Evening star., 1897-01-01
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The Annual Reception at the Ex-
ecutive Mansion.
A BRILLIANT SOCIAL FUNCTION
Diplomats, Officials and Citizens
Pay Their Respects.
THE PRESIDENTS GREETING

President ard Mrs. Cleveland exchanged
| New Year greetings for the last time with
| the ofhcial world OF the capital today. The
| occasion was intensified in interest by this
thought to the loyal hearts of the adminis-
| tratioa and gave plea sing variety to tho
| fancy of those who are patiently awaiting
| coming events. The sunshine which has
| always been conspicuous accompaniment
| TO the great social functions during each of
| Mr.. Clevelands administrations was lack
| inG today, but its absence made very little
adherence inside of the brightly lighted
mansion. The arrangements for the recep-
ton OF the ladies who were to assist presi
dent and Mrs. Cleveland were most salts
| factory, and as majority of the arrivals
| were early, the mansion was half an hour
before IL full of chatting feminine groups.
! Upstairs ana downstairs the buzz of merry
conversation was heard and the spirit of
the day vas uppermost in every thought.
| COL John NJ. Wilson, on whose shoulders
| rests the burden of the successful oufcoma
| OF all the arrangements, was on hand short
~ after 10 and held leyee of his own I'm
| uffectins ms able heuterants. the employees
oI me mouse The colonel is a popular man
| III the army circle, as he is in pretty much
every other walk of life where he comes I'm
contact with busy people, but in the White
house he enjoys this enviable distinction
| TO the utmost.
The Crowd Smaller Than T.y,r
| The crowd of visitors coming IN obsar,a
| the grand pageant was much smaller thu,
USUAL because greater care had been ex-
| efciseu IN the giving of the necessary per-
MISSION. There were just enough present
al III ociock to give friendly air to the
house "hen the receiving party came down
stars. With each minute thereafter tho
corridor gathering was Augmented hy fresh
arrivals until, when the reception reached
d moving progress, it formed the same ell
po"ihg'pushing but well-dressed. expectant
'hrohg which always accompanies a great
event, with but limited space to sa. 4, a,
ne attendance of personal friends of Pr
iueht and Mrs Cleveland was create 80,
az any previous reception, and the recen
aiom IN was generally what the policemen caI
d carriage crowd. The desire on Tho 30,
oi the public 10 watch the CAV nrocaa5ina
was uhdimin1shed and PROCESSION formed
g. a. .he VEST gate with that happy jllea In
view an hour before the reception cona-
nenced. This laudable desire VS. IN
ever. checked at that distance by ihs -
hcenen stationed there and only ihoss ~,
nad more tangible ella inns and a sunerahnn
dance of New Year cheek uor. ehi
cross the portals ahead of the .ssi.e'1 "a
time. VI '"e assigned
The Decorations,
The general at:racti.eness of the man.
sion in the way of its rich furnishings and
absolutely neat appearance as wen An
from Inc standpoint of the fieeting beauty
or the horal decoration was a matter of
VIDE comment, and ELECTED from all the
early comers some pleasant remarks The
pright crimson carpet of the corridor up-
ne'0 Its burden of ofiicialdom for the first
time. The pattern is rich and the color
so warm 1hat it seemed to furnish the
corridor, so that the usual settees that are
there every day were scarcely missed
brand span new carpet is also on the east
room. and has been splendid selection to
harmonize with the rest OF its decorations
Another new carpet also covers the green
parlor, and these freshening touches went
long way TO the completion of the effect
Of the cozy and rich interior
Flowers were conspicuously abundant in
each rccm. Along the corridor masses of
palms ard shining foliage plants were ar
ranged In the inches and on stands In the
red room prim rows of small potted prim-
roses decked the manIels and cabinet In
the blue parlor gayer tone prevailed A
pretty drapery OF asparagus Vines fell from
each chandelier. draped each doorway and
each mirror Tail palms were massed I'm
each or the three windows. and the man
tel sheives were banked in floral mosaics
beds OF small white blossoms, starred with
poinsetta blooms and hyacinth stalks
Atop OF the central divan was a tall bou-
ioned bios SONS which seem most at home
in the White House. In the green room
tnere were more palms and blooming
plants, and in the east room the door
ways, WINDOWS and chandeliers Were
draped with asparagus vines. Long gar
lands of IL rea ched out from the chande-
ners TO the hutcd columns and contributed
prettiiy to the festive effect. Ponsetta
blossoms starred the masses Of green ar
ranged in each window recess and made
glowing points of color In the east win
dow, where a pyramid of palms lowered
higher than elsewhere.
The diplomats and their ladies on ar
rlVlng were shown TO the red room and
had the use of the state dining room for
thelr wraps. The cabinet and ladies and
the rest OF the party went upstairs TO lay
aside their wraps.
Toilets of the Receiving Party,
Mrs. Cleveland chose for her final New
Year reception a costume which in color
and material is associated with one OF her
greatest trumphs. and upon an occasion
when her remarkable beauty and charm
OF manner never seemed more manifest and
more commented upon. The winter after
she came bride to the White House she
had an evening dress OF light grayscloth,
trimmed with black marabout feathers
She wore ii the other night, of which there
Is no other public record, when she
danced at a ball. This occasion was at an
evening at the home of Secretary and Mrs
wntney. Mrs. Cleveiands gown today was
a tribe more demure. It's color and style
were equally becoming. The skirt was
walking length, and hung full. with the
present fashionable limpness. The bodice
fitted her now exceedingly trim figure per
fectly. The sleeves had short tucked FULL
ness, standing out straight from the shoul-
ders. A full vest effect OF steel-beafod
chiffon and lace trimmed the front,AAnd
the high collar was pinned by a diamond
ornament -
number of glittering gems were in the
pretty side combs In her hair.
Mrs Stevenson wore a superb gown of
black velvet. The train was long The
bodiee had a high velvet ruff, richly jetted
end square yoke Of Jet, with q white
thread introduced, gave a novel effect to
the trimmed corsage. Diamond and pearl
ornaments were worn.
Mrs. Olney wore black velvet and jet
Mrs Carlisle. rich purple MORE antique
and a bodice of purple velvet
Mrs. Lamont wore an elegant dress of
black and white strired silk. The high