Evening star., 1898-01-20
A BRILLIANT SCENE
First Reception Of President and Mrs.
Mckinley.
THRONGS At TEE WHITE HOUSE
The Diplomatic Corps Especially
Honored.
SOME INN ONs

more brilliant spectacle than it did last
evening on the occasion of the first Off
cial reception of President and Mrs. Nc
Kinley. 1t was given in special honor OF
the diplomatic corps, and was attended
by all that is most select in the official
and social world of the national capital.
Usually the social season at the Execu-
tive Mansion opens with the traditional re-
ception on New Year day. but the recent
death of the Presidents venerable mother
necessitated a postponement of the initial |
function this year until last evening. Sew
eral innovations were introduced with
marked success and ahose having charge
of the affair are fully entitled to the COM
pliments they received. There was mark
ed absence of the crush and confusion that
has heretofore marred official functions at
the White House. and the new arrange
ments worked like charm. About 1900
invitations were issued and ample precau
tions were taken to keep out interlopers.
1t is to the credit of the residents of the
District to say that no one presented him.
self or herself at the main entrance who
could not readily satisfy the ushers that
he or she had not been personally invited.
The gates to the grounds were locked and
no one was admitted without the produc-
tion of a card Of invitation. and the ushers
at the main entrance were provided with
checked off as the persons gave their
names. These ushers were selected be-
cause of their knowledge of the personality
Of the different classes of persons invited
to the reception. They were provided with
full lists of the invited guests and checked
them off as they arrived.
Everything moved off with exceeding
smoothness and there was conspicuous
absence of the confusion which has marked
such functions in the past. The reception
proper lasted from o. to II o'clock. but as
a special honor to the members of the dip
lomatic corps they were received shortly
before the arrival Of the throng. A section
Of the state dining room was set apart for
their use and they were granted the privf-
leSe of entering the mansion from the
south front Hat and cloak boxes for the
general guests were conveniently arranged
in the large vestibule near the main en-
trance and answered all demands admira-
bly,.
The Music.
There was also an innovation in the mat
ter of music. Heretofore the Marine Band
alone has appeared on such occasions. It
was usually stationed in the main vesti-
bule, which last night, however, was given
up entirely to the use of guests as a re-
ceptacle for hats, cloaks, etc The Marine
Band was stationed at a convenient place
in the conservatory and was aided IN con-
tributing musical entertainment to the dis
tinguished throng by the fine band of the
stationed in the hall on the first floor near
the stairway leading to the official section
of the mansion. The Marine Band, under
the leadership of Prof Larsen played with
it's usual efficiency.
1t opened the reception with the "Presi-
dents March," followed by the familiar
Hail to the Chief as the receiving party
proceeded slowly to their positions in the
pieces was sousas waltz dedicated to
THE Lady of the White House" The
cavalry band made an excellent impress
sion. 1t alternated with the Marine Band
in the constant rendition of beautiful and
appropriate airs. 1t was in charge of
Prof. j. Luchsinger and was out in full
force. Among the selections rendered was
the overture from Raymond schuman's
serenade, 'The Lost Chord" and selec-
tions from Lorelie, "The Wizard of the
Nile" and Carmen"
The Floral Decorations.
The mansion was elaborately decorated
for the occasion and presented a beauti-
full appearance. The briiliancy of the in
terror was all the greater in contrast with
the blackness of the outside, with its
rain and gloom. Chief Gardener Pfister
did himself great credit in the floral deco
ration of the mansion. and it is safe to
say it never looked more beautiful from an
artistic standpoint. There was a lavish
display at all vantage points of tropical
and subtropical plants and flowers, and
no opportunity was lost to add to the
beauty of the scene.
SmilaX was used in profusion in the east
room dropping in graceful gariands from
the great crystal chandeliers and festoone1
IN feathery lacework across the high cell
ing. softening the glow of the electric
Across each mantel a bank of pink roses,
carnations and lilies was reared against
the great mirrors and doubled by its re-
Election in the glass above, while across the
m CV1iI ,,yl,f ,fo1, hn har,l
reared lay the fiama of colored tips of the
helleborus or Christmas flowers, lighting
up the otherwise rather somber green. In
the blue parlor. where the receiving party
stood, the decorations were Of the same
general order as in the east room, with the
addition of canopy of smilax, which
rooted in the whole apartment, its apex at
the top of the chandelier. and dropping in
graceful festoOns to the farthest walls. In
terspersed through this were red. white
and blue incandescent lights, adding not
only brtlliancy but patriotic tinge to the
illIminatioDs
Arrival of the Diplomatic Corps.
The reception began at $50 o'clock with
the arrival of the members Of the diplo-
matte corps. They entered by the back
way, and were accorded the use of the
state dining room for the disposition of
their wraps. The presidential party en-
tered the blue parlor In the following Or
DER: Col. Bingham and Lieut. Gilmore, Pres
tdent and Mrs. Mckinley, Secretary and
Mrs. Sherman. Secretary and Mrs Gage.
Mrs. Alger, Secretary and Miss Long, At
torney General and Mrs. Mckehna, Post
master General and Mrs. Gary, Secretary
and Miss Bliss, Secretary and Mrs. Wilson
and Secretary and Mrs. Porter. Col. Bing-
ham acted as master of ceremonies and in
troduced the. guests to President McKin-
ley. Lieut.. Gilmore performing a similar
service in the case Of Mrs. Mckinley. Maj.
Heistand and Capt. Wood of the army and
Capt. McCawley Of the marine corps as
sisted in the general introductions to the
ladies of the cabinet.
Vice President and Mrs. Hobart were a
little late, but took their places in line
before the conclusion, of the reception to
the diplomatic corps. The foreign repre-
sentatives were present in full force. and
their rich uniforms added a particular
luster to the scene. All the embassies and
legations were fully represented.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British am
bassador. had the right OF tho line as dean
of the corps. He was accompanied by his
family and all the membera Of the en-
bassy. Close behind. him was the new
German ambassador, DR.. Holleben.s and
staff, and the new French ambassador, M.
Cambon. and suite and all the other men,
ber1 OF the fOrei0n COLONY including Count