The herald., 1897-01-02
DE- BEST INCEPTION
EBER SEH6E DE- NAR
Was Yesterdays Affsir at
Washington
hnIHJR SIMMONS OUGHT 70 KNOH
Fer lie Has Seen Them All for
Thirty Years
SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE
Nee, With Due Reward for Their shlv.
eriDg Patisnce
For President and Mrs. clevelaod Shook
Hands With Every Ope
SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE
Meet with Due Reward for Their Shlv.
eriDg Patience
For President and Mrs. Clev.'aod Shook
Hands With Every Ope
The Decorations Were Bes utiful, the
Uniforms Gorgeous and the Oriental
Ministers Toggery Altogether
Stunning-Who Were There
Assoeiated Prsss Special yyirs

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-Seven thou
sand persons shivered outside the White
House today for periods varying from
one TO SIX hours, but patience 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
the present administration was the
most brilliant of Mr.. Clevelands whole +.
eight years in Office, and old Arthur
Simmons, the presidents famous col
ored messenger. whose service in the
White House dates back thirty years,
shooA his head as he surveyed the far
reaching crowd from an upper window
and declared it de greatest inception
eber sence de wah"
The cold gray sky that threatened
rain which did not come, served merely
as foil TO the brilliant pageant that
moved for four hours through the forest
of tropical plants that filled the softly
lighted parlors inside the executive man
sion. The diplomatic corps, as usual,
furnished the high lights in the picture
| Tho gay uniforms of every sort, from the
white and silver of tne German rliiitary
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 q shade more subdued
| were the uniforms of the army and navy.
a study in blue and gold, accentuated
| by the yellow plumes OF the cavalry and
! the scarlet facings OF the artillery. AS
a background for this display was set
/ the dead black of the evening dress of
/ A in
accordance with their own social law In
such matters, and the sober morning
costumes of the civil officials.
The center of the picture was Mrs.
| Cleveland, the most simply gowned OF
| the receiving party Her dress of pale
mauVe mad d high ruching of smoke
| gray lace at the throat ard a the wrists
Ii 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 the forehead over her
temples. She was just slightly flushed
by the rapid exercise OF handshaking.
but smiled As cheerfully, shook hands as
vigorously with the last Of her 1000 CALI
ers as she had with the first.
New Years day broke raw and cloudy,
but the weather vas Not allowed to mar
the success of the annua reception.
The inauguration Of the festivities of the
| winter was o brilliant success. 1t con-
t:nued from II O'Clock until 2. Long lines
of carriages moved slowly through the
spacious grounds to the porte cochere.
| where the occupants alighted and made
their way through the beautifully dec
Grated parlors to where the receiving
, party stood in the blue paTlor. In an
! ante-roo,u the Marine hand played. The
official program was carried out with the
strictest formality. The cabinet ana
| dinI0matic c0rps, judges OF the supreme
-tf .Tfs =
other dfgnitaries Of the government ar
j rived In REGULAR order and after passing
through the parlors ana exchanging
new years greetings with the receiv-
ing party, gathered In the east room.
Here appeared the iuli brliii2ncy OF the
occaslon. Elegantly gowned ladies,
members Of the dipiom2tc corps IN fnit
court costln e, and officers Of the army
and navy In uniform, moving through
the throuG made Kaleidoscope picture
of color Tire general punhc st0oa IN llus
Tor hours outside the White House gates
until the officials had all been received,
and then for over an hour they streamea
At 1f:lo the officers OF the army and
navy and Of the marine corps and tho
officers of the militia of the district
were received. Mai General Miles, tho
cor,1uarde OF the army, end Adjutant
General t.ug sles headed the officers OF
ths army, who were Respondent III full
uniforms. An Of the officers stationed
Mt fort Myers were IN the line. Ad-
,oiral Ramsey urd Commodore Mat
ihews headed the officers of the navy,
anG Col. Hayward and his stafi those of
the naTine corps
At room came Secretary I@nsley ana
/ the rcsfeits OF the Smithsonian inGsitu-
ton; MI, Proctor, re president ARA
the other members OF the civil Eesvios
commission: Col Morrison and the
nnenrhers of the Interstate commerce
commission: Commissioner of labor
, yv,l-ht. Asaiatant Secretary OF the
l Treasury Curtis, Assistant Fostnluster
General Jones. and other assistant SEQ
| retales and bureau chiefs.
At 1915 o'clock came the Associates
Veterans of the War Of ls45, the q. A:
r.. Loyal Legion Union Veterans
League. and the members OF the Olcest
Inhabitants association.
At 12:35 the general public was ad-
) lnittsd. The earliest arrivals haG taken
5 their leave. and much of the brllliancy
Of the reception had departed.
I Those in the receiving line assisting
Efr and Mrs. Cleveland were: Mrs. Ste
Venson. Mrs Olney. Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs.
Lamont, Mrs. Harmon, Mrs. Wilson,
Miss Herbert, Mrs. Francis and Miss
Morton.
. The following were invited to assist
! back of the line in the blue room: Mrs.
Wetmore, Mira. EiAins. MIRA NoExnl