Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-02
In THE WHITE HOUSE
0flc!al New Years Reception by
President Cleveland.
THE GREATEST SINCE THE WAR.
Mrs. Cleveland Shakes Hands WIN
Sewn thousand Guts,s-A
Brilliant Party.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-Seven thou
iaud persons shivered outside the
White House today for periods vary
ing from one to six hours. But patti
ence had Its reward in every case, for
the President and Mrs. Cleveland
shook hands with every one OF them.
The closing New YEARS reception OF
tho present administration was the
most brilliant OF Mr.. Cieveland's
whole eight years in Office. and old
Arthur Simmons, the Presidents
famoue colored messenger, whose
services in the White House dates back
thirty years, shook his head sageiy as
he Viewed the far'reaching crowd
from an upper window and declared
1t ude greatest inception since the
wah."
The cold gray sky that threatened
rain which did not come served
merely as foil TO the brilliant
pageant that moved for hours through
filed the sotly-iiRhted parIors
Inside the executive mansion.
The diplomatic corps, as usual,
picture. Foreign uniforms and decora-
tions of every sort, from the white and
silver Of the German military attaches
to the green and crimson SILKS OF the
Chinese minister, almost served to pale
the Paris gowns OF the receiving party
and of the official guests behind the
line. Only shade more subdued
wore the uniforms Of the army and
navy, u study In blue and gold, accen.
tuateu by the yellow plumes OF the
cavalry and the scarlet facings OF the
artillery. AS background for tbie
display was set the dead black Of the
evening dress of tho South American
diplomats, worn in accordance with
their own social low In such matters,
and the sober morning costumes OF the
civil fficials.
The cenrer OF the picture was Mrs.
Cleveland, the most simply gowneu Of
the receiving party. Her dress OF pale
mnuve had high ruohing OF smoke
gray lace at the throat and at the
wrists. 1t was caught with butterfly
bows OF the same on the shoulders and
on the plain smo0th-hangiDg skirt.
Her hair was coiled high at the back
and brought in full waves from her
forehead over the temples. She was
just slightly flushed by the rapid exer-
clse of hanushakiDg, but smiled az
cheerfully and shook hands as vigor-
ously with the last OF her 1000 callers
as she had with the first.
The receptioDiwas a brilliant sue
cess. 1t oontinued from IL O'Clock
until 9. Long lines Of carriages moved
slowly from the spacious grounds to
the porte e0chere, where the occupants
alighted and maze their way through
the beautifully decorated psrlor to
where the receiving party stood in the
blue parior. In All ante.room the Ma.
rins band played. The official pro-
gram was carried out with strict form
nifty. The cabinet ana the diplomatic
corps, judges OF the Supreme Court,
senators and representatives and other
dignitaries Of the government arrived
in regular order, and after changing
New Years greetings with the receiv-
ing party, gathered in the east room.
Here appeared the full brilliancy OF
the occasion. Eleg intly-gown ned ladies.
members OF the diplomatic corps In
luli court costumes and officers OF the
army and navy In uniform, moving