The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-14
A LADIES RECEPTION.
BEAUTIFUL AVID BRILLIANT wow
Ey GATHER At WHITE HOUSE
Social Farewell 60 IN. FIRST Lady of
the Iand--~ife Of the Chinese
Mtpfss~r r>eoLs GA fn wonder
m~nt-2r.. CfeyeIsnd's htndne.
ss . oueer Old Woman

WASHINGTON. FEB. 11.-Spse a. ONE
svery year s. has beer tns custom OK Ms.
Cleveland while shs has beer mistress q
the Waite House 20 give s4fiies fscel-
ton, Invitations 20 Ealch are issusc cry
70 ladies' IN the insrns6 ais circle q neF
aeqaatntances. and u s0z1s cases % q teW
% their ffien8s. Ever lazy ia ASH
fnrton. WHO a. any ffnae nas had TIE pleas
ure OF meeting Mrs. Cleveland eagerly
hopes for one q these Invitations. and tss
6taAproEngr1ens Is c0rTssD cGGtn%Ay great
~ ease & ~ rot received
TIE rrception given a few days sgo b.
ing rashsr ia tire nature cf a fare Eell, Vas
ffnged with many regrets o. that account
but for TIE same reason tngliaign2 20 y
~vsrersors han ever eagerly desired. About
I've hundred Invitations we're seat out. ard
1. Is safe 20 say that rot single lady
invited failed 20 come. II Ssz strictly a
lzSsesf reception. 10 Keutis'usa except Col
joan n Wilson. the government offic@r
who has charge % az the public o8iatnzs
and grounds IN Washington. and two or
three regular White House ushers. being
present
THE entire lower foor % The executive
mansion was opeu 20 the visitors. includ-
inx the magnificent conservatory. with i5s
beautiful ferns. stately palms ard costly
orchids from the tropical countries or
Houth America.
At no ether place OF time f. g. possible
20 zee saeh a gathering Of ladies' OF culture.
grace ard beauty from all parts Of the
United States as a. one OF these private
receptions % the charming mistress % the
White House. Those receptions IL which
the president participates. four each sea-
son. cannot compare with this. for so many
Invitations must Or necessity he issued 20
those that the parinrs 0f me White House
- b.
do rot come early are not unfrequently
left outside The doors. ~ Mrs. cleveland's
reception we're met all fhe ladies OF the
cabinet, OF tho court circles. of the dipio-
matte corps and many % the wives and
daughters % the most prominent senator's
and members 81 congress. and Of ne ONE
ers 81 the army and navy. as well as
large number prominent tn resident social
circles.
Mrs Cleveland was assisted in receiving
BY score or more OF the most beautiful
young ladies OF Washington society.
among them being Miss Stevenson. the
vice presidents daughter Miss SartOris.
the daughter Of Nellie Grant Miss Fuller.
the daughter Of the chief Justice: Miss
Wilson, the daughter OF the postmaster
general. Miss Harmon. daughter OF the
attorney general. Misg Miles the daugh-
tar Of the general Of the army. and the
Misses irene and Louise sheridan. daugh-
ters or the late Gen Sheridan.
For It's unostentahous magnincance and
yet withsl a certain modest simplicity
this farewell reception hy Mrs. Cleveland
90 the ladies Of Washington .zas one long
20 be remembered. The invitations we're
out week or more before the event
during which time e was he principal
topic OF the social world. When the day
arrived and IL was perfect day. the
drivewav 20 the White House was lined
with beautifully equipped turnouts the
line Of coaches and carriages extending
Ear along Pennsylvania avenue. As one
carriage was relieved OF its fair cecu-
pants others we're added 20 the seemingly
continuous line. thus making a constan,
stream OF visitors 20 pay their respects
20 the FIRST lady Of the land.
With hundreds OF eyes awaiting her ap-
proaeh, Mrs. Cleveland descended the
grand stairway from her private apart
nents. ard escorted by Col. Wilson.
passed through the long corridor into the
East room. where she welcomed her
guests IN her graceful and charming man
ner. Each was greeted In person by
name. and for each there were a few
words and a most pleasant smile. Every
lady present could tell you what Mrs.
Cleveland wore upon that occasion. and
the richness and yet striking simplicity
OF her costume was the subject OF general
comment Her gown was Of silver gray
Eng in clingiug folds, with a little boero
jacket trimmed with silver passem antcTie
and some rare old lace. with bands %
sable. Fastened In her Eirdle was a clus-
ter % fragrant Parma vlolots. Her hair
was parted in the middle and caught
gracefully back ia a low knot. Side
combs unadorned with silver or gold
added 20 the simplicity OF the effect
Mrs. Cieyeland's greeting Of her friends
= worthy OF special mention. She takes
one by the hand with a hearty. whole
souled grasp. and one feels that the pleas
ure OF meeting her "a not all oue-sided
Mrs. Cloveland's facial control too. ia a
matter OF wonder. Each guest Is greeteI
with a smile. ana each time her counte
nance passes into a state OF perfect 20.
pose. and the next guest IL met with a
smile that Il at once one OF recognltiar
and OF welcome. II g. "a social art 20 make
every lady feel that she has had a per.
sonai chat with the hostess. and yet {,
keep the way clear so that Eve hundred
may so away with the Same feeling IN a.,
short gpace OF two hours. This Mrs
Cleveland does prefectly. As many a,
could and standing room In the spaclou,
east parlor remained there during the en-
tire time or the reception. fascinated bg
the loyeliness and grace Of their hostess
Mrs C.evelana's fair assistants. mary O
whom were deoutantes OF the season. wnr,
grouped tn the other parlors. and held III
tle icVees Tor their especial friends
The floral decorations throughout the ya
rions paFlorS 81 the mansion were exQulS
tie. The blue room was banked VIII
palms. standing as hteh as the ceiling
the red room was adorned with POTS O.
magnificent roses.
The state dlning room was a certrr q
attraction. FOR here rcfrcshments wer.
served TIE long table was artistfca't,
arranged. large vases az pink an.
Marechal Nell roses alternating down az,
center. with the delicate appointment
corresponding with the two collars A.
nonds. chocolates and de'icate cakes vver
served ~ small dishes IRA So % re~reee~
the American aHE. The SILVER was 90
syerfectiy plstiu pattern. The nre t,,f,s,tt.
IKE napkins were all marked With a hand
some IT =" fn one cover. The e4-a y
creams ana icC9 werr served ta aelf-a-.
china. VhHe tea. hodllon ard che..a'--
were the ouiy drinks offered go the guests
Mrs.. Cleve.sna does ret heljcye o. se-sir.
wires or punch az receptions. ana has ta.
the courage 20 set tfsis uchle exarnrfa p.
the tradt~g eo-fety pvcs,ir ~ WashsrFfer
Serving ~ winas ana punch a. 49,,
items On thts cisy RS young ls8Irs % y7,,rt
men has become - general thar man.
mothers are greatly slarnIad st faa RI.
ruence Gpen their sors. one mother srnr
raentsrE upon fHs absence 90 traee h-t
grasses Frsw NJ. Clevc.ar9.s tthe
woman wha herself 81 rveG vines Az
fQuor t8 tHe paEl wss beard 20 r-,--srl
ghat she had given un society th.s v.trf.
that $50 might keep srr two 1.,vs ffe-
Gazing upcn yeurr int - sho ms1t
practice 90 sorytnr isEht .sHa~s ire art-
tl>e she sstt. VAS - common tAat hef,-
ycang nsn rra'z~i &c teey nas tsken %,