The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-02

and Of the official guests behind the
line Only shade more subdued were
the uniforms of the army and navy,
study in blue and gold accumulated
by the yellow plumes Of the cavalry
and the scarlet facings Of the artillery
AS background for this display was
set the dead black of the evening dress
Of the South American diplomats, worn
in such matters. and the sober morning
costumes of the civil officials
The center of the picture was Mrs.
Cleveland, the most simple gowned of
the receiving party. Her dress Of pale
mauve had high ruching 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, smooth-hanging skirt Her
hair was coiled high at the back and
brought in full waves from her fore
head over her temples She was just
slightly flushed by the rapid exercise
Of handshaking, but smiled as cheer
fully and shook hands as vigorously
with the last Of her 1000 callers as she
had with the first.
The official programme was carried
out with strict formality. The cabinet
and the diplomatic corps, the Judges
OF the supreme court, the senators and
representatives of the other dignita-
rles Of the government arrived in reg
ular order, and, after passing through
the parlors and exchanging New Years
greetings with the receiving party
gathered in the east room Here an
peared the full brilliancy Of the occa-
sion. The elegantly gowned ladies' the
members of the diplomatic corps in
full court costume and the officers of
the army and navy in uniform moving
through the throng made a kaleidi-
scopic picture of color. The general
public stood in line for hours outside
the White house gates, until the Of
ficials had all been received. Then for
over an hour they streamed in.
FLOWERS IN PROPULSION.
The decorations of the interior of the
white house were altogether floral
Indeed, little else than flowers could be
added to the simple yet elegant perna-
nent adornments Of the receiving suite
without senSibly detracting from tha
effect Of the whole. These. however
were used in profusion, and at the
same time with such fine taste and 40
correct an estimate Of the color values
OF the d1tferent apartments as to add
vastly to the appearance Of the noble
suite. The first Of the apartments TO
be entered by the callers upon passing
through the lobby, the red room. SO
called from the prevailing tone of the
hangings and upholstry, was least Law
1shly bedecked with flowers, probably
because 1T was intended only for a.
waiting room
But just adjoining It the blue parlor
famous in the history of receptions
was decorated with exquisite taste
Tall palms, interspersed with azaleas
foliage plants and gigantic ferns. hid
from view the closely drawn curtains
which shut out the light Of day from
the room; solid banks Of the rarest
| flowers covered the mantels, and a
beautiful and unique runner of WV
crept along the frieze, along the cor
nice and around the doorways. Over
all streaIned the soft light from a hun
| dred electric globes. suspended in
crystal chandeliers and placed around
the walls, but the effect Of the light
ing upon the delicate robins egg blue
tints Of the silken tapestry which
| covered the walls and the golden and
blue upholstery of the massive furnish
| ings was extremely effective
Very appropriately the decorations
Of the next Of the suite, the green
room, We're Of an emerald cast and
while there was an apparent absence
of flowers. an inspection of what seem