The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-02

7Ag l7lomATs LUMINOUS
Rooms Riotous With Color OF
Flower and Foreign Garb'
GRACIOUS WAS MRS. CLEVELAND
Winnlngly Shakes Hands With ALL
Costumes of Women---Arthur Sim
mons Says it Was ''de Greatest
inception Sence de Wah."

inception Sence de War"
Washington, Jan. 1.-Seven thousand
oersons shivered outside the White
House to-day for periods varying from
ono to six hours. But patience had its
reward in every case for the President
o,,5 Mrs Cleveland shook hands with
every one of them.
The closing New Years reception or
sbe nresent administration was the most
brilliant of Mr.. Clevelands Whole elght
wears in Office and old Arthur Simmons
who was raised in Newbern, \. q, rhe
Presidents famous c0lored messenger
whose service in the White House dates
back thirty years, shook his head sagely
as he viewed the far reaching crowd
from an upper window and declared II
ode greatest inception sence de wah
The cold gray sky that threatened rain
which did not fall served merely as q
foil to the brilliant pageant that moved
for hours through the forest of tropGc
plants that filed the softly lighted par
lors inside the executive mansion Inc
diplomatic corps, as usual, furnished the
high lights in the picture. Fore1gn unl-
sosaaas and tfeearafaons OF every SORT from
the white and silver of the German mlli-
tary attaches to the green and crimson
silks of the Chinese minister, almost
served to pale the Paris gowns Of the re-
ceiving party and Of the official guests
behind the lines. Only a shade more
subaued were the uniforms Of the army
and navy. study In blue and gold accen-
4uated by the yellow pIumes Of the cayal-
rv and the scarlet fxings of the artillery.
As 3 background for this display was
set the dead black OF the evening dress
OF the South American diplomats, worn
in accordance with their own social law
sn such matters, and the sober morning
costumes of the civil officials.
The centre Of the picture was Mrs.
Cleveland. the most simply goWned Of
the receiving party Her dress Of pale
1nauve had a high rouching Of smoke
gray lace at the throat and at the wrists.
1T was caught with butterfly bows Of the
same en- the shoulder and on the plain,
smooth hanging skirt. Her hair was
coiled high ut the back and brought In
full waves from her forehead over her
temples. She was just slightly flushed
by the rapid exercise Of handshaking, but
smiled as cheerfuIly and shook hands as
vigorously with the last Of her 1000 call
ers as she had with the first.
The official programme was carried out
with strict forInality. The cabinet and
the diplomatic corps, the judges Of the
Supreme court, the Senators and Rep
resentatives and the other dignitaries OF
the government arrived in regular order
and after passing through the parlors
and exchanging New Years greetings
with the receiving party, gathered in the
east room.
The general public stood in line for
hours outside the White House gates un-
til the officials had all been received.
Then for over an hour they streamed in.
The decorations Of the interior Of the
White House were altogether floral. In
deed little else than flowers could be
added to the simple, yet elegant per1na-
ment adornments of the receiving suite
without sensibly detracting from the eff
feet of the whole. These, however, were
used in pr0fusion and at the same time
with such fine taste and so correct an es-
airnafe of the color values Of the different
apartments as to add vastly to the APP
rearance Of the noble suite. The first
of the apartments to be entered by the
callers upon passing through the lobby
he Red room, so called from the prevail
ing tone Of the hangings and upholstery,
was least lavishly bedecked with flowers,
probably because it was intended only
for a waiting room. But just adjoining
it the Blue parlor, famous in the history
Of receptions was decorated with exqui-
site taste. Tall palms interspersed with
Azaleas foliage plants and gigant1c ferns
hid from view the closely drawn curtains
which shut out the Light OF day from the
rooms; solid banks Of the rarest hoWers
covered the mantels, and beautlful and
unique runner Of ivy crept along the
frieze along the cOrnice and around the
doorways. Over all streamed tine soft
light from a hundred electric globes slls-
pended IN crystal chandeliers ana paced
around the walls, and the effect OF the
lighting UP on the delicate ROBINS egg
blue tints Of the silken tapestry which
covered the walls and the golden and blue
upholstery of the massive furnishings
was extremely effective.
The very appropriate decorations OF the
next suite, the Green room were of an
emerald cast and while there was an APP
parent absence Of flowers, an inspection
of what seemed to be only foliage dis
closed the presence Of many rare and
curious orchids and prettily marked
grasses and small palms, all embedded
in green jardinieres.
The cast room was the glory Of the
house, Since the last reception it had
been renovated completely and it was
fairly resplendent in gold and silver and
white. In it's vast proportions the con-
tents of whole conservatory of plants
and flowers were swallowed up without
en- any sense crowding. In the magnif-
cent east window stood a gigantic py-
ranid of green made up of stately palms
and rubber plants towering ND toward