The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-07
The WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION
THE ANNUAL NEW YEARS EVENT
WAS UNUSUALLY BRIL-
LIANT.
THE FLORAL DECORATIONS EXQUISITE
Beautiful Gowns and Stately Costumes
Produced Dazzling Effect-Mrs.
Cleveland's Gown Was Very
Plainly Made-The Program.


Washington, Jan. 1.-Seven thousand
persons waited 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.. Cleveland's whole eight
years in office, and old Arthur Simmons,
the presidents famous colored messen-
ger, whose service in the White House
dates back thirty years, shook his head
sagaciously as he viewed the far-reaching
crowd from an upper window and de-
clared it ode greatest inception sens de
wah."
The cold, gray sky that threatened
rain which did not fall served merely as
a foil to the brilliant pageant that moved
for hours through the forest of tropic
plants that filed the softly-lighted parlors
inside the executive mansion. The diplo-
matte corps, as usual, furnished the high
lights in the picture. Foreign uniforms
and decorations of every sort, from the
silver and white 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
o,.fy nnI, oh IL,
the uniforms of the army and navy, a
study in blue and gold, accumulated by
the yellow plumes of the cavalry and the
scarlet facings of the artillery AS q
background for this display was set the
dead black of the evening dress of the
statesmen diplomats, worn in accordance
with their 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 had n high rouching
of smoke gray lace at the throat and
the wrists. 1t was caught with butterfly
bows of the same on the shoulders and
hair was coiled at the back and brought
in full waves from her forehead over
her temples. She was slightly flushed
by the rapid exercise of handshaking. but
smiled as cheerfully and shook hands as
vigorously with the last of her 1000 call
ers as she had with the first.
Washington, Jan. New Years day
broke raw and cloudy over the national
capital, but the weather was not allowed
to mar the success of the great annual
reception, given by the chief magistrate,
at the executive mansion, to official and
unofficial Washington. The White House
reception inaugurated the social festivi-
ties of the winter, and is in many re-
spects the most important function of
the year. 1t is the occasion when the
president, his cabinet and their families
formally exchange greetings and joyous
good wishes with the high dignitaries of
the government and diplomatic repre-
of all the nations of the world,
the officers of the army and navy, and
the general public. The reception this
year was brilliant success. For three
hours, from IL o'clock a. M, until 2 p.
m, the reception continued. Long lines
of carriages moved slowly through the
spacious grounds to the porte-cochere,
where their occupants were alighted and
made their way through the brilliant
and beautifully decorated parlors, to
where the receiving party stood, in the
blue parlOr. In the ante room the full |
marine band played.
The official program was carried out |
with strict formality. The cabinet and |
he diplomatic corps, the judges of the |
supreme court the senators and repre- |
'entatives and other dignitaries of the |
government, arrived in regular order,
md after passing through the parlors
ind exchanging New Years greetings |
With the receiving party, gathered in the
'ast room. Here the full brilliancy of |
he occasion occurred The elegantly |
,owned ladies', the members of the diplo-
matte corps, in full court costume, and
he officers of the army and navy, in uni
orm, moving through the throng, made
Kaleidoscope picture. The general
'ublic stood in line for hours, outside
he White House gates, until the officials
ad all been received. Then, for over
n hour, they streamed in.
The decorations of the interior of the
White House were altogether floral In
eed, little, else than flowers could be
dded to the simple yet elegant perma-
ent adornment of the receiving suite,
'ithout sensibly detracting from the eff
ect of the whole. These, however, were
sed in profusion, and at the same time
18th such fine taste and so correct an
stimate of the colors of value to the diff
erent apartments as to add vastly to
ne appearance of the noble suite.
The first of the apartments to be en-
,red by the callers upon passing through
he lobby, the red room so called from
ne prevailing tone of the hangings and
pholstery, was least lavishly bedecked
18th flowers, probably because it was
ltended only for waiting room.
But just adjoining it, the blue parlor,
lmed in history of receptions, was deco
tied with exquisite taste. Tall palms, |
terspersed with foliage, plants and gil
mite ferns hid from view the closely
rawn curtains which shut out the light i
day from the rooms. Solid banks of l
lie rarest flowers covered the mantels
nd beautiful and unique runner of
y crept along the frieze, the cornice
nd around the doorways and over all
reamed the soft light from hundred
ectric globes, suspended in crystal /
and placed around the walls, '
I'd the effect of the lighting upon the