The times., 1898-01-20


tatives. There were as many gorgeous
robes on local society. as there was on
the society from beyond the seas.
One of the many interesting groups IN
the East Room was theJapaneses iesa-
tion and also the Koreans. The fur
hats Of some of these gentlemen were
evidently too warm for the evening,
although for a trip to the Executive
Mansion they We're very desirable.
Undoubtedly the feature of the even
ing i'm the East Room was the presence
there of the new French ambassador,
NJ. Cambon, and his brilliant staff All
OF these gentlemen are well known On
such occasions, with the exception, pei
haps, of the new naval atracEe of the
French embassy NJ Cambon is the
latest addition 10 the diplomatic corps
and commended himself to those to
whom he was introduced by his easy
style and conSeniality.
Another interesting feature OF The
view was the dainty Wife of the Chi
nese minister, who Was very much al
n'ircd and was always surrounded by
an admiring throng.
There We're some interesting group
ings in the busy and entertaining as
semblaee. Justice Harlan was at one
time surrounded by a group of Sena-
tors. to whom he VAS evidently telling
a very funny story, judging from the
eXplosiVeness of the moral. In the
southeast corner OF the room was "A
party which individually and collective
~ has been very much Of late in the
public eye. One of these was Senator
Foraker, another Mr.. Grosvenor. and
the third Gen Payne, of New York.
who is often called to the chair in the
absence of Speaker Reed. Mir. Reed.
by the way, was there. He came late
with his daughter, and lowered high
above the crowd. 50 that he was an
easy mark FOR his friends. Mr.. Reed
is a very pleasing gentleman on such
occasions as these. He was Very much
sought after There We're no idle mo-
ments for him. he retired early.
The members OF the Turkish embas
sy made a very fine show. The attach
es of the legation are tall and soldierly
looking gentlemen Their dresscoat
fronts were layishly embroidered with
gold and gIittered with diamonds.
AIr Dingley Was there also, with that
cynical smile of his subdued. He was
there possibly to impersonate the pros
periuy which. as a matter OF fact, did
shine and glitter on all sides There
was nothing that any human eye could
see in that SNOWY throng which did
not suggest prosperity in the superla-
tive degree. But the reception is not
made entirely for the purpose Of putting
ones self on exhibition. There are quiet
and agreeable hooks ia the conSerVa-
tory. and there are easy and comforta-
ble lounges upstairs. In fact, the whole
mansion was given over to the guests.
After the novelty of the occasion had
Nern off Sena tors escaped upstairs for
= quiet smoke. The private office of
the secretary % the President had been
Set apart for Senators and Represent
atives. and the adjoining room for the
senators and Representatives wives.
There was always a crowd going up
stains or tripping downstairs, so that
the view presented at all times was OF
stream west through the north corli-
dor. thence into the reception room,
then east through the East Room up
stairs, downstairs, and this from about
hal1-past until II p. m, when the
guests began 10 depart.
The arrangements downstairs were
perfect. Opposite the main entrance
there were a number of cases placed
which looked ali the world like the
boxes of a city postofhce in the land
OF the Brobdignass. \ half a hundred
OF more servants peered ont between
the portieres and had. if nothing else,
the best possible opportunity to wit
ness the incoming Of the brilliantly
dressed men and women who made up
the reception. OF course. there was
music. and. that Of the highest order
The Marine band had been stationed in
the conservatory and the Sixth Cav
airy band al the entrance TO the East
Room The two bands had the time so
arranged that there WAS music in the
air continuously. The leader of the
Marine band was Prof. Larsen. and of
the Sixth Cavalry band Mr. ]. Luch-
singer.
The following WAS the program Of the
Sixth Cavalry band:
Overture Raymond" CThomas)
?. Waltz, Beautiful Blue Danube"
(Strauss).
g. Voice of Love CSchumann).
1. Fantasie. Carmen (BizeD.
;. Cornet solo, THE Lost Chord
(Sullivanl.
6. Paraphrase. .Lorelei'' CNesvalie).
:. Wizard of the Nile" (Herbert).
S. Mexican waltz Estrada).
=. Song, "Adieu" (SchuberD.
The selections by the Marine band
were as follows:
Presidents March Harsen).
-Bride-Elect" CSousa).
Overture tLarsenD.
The International Congress" (Sou-
Ba)
Lady of the White House (Sousa).
"GaEotte" CEilenbergD.
''Tannhauser' tWagner)
Overture. Martha" (Flotowj.
Patrol (Fanciulli).
III Trovatore" (NerdD.
The Dough Boys (Barker).
The weather to all appearances. did
not Interfere with the success of the
affair. which was the official opening
Of the doors OF the social season under
Presidential auspices. From the out
side one would suppose that the whole
world of the smart set was inside.
There was an immense senli-circle Of
carriages and hacks all the way around
the ellipse in front of the White House
and out i'm the street there were hun
dreds Of others.
The arrangements for the movement.
ingress and egress of the people, were
made with precision-to the credit of
Col. Bingham and the Secretary to the
President. There We're guards and
guides everywhere and the avenues in
side the White House and the ap-
proaches thereto were kept free of any
kind OF obstruction to the visitors.
The number Of people aside. there
was very general comment that the re-
ception was the best managed in very
many years The congestion that was
feared did not take place. and there
WAS not one incident which was NOT as
il could have been desired. There
were no reflections at the door.
one of the places in the mansion
which always presented 4 crowd was
the door opening from the central cor
ridor into the room opposite which Mrs
Mckinley sat
Al II o'clock the greater part of the
guests had gone. There was a very
busy scene in the portico when the dis
N-it.NK.c harnIl