The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-02
The Last Public White House Reception
Marked by An Unprecedented Crush.
A GORGEOUS AID IMPOSING SPECTACLE
Representatives of Foreign Courts
and Slnny High Digniinrics of tho
NATIONAL Government, as Well as
Crowd OF Ordinary Mortnis Pre-.
Sented TO Isr. and Mrs. Cleveland.


nual new Years reception at the White
House took place to-day according 10
the long established custom 1t con-
stituleS the yearly ordeal of the Presi-
gent ana the mistress of the White
House. for they must shake hands with
many hundreds-several thousands, in
Iact-of their fellow citizens and large
number of distinguished foreigners. As
on last New Years day the crowd that
participated in and witnessed the recep-
tion was very large IT was the last
junction OF It's sort in which Mr.. and
MRS. Cleveland will figure as the prin-
cipal characters. and this may have
Deeh responsible In part for the throng
tnat paraded in the corridors and part
ments during the time set apart for
the reception.
LAVISH DECORATIONS.
The interior of tho mansion had been
laHishly decorated for the occasion
suggestion of the tropics was given by a
survey OF the decorative arrangements
In the dainty oval shaped Blue Room,
the Official chamber of the White House,
with Its delicately tapestried walls, ar
tistic effect was we'll carried out. 1t Vas
In this department that the President.
Mrs. Cleveland and the receiving party
stoou. sort hued globes tempered the
CLEANS of the electric light that filed
the room. The two mantels were banked
In solid masses of cut flowers roses of
many varieties and the rarest of other
blooms that the conservatories of the
mansion could give. Both mirrors were
draped in smilaX, while scintlllating
pendants of the central chandelier were
profuseiy entw.ned with delicate creeper
In each of the three windows were
stately palms. onean, eveca and others
OF the Seaforthia variety, while smaller
palms were banked around them, to-
gether with aZelias and ferns. In fire.
places were ferns garlanded, and the
aecoration was completed by fringes of
IVY leaves around the doors and cor
nices.
The Red Room held a profusion of
tall rubber plants and palms Jardl-
nieres of greenish tinge holding grow
Ing plants comported well with the per-
manent hang!ngs of the Green Room
IN the broad corridor leading from the
East Room. past the reception cham
Der to the private staircase at the west
ern, a few rubber trees and palms
suificed for decorative purposes. as all
the space that could he obtained there
was necessary to accommodate the con-
stantly moving thronG.
BRILLIANT ASSEMBLAGE.
Those who paid their respects to the
President and Mrs. Cleveland passed
OUT the receiving chamber into the
Green Room. thence into the spacious
East Room the scene Of so many his
torical occurrences. SIX hundred people
Is the ordinary capacity of this com
partment. To-day IL was filled to an
uncomfortable degree with foreign en-
voys. officers OF the army and navy.
high judicial functionares, Senator'S
Representatives and many civilians
with large number of ladies. They
were not so crowded. however. as to be
unable to see and appreciate the floral
beauty displayed.
AS In every other part of the interior.
the East Room had Its chandeliers and
corhiceS twined with smilaX. Trailing
asparagus also formed graceful drap-
cry. while tardiniers on all the mantels
held Chinese primroses, rubber plants
and cinceras. In the corners were
broad-leaved curculos Wate and CO.
coanut palms spread their foliage high
over the heads of the .promenading
guests The broad and high east win
dow was a mass of pomSetta palms
and grouped about the bottom of these
We're ferns plenty. The mirrors. en-
brazures and hreplaces were all suitably
decorated
Eleven o'clock was the hour set for the
beginning of the reception Before
that time the members of the Diplomatic
corps. Ambassadors. Minister'S attaches
and their wives and daughters had he
gun to arrive. and Were ushered into the
Red Room, whore they awaited the sig
nal to pass along the line. Out in the
public lobby the United States Marine
band, under the leadership of Professor
Fanciulli, waited the signal to play
Suddenly Fanc.ulli waived his baton and
the various instruments burst forth into
the well-known air of Hail to the
Chief"
AN IMPOSING PROCESSION.
Down the private staircase came the
President. Mrs. Cleveland the members
OF the Cabinet and their ladies' led by
Col. John NJ Wilson. u. S. A., Commits
sioner of Public Buildings and Grounds.
and master Of ceremonies. Mr.. and Mrs
Cleveland. Vlce-President and Mrs Ste
TenSon. Secretary aud Mrs. Olney. Sec
rotary and Mrs. Carlisle. Attorney-Gen-
eral and Mrs. Harmon Postmaster-Gen-
eral and Mrs. Wilson. Secretary and
MISS Herbert, Secretary and Mrs. La
mont. Secretary and Miss Morton, andI
secretary and Mrs. Frances. an imposing
PROCESSION. passed along the corridor 10
the Blue Room and took their places,
president and Mrs. Cleveland at one
end' with Secretary Olney and Col. WI
son at their right, and the ladies form
ing Inc across the apartment The
Ca aoinet officers modestly dropped to the
rear and entered into conversation with
some OF the ladies who composed that
contingent commonly designated pc
hind the Ere"
BEHIND THE LINE.
The ladies behind the line were: Mrs