The herald., 1897-01-08
PRESIDENTIAL RECEPTION
New Years Day at the
White House
THE LAST GREAT SOCIAL FUNCTION
That the CIevelands Will Have
to Dispense
THE MOST BRILLIANT EVENT
OF the Season at Washlngtcn--ReguIar
Routine
THE MOST BRILLIANT EVENT
A Survival Of the Old Time Southern
Custom
The "First Lady Of the Land" On Ex-
hibition--The President and His
Wife Have to Shake Hands
With 5000 People

With 5000 People
Especial Correspondence to The Herald.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-President
Cleveland and his wife are to be con-
graduated on one thing-that they have
played pump-handle to the public for
the last time on New Years day. No
where else in the United States is the
first of the year made so much of as
in Washington, where, in official cir
cles, it is the greatest of all the brilliant
events of the season. Since time out
Of mind the celebration has hardly va
ried hairs breadth, except in the per-
sonnel of the participants, as one ad-
ministration after another has had its
little day and wheeled into line among
the things that were. BY 9 am. on jan
uary the thoroughfares in the vicn-
ity of the White House assume an air
of extraordinary activity. Strains of
martial music are in the air; the gilt
tering uniforms of our naval and mill
tary officers. the gorgeous decorations
of the diplomats, the diamonds and
magnificent dresses of the ladies in
their carriages, mingle with the dress
suits Of civilians and the shabby best
of the hoi polloi. Hemeted guardians
OF the peace-always swarming around
the Executive mansion like flies
around a molasses barrel, and unusual
ly thick during the Cleveland regime
are thicker than ever-about one DO
liceman, mounted or on foot, to every
score of private individuals. And their
hands are full as the day advances
Keeping the surging crowd off the street
car tracks and from under the wheels
or carriages and the feet of horses in
the professions: looking out for cranks
with concealed weapons and fancled
missions to kill, and maintaining some
thing like order in the ranks of the lloi
polloi, marshaled in double lines from
the White House gate down Pennsyl-
vania avenue to the war department
and thence for block or two, impatient
1y waiting their turn to get into the
mansion.
The presidents public reception or
the first day of January is a survival
of the old-time southern custom of re-
ceiving on New Years day. 1t came in
with the Washingtons, and it is not
hkeiy TO go out, whatever tickle fash
ION may decree elsewhere. 1t serves
100 many useful purposes and savors
TOO much of the very spirit of Republi-
canism to be ever given up
NOT only does it afford opportunity
Tor the representatives of all the civil
lied nations of the earth to pay their for
heads of various branches of our own
government-legislativ judicial and
military-to meet socially in the house
OF their executive chief but it gives the
humble citizen chance to view the in
terror holy of holies Of the White House
IN all Its glory. to shake hands on
friendly footing with the president and
his wife, to get glimpse of the topmost
notch OF upper tendon in it's stunning
attire, and, best of all, the feeling of a
proprietary interest in the whole con-
cern. The belief is "born in the blood
and bred in the bone" of the citizen
aforesaid that the government prop
erty Is his property, that his money in
the form OF taxes, has helped to build
and pay for the capitol and the executive
mansion and the department buildings;
and that even the people whom his votes
have elected to run the machine tempo
rarily belong in a measure to him.
Hence, who has a better right to look
the property over occasionally? For
this reason all the public buildings are
open, wholly or in part every day in the
week to whoever cares to ramnle
through them, and guides are provided
at government expense to exhibit with
out charge to all comers the public por-
tion of the White House and as much
OF interest in the treasury vaults, the
bureau of engraving and printing, etc.
as can be thrown open without seriously
interfering with work going on. But the
great American public demands also
to share in the personal glories of these
high places. Therefore at least two oc-
casions are created in each years social
season when all the world is welcome to
the nations house, where the first lady
of the land" and the proudest danes of
her court must stand on exhibition, like
wax figures in the Eden Musee; when
millionaires and bootblacks, society
queens and colored "wash ladies" meet
on common level and shake the en-
gloved hands of the president and his
wife. These two much priced occa-
sions are on New Years day and the one
evening of official reception to the pub
lie which the president gives toward the
close of each winter. At both of them the
wash lady and bootblack element is not
altogether lacking; but to the credit of
all concerned be it recorded that the
historic mansion Is just as carefully dec
GRATED with the choicest products of the
conservatories, and the receiving ladies
wear as gracious manners and ravish-
ing toilettes as when posing at the most
exclusive "funtcions."
The New Years reception is the most
largely attended and by far the most in
terestlng OF the two, as most sharply
contrasting the lights and shades of
American society The White House
parlors are shut off from "the garish
light Of day." and the electric suns send
their soft glow over exquisite floral
decorations, magnificent hangings, rich
upholstery and beautifully dressed
women. In the great east room the
crystal chandeliers are hung with ropes
Of smilax, the mantels under the long
mirrors banked with flowers, the cor
ners and windows screened with tail
palms. The red and blue parlors ar,
similarly decked and garnished-cut
flowers, potted plants and ornamented
foliage everywhere; and the grand in.
ner corridor, extending nearly the lengtl
Of the mansion, facing the parlors. ha.
tree-ferns and azaleas in bloom groupef
between It's statuary and beneath tho
portraits of the beauties and states
men Of other days. In the outer CORR
dor the relocated, white trouseref
Marine band are stationed, to rende
their choicest selections throughout tn,
day One Of the long windows Of al
anteroom IS converted into a door pre-
tenn, to facilitate egress. Carpets are