The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-02

led Dy Sir JuIldn PauncefOte, the BTU
sh ambassador, who is the dean. He
is in full military uniform of red and
gold. Most of the diplomats are in uni
form-that is, the accepted court dress
of Europe. The Chinese minister wears
his silk robes; some of the ministers
from Latin republics appear in evening
dress.
The visitors usually shake hands with
the president. 1t was Mrs. Cleveland's
custom to give her hand to all who
passed down the line, but Mrs. Mckin-
ley is not strong enough for that or
deal. In fact, it is altogether likely
Mrs. Mckinley will have to sit during
part of the receptions. The other la
dies of the receiving party merely bow
to each visitor as he passes. unless he
is a personal friend.
The guests who have friends in the
auxiliary receiving party pass behind
the line. Others go to the green par
Tor, and through that into the east par
Tor, where they meet acquaintance and
exchange greetings with them. Finally,
they make their exit through a win
dow at the north front of the man
sion.
All the reception rooms are beautiful
~ decorated with flowers and plants
from the government Conservatives,
and are brilliantly lighted by electric
lamps. The Marine band plays at in
teryals in the vestibule.
of these entertainments. 1t was the
custom up to the end OF the Arthur
administration to have refreshments,
and at times wine has been served to
the presidents guests; but for II years
past the white house has been an arid
waste on reception nights, and Presi-
dent Mckinley does not intend to re-
turn to the old order of things.
State dinners at the white house We're
always given in the state dining room
| until two years ago. This dining room
| is in the southwest corner of the man
| sion. In size it is about 80 by % feet,
| and is decorated in gold to harmonic
| with the gilded ornaments on the ta-
| bic. The central ornament is a great
plateau of mirrors in ormolu mount
| ings, bought in the time of Monroe.
| All the table equipage has some his
| toric association. The knives and forks
have come down from Van BurenS
| time, and there are only four dozen of
| them: so if the president dimes more
| than AZ. some of the guests must eat
| with plated ware. Most of the plates
/ belong to the famous set ordered by
| Mrs. Hayes in 1879 at cost of $1,50o-
| though when there are many guests
! they are elled out with others of diff
| ferent pattern. There We're originally
| 1,500 pieces in this Hayes set; only 400
/ of them remain. however, and many
| of the missing thousand are known to
| be in the hands of collectors. The
| Washington service, ordered from Eng
| land by Mrs. Worthington, disappeared
| entirely many years ago, and subSe-
| quent sets-state services having been
| ordered by Pierce and Iincoln-Were
| pieced out with odd dishes until the
| presidents guests ate off a conglomer-
| ate of many styles. The Hayes china
| was made in France from American
designs; but in the depletion of the set
the president is again reduced to en-
tertaining his guests with a harlequin
display of china.
The state dinners this winter will be
given in the state dining room when
the president does not entertain more
than so guests; but if the guests should
number Gas usually has happened i'll
recent years--the table will be spread
in the corridor which runs from tho
east parlor to the Conservatives. This
| corridor will be lined with palm trees
| and orange trees from the government
green houses, and the walls will be
festooned with smilax. The table will
be decorated with fine ferns and flow
ers from the white house conservator-
les; with fruits, and the silk-shaded
candles.
When the state dinners are held in
| the state dining room the president re-
ceives his guests in the corridor; when
| they are held in the corridor he re-
eeiyes in the east parlor. The guests
are taken by elevator to the second
|
ments is used as a dressing room.
Thence the guests go down the public
stairway, so familiar to the office
seeker and enter the east parlor at the
north door. When all have assembled
the double doors leading to the corridor
are thrown open, and the president
heads the procession to the dining
table. At the diplomatic dinner, the
president will take in Lady Paunce-
| fote; at the dinner to the suprem,
court, Mrs Fuller: at the cabinet din
ner, Mrs. Sherman.
A great deal of private entertaining
, had been planned by Mrs. Mckinley fol
her first season in the white house, bu
the death of the presidents mother ha'
changed the social conditions entirely
| The president will adhere to the Off
, cial programme, as already outlined
; however painful the task may be, be
) cause he thinks that private griefi
. should not interfere with public du
. ties but in their private life the presi
dent and Mrs. Mckinley will observi
the usual period of mourning.
: GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.