Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-02

Mrs. Miles, wife of Gen. Miles; Mrs. Saw telle, wife of Gen. Sawtelle; Mrs. Wheaton, wife of Gen. Wheaton; Miss Craig, Mrs. Micou, Miss Tuckerman, Mrs. Ramsey wife of Admiral Ramsey; Mrs. Matthews, wife of Commodore Mat thews; Mrs. Goodloe, Mrs. Stanley Mat thews, Miss Mitchell, Mrs. William G. Rice.
 The first to greet the President was the British ambassador, Sir Julian Paunce- fote, dean of the diplomatic corps. He was accompanied by Lady Pauncefote and daughters, and the attaches of the British legation.
 Next came the ambassadors of France. Italy and Germany with their legation staffs. After these came the plain min isters, headed by Senor Romero, of Mex leo, and other diplomatic representatives in the order of their rank and seniority.
 A year ago Chinese woman was seen for the first time at the opening function of the official social season. She was Mrs. Yang Yu the wife of the envoy from the fiowery Kingdom. Today she came again and created quite as much interest and comment as she did on her previous appearance at a New Years reception. Her wonderful silken robes were the ad- mifation of all the women present while every man pronounced her as pretty as a picture, and not a Chinese picture either Her attractive little face beamed beneath a curious head dress that fairly glittered with precious stones. She drew the lions share of attention, even more than her husband and the silk goWned members of his suite. Yang Yu's cos tune was resplendent In his wake came his secretaries and attaches. It is prob able that the participation of the wives or Chinese ministers at official social functions will be a permanent thing. MT. Yang Yu will be succeeded this year by another distinguished fellow countryman n Cn tl0t hi io IN1trO afa wife will exercise all the prerogatives to which her sex entities her in her native land.
 The presence of Mrs. Yang Yu was not the only mark of Oriental advancement at the reception. When the Korean min ister and his suite were announced the spectators who craned their necks to see the odd head-dresses and gowns in which they had been accustomed to see the representatives of the hermit king dom attired, met with disappointment for they had discarded their picturesque costume for the conventional garments of European civilian, appearing in them for the first time at the New Years day function.
 Washington, Jan. 1.-The last of the diplomats to pay his respects was Senor J. D. Rodriguez, the first representativ of the Greater republic Of Central Ameri- ca QHonduras, Nicaragua and Salvador) I Secretary Olney, who had made the
 
 diplomatic body stepped to the rear as the last of the foreigners had passed and Col. Wilson took his place to introduce those that had followed Chief Justice Fuller led the line of, the grave-looking judges of the federal supreme court; Chief Justice Mott, the new presid- ing officer of the United States court of claims, was followed by his associates on the bench; Chief Justice Alvey, of the court of appeals of the District of Colum- h ~a -I.~ mission, preceded the district judiciary. Then came remembers of the cabinet and ex-ministers of the United States. Maj.-Gen. Miles, attired in his full uni form, a broad golden scarf across his breast indicating that he was the com manding general of the military forces, led the large contingent of army officers. : sdjt.-Gen. Ruggles and the various origadiers-general who preside over the bureaus of the war department were im- mediately in his rear.
 Rear Admiral Ramsey, Rear Admiral Walker, Commodores Matthews, Samp- son, Hichborn, Melville and a number of other well-known officers composed the naval contingent Col. Haywood, the commandant of the marine corps, led those under him, and after them came Gen. Ordway, and the general staff of the militia of the District of Columbia
 Senators and representatives in con- gress had struggled along before and be- hlnQ the military ana naVal paraQe. Speaker Reed boYled past the receiving party, attracting considerable attention. Senator Sherman and other veteran wearers of the toga, were also present Black frock coats became the rule at this point. and continued for some time. Pass ing along in the order assigned came the regents and secretary of the Smithsonian institute the civil service commission, the assistants to the executive depart ments and the heads of governmental bureaus.
 Carrying their tattered battle flags came the associated veterans of the war with Mexico, all bowed down with the weight of years; then members of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Loyal Legion, the Union Veterans Legion and the Oldest Inhabitants association, of the District of Columbia.
 It was nearly 1 o'clock when the public reception began. Men, women and child ren in all walks of life passed in a seem- ingly endless procession through the re- ception rooms For each the President and Mrs. Cleveland had smile and handshake.
 At 2 o'clock the doors were closed and the last of the most trying social ordeal of the Cleveland administration was over.