Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-27

iiOiil OLc TOOIH 10 the Otn6r, Win Inc naTuy
Norseman always as the center of atten-
ton anG attraction. Finally when the
speechmaking was over and the explorer
had slipped away for a little informal chat
the latest limits of the hours arranged for
the reception that the throng began to
show any visible signs Of diminishing in
numbers.
brilliant Scene.
The scene presented was one that will
not be forgotten for great while by those
who were fortunate enough to be number
ed in the list of guests The two reception
Iarlors. the great parlor directly in front
Of the entrance and the large banquet
room were given over to the use of the
society. All the rooms were most profusely
and tastefully decorated with great bunch
es of fern and cut flowers. while palms,
rubber trees and other like plants filled
the corners and formed magnificent back
ground for the rich dresses worn by we'll
known society ladies. This SC heme of dec
grafton was carried out to its fullest extent
IN the banquet hall. where the speechmak-
ing took place. while maps hung on the
walls at intervals with the names Of the
best-known arctic explorers, and the farth-
est points north which they had respective
ly reached printed them, gave to the
occasion tinge of science which was most
appropriate.
a portion of the Marine Band, under the
leadership of Prof. Fanciulli, occupied the
gallery in the banquet hall, being almost
entirely hidden. however. by the mass of
Teens which decorated this part of The
room. The mirrors on the walls reflected
the countless lights and the color in the
dresses. while the steady CLEAN of green
in almost every conceivable nook and cor
ner of the great room reduced the vivid
ness and picturesQuenesS to rich zone
A great deal of attention was attracted
to these charts. which were specimens OF
the new ones recently issued by the hydro
n Thav CHI nod md
discoveries OF all arctic explorers, and con-
tanned the autographs Of the three eminent
arctic explorers present, DR.. Nansen, at
the position near the pole where he made
his farthest north: General Greedy, at Cape
Washington, where Lockwood and Brainard
of his party made their celebrated record,
and Commodore Melville, at the position
where the Inflated Jeanette sunk and
the weary march to the Lena delta COM
menced. The many groups of people who
studied these charts during the evening
evidently appreciated the idea of Lieutenant
Everett Hayden, the secretary Of the So
ciety, who secured the charts and auto
graphs DIR. hansen, who makes 1t a rule
not to give his autograph, on account of
the impossibility of filling orders. made an
exception in this case, and laughingly lay
down at full length the floor at the
legation of Sweden and Norway, where he
was stopping, and inscribed his name along
the line on the charts that showed the
track of himself and Johannesen on their
famous march over the ice.
Committee of Reception.
The honorary reception committee was
made up of men well known in official,
church and educational life. 1t consisted
of Vice President Garrett A. Hobart, Sec
rotary of State Sherman, Secretary of the
Navy Long. Mr.. N. ]. Knagenhjelm, charge
d affaires of the legation of Sweden AID
Norway; Right Rev. Mgr. Thomas ]. Co
naty, rector of the Catholic University; ex-
Secretary of State John w. Foster, Pres
ident d. c. Gilman. Rev. John F. Hurst,
w. Melville. U.S.N.; John Addison Porter.
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Theodore
Roosevelt. Capt. w. S. Schley, U.SN: Ad-
miraI John G. Walker, U.S.N.; Rev. Il. L..
Whitman, president Of Columbian Univer-
sity, and Gen. J. NJ. Wilson, chief Of en-
gineers, C.S.A.
The executive committee of the National
Geographic Society in charge of the recep-
ton consisted of Messrs. Gardiner G. Hub
bard, Henry F. Blount, Gen. A. w. Greedy.
Charles J. Bell, David T. Day and Profess
sor Marcus Baker.
DIR. Nansen made his entrance accom-
panied by Gardiner G. Hubbard and
Charles ]. Bell. before many guests had ar
rived. and took his place to receive them
before an immense American flag. In which
were hung the colors Of Sweden and Nor
way. The presenting party was made up
of Gardiner G. Hubbard, Gen. A. w.
Greedy, Commodore Melville. DIR. David T.
LAY anu fFOIcSSOT MdfCuS Baker. 10 emu
merate all the persons who shook hands
with the explorer would be to name over
almost every prominent official in the
city, at this time as well as men and wo-
men high up in the world of science. educa-
ton and the professions. DIR. Day pro-
nounced each name clearly and distinctly,
and the guests were then passed on to DIR.
Nansen. who stood smiling and eager to
greet them.
Receives the Congratulations.
picture. He is tall, well-developed man.
his face showing in every line the utmost
OF robust health. Last night 1t was wreath
ed in smiles. while happiness shone in
every change brought about by some new
salutation. or the oft-repeated 81 con-
graduate you. doctort' No one was sighted
! and no one who passed the explorer failed
TO receive a word q smile in return
Although the stream of visitors had not
stopped coming In at 10 o'clock. 1t was Inn
possible to defer the speeches until later
and DR.. Nansen was escorted to the plat
| norm which had been erected at the north
side OF the banquet hall. Here chairs had
] been arranged, but for every guest thus nc