The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-02-13

house front, covering part of the COM
GREETED plaza on either side OF the cable
car tracks, all along the opposite side of
the avenue, and extending up and down
Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. These
cannot enter, but they can see the gor-
g~eously attired diplomats and officers
of the army and navy, and they are sat
isfed with that brilliant display.
Those who enter the white house
lobby can barely discern, beyond the
potted plants. the red coats OF the
Marine band. The celebrated musi-
clans are screened there in the foliage,
ready to take part in the reception
when the signal ls given. As soon as
the leader receives the announcement
that the president is approaching, Prof.
Fanciulli raises his baton, and 10 the
crash of brass and the sound of flute
and horn the president comes down the
stairway. 1t is customary for him to
bring down the wife OF the vice uresi-
dent. Mr.. Cleveland has violated the
custom on several occasions by bring
ing down his own wife, and, Fortunate
ly, the rule on the subject is less rigid
than the rule of precedence, for, whom
soever the president brings downstairs,
his own wife stands at his side when he
takes his place in the blue parlor.
Behind the president and his wife are
the secretary Of state and his wife, and
then the other members Of the cabinet,
escorting each others wives. The hus-
bands lose the order of official prece-
dence OF this occasion, but their wives
maintain it for them. The wife of the
secretary of state must precede the wife
Of the secretary of the treasury, and the
sister of the secretary of agriculture
must bring up the rear, or there would
be q revolution. Men may forget or
overlook certain social amenities, but
women, never. They cling to their
places of precedence, sometimes with
more loyalty and fidelity than they
cling to their matrimonial VOWS.
The president first receives the am
bassadors, ministers and attaches of
embassies and legations of the foreign
governments. Sir Julian Pauncefote,
British ambassador, is the dean of the
diplomatic corps, and he is the first
recognized by the president, who gives
him a cordial greeting. The other am
bassadors and lessor diplomats follow
in order Of their rank and standing
here, as to length of service at this cap
ital. Sir Julian wears a brilliant mill
tary uniform. He carries a gorgeous
cooked hat in his hand. Behind him
come the other members of the corps
attired in the gayest of uniforms or silk
robes. The Chinese minister and his
attaches keep their little kull caps on
their heads, and save when they shake
the presidents hand they keep their
own hands buried in their flowing
sleeves of silk. The Japanese are the
French of the orient. They are progress
sive, intelligent, ambitious and effus-
lively polite. The Russian minister,
with his giant military attache, always
attracts attention. 1t is a gorgeous
sight to witness this diplomatic corps
reception. The reception begins at IL
o'clock, but long before that time the
supreme court justices have arrived, for
they are next in order. Chief Justice
Fuller, looking ~pigmy-like beside the
stalwart Harlan or the broad-shCul.
dered Gray, occupies the place of honor.
he presents his colleagues to the presi-
dent, Justice Field in the van, and
they pass down the receiving line and
into the red parlor and the east parlor
beyond it. A few of the diplomats have
gone through the parlors, but most Of
them have slipped behind the receiving
line to greet their friends and wish
them a happy New Year.
The senate and house follow the
members of the supreme court. And
here the regularity Of the re-
ception is broken, for among SO
many it is difficult to keep any order Of
precedence, and senator's and members
become ~hopelessly mixed. The vice
president or the president pro tempore
of the senate makes the introdactions
of the senators, and the speaker intro
duces the members Of the house. But
there are always stragglers, and the
members of the house pop up singly
and in pairs at intervals all through the
remainder of the reception time.
Following the legislative or congress.
sional reception, the uniformed defend
ers of the nation on land and on sea
march into the presence Of the com
mander in chief Of the army and navy.
The secretary of war and the secre-
tary of the navy remain by the side of
the president during this part Of the re-
ception. Secretary Lamont introduces
the general commanding the army and
his subordinates as they file by in the
order of their rank. Secretary Herbert
introduces the senior admiral of the
navy and his subordinates. Then the
officials Of the executive departments
come forward in their turn. Finally,
about one o'clock, the doors are thrown
open, and the general public is given adj
mission in double file for an hour.
Promptly at two o'clock the doors are
closed. Then, although thousands out
side are impatiently demanding admit
tance, the tired president and his tired
wife, after having for three hours stood
in one place bowling and shaking hands,
retire to their living apartments for re-
freshment and rest. SMITH D. FRY.
His Excuse insufficient.
The witty remarks Of Judge Craig
Biddle, if gathered together, would fill