Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-01
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
New Years at the White House.

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House took place to-day according to
long. established custom. 1t consti-
tutes the yearly ordeal of the Presi-
dent and the mistress of the White
House. The interior of the mansion
had been lavishly decorated for the &C.
casion. Shortly after eleven o'clock
the United States Marine Band sud
denly commenced to play the well.
known air of Hail to the Chief" At
this signal Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland,
Vice President and Mrs. Stevenson,
Secretary and Mrs. Olney, Secretary
and Mrs. Carlisle, Attorney General
and Mrs. Harmon, Postmaster General
and Mrs. Wilson, Secretary and Miss
Herbert, Secretary and Mrs. Lamont,
Secretary and Miss MLrton, and Secre
tary and Mrs. Frances came down the
staircase and took their places, the
President and Mrs. Cleveland at one
end with Secretary Olney and Col.
Wilson at their right, and the ladies
forming line across the apartment.
The Cabinet officers dropped to the
rear and entered into conversation
with some of the ladies, who composed
that contingent commonly designated
"behind the line" Those who paid
their respects to the President and Mrs.
Cleveland passed out of the receiving
chamber into the Green Room and
thence into the spacious East
Room. After the English, French and
German ambassadors and their suites
in brilliant uniforms had passed
came the modest black of con-
ventional evening dress worn by
Senior Matias Romero, minister from
Mexico, who, in connection with the
representatives from the Latin-Ameri-
can republics, with the exception Of
those from Brazil, followed the custom
of his country in appearing in the high
est garb of civilian conventionality.
Sonora Romeo, and the secretaries and
attaches of the Mexican legation fol-
| lowed the minister. 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 Flowery Kingdom. To-day she
came again and created quite as much
interest and comment as she did on her
previous appearance at New Years
reception. Her wonderful silken robes
were the admiration of Of all the women
present, while every man pronounced
her as pretty as picture, and not a
Chinese picture either. Her attractive
little face beamed beneath a curious
headdress 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. Minister Yang
Yu's costume was resplendent.
When the Korean minister and his suite
We're announced the spectators, who
craned their necks to see the odd head
dresses and gowns in which they had
been accustomed to see the representa-.
tives of the Hermit Kingdom attired,
met with a disappointment, for they
had discarded their picturesque costume
for the conventional garments of Euro
pean civilization. Uniforms of Euro
pean cut were also worn by Mr.. Toru
Hoshi, the Japanese minister, and his
official family. Moustapha Rey, the
Sultan's representative, made his ini-
tial how without removing his fez. The
greetings Senior Don Enrique Dupuy de
LONE, the Spanish minister, gave and
re ceived were cordial in the extreme,
and, resplendent in gold braid, he
passed along the line, bowling and smil-
ing with Castilian courtesy to the
ladies' in the receiving party. Senior
Dupuy de LONE and q number OF
uniformed secretaries and attaches,
some of them with their wives,
followed the Spanish Minister. Many
others of the diplomatic body were
present. Secretary Olney, who had
made the presentation of the members
of 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 followed, among
whom were the members of the U. S.
Supreme Court, the Court Of Claims,
the Court of Appeals of the District,
ex-members of the Cabinet and
me mbers of the Venezuelan commits
sion. Rear Admiral Ramsay, Rear Ad-
miral Walker, Commodores Matthews,
Sampson, Hichborn, Melville and
number of other well-known officers
composed the naval contingent. Col.
Haywood, tie commandant of the
Marine Corps, led those under him,
and after them came General Ordway
and the general staff of the District of
Columbia militia. Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress had struggled
along before and behind the military and
naval people. Speaker Reed bowled
past the receiving party attracting con-
siderable attention. Mr.. Sherman and
other Senators were present. Carrying
their battle flags came the Mexican war
veterans then members of the Grand
Army of the Republic, the Loyal Lee
gon, the Union Veterans Legion and
the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of
Columbia. 1t was nearly one o'clock
when the public reception began. Men,
and children OF all castles and walks in
life passed in procession through the
reception rooms. For each the Presi
dent and Mrs. Cleveland mad smile
and handshake. At two o'clock the
doors were closed and the last of the
most trying social ordeals Of the Cleve-
land administration was over.
Train Wrecked.
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