not come, served merely as a
foil to the brilliant pageant that moved
for hours through the forest of tropical
plants that filed the softly lighted par
lors inside the executive mansion. The
diplomatic corps, as usual, furnished the
high lights in the picture. Foreign uni
forms and decorations of every sort, from
the white and silver of the German mill
tary attaches to the green and crimson
silks of the Chinese minister. almost
served to pale the Paris gowns of the re-
behind the line. Only shade more sub
dued were the uniforms of the army and
navy, study in blue and gold, accen-
tuated by the yellow plumes of the cav
airy and the scarlet faclngs of the ar
tillery. AS background for this dis
play was set the dead black of the even
Ing dress of the South American diplo-
mats, worn in accordance with their own
nj Ia MI In t..h
morning costumes of the civil officials.
Mrs. CIeveland's Appearances.
The center of the picture was Mrs.
Cleveland, the most simply gowned of the
receiving party. Her dress of pale mauve
had high ruching of smoke gray lace
at the throat and at the wrists. 1t was
caught with butterfly bows of the same
on the shoulders and on the plain smooth
hanging skirt. Her hair was coiled high
at the back and brought in full waves
from her forehead over her temples. She
was just slightly flushed by the rapid
exercise of handshaking, but smiled as
cheerfully and shook hands as vigorously
with the last of her 1000 callers as she
had with tho rest.
The Interior Decorations.
me decorations of the interior OF d, the
White house were altogether floral In
deed, little else than Mowers could be
added to the simple yet elegant perma-
nent adornments of the receiving suite
without sensibly detracting from the eff
feet of the whole. These, however. were
used in profusion. and at the same time
with such fine taste and so correct an es-
innate of the color values of the different
apartments as to add vastly to the ap.
pearance of the noble suite The first of
the apartments to be entered by the
callers upon passing through the lobby
Or the red room, so-called from the pre-
Vailing tone of the hangings and up
nolstery. was least lavlshly bedecked
With flowers, probably because it was in
ended only for a waiting room.
But just adjoining 1t the blue parlor,
amous In the history of receptions. was
decorated with exquisite taste. TAN
'alms, interspersed with azalias. foliage.
'lants and gigantic ferns, hid from view
he closely drawn curtains which shut
tut the light of day from the rooms.
old banks of rarest flowers covered the
nantles, and beautiful and unique run |