The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-02

ters of lesser officials OF the administra-
tion.
| At the left OF the President stands Col.
Theodore a. bingham, OF me regular
| Army. Between the President ana H.s.
Mckinley stands Lieut. gilmore va 80
| Army. Col. Bingham MAKES the preseh-
| tatlons 10 the President. the Junior officer
| to the Presidents wife.
| Visitors come at any hour and assem-
Bile in the Red Parlor, after leaving thGr
| wraps with attendants IN the STATE p'h-
. ing-lSooni. Then they are usheted INTO
| the Blue ParlOr. FOR the diplomatic
corps. the Secretary OF Sta.e always
| Bingham for a few minutes. rho mem
| beers OF the corps are lCQ by Sir Julian
makes the intrrductona. replacing Col.
Pauncef0.o, the British AmDass ador, who
IS the dean. Hc ls in frli military uni-
form OF red and sold. Most ~ tho dipio-
mats are in unIform-thaf is. me accept
ed court dress OF Europe The Chinese
Minister wears his SILK robes. some OF
the ministers from Latin Republics APP
pear IN evening dress.
The visitors usually shake hands with
the President. ~ was Mrs Clevelands
custom 10 cive her hand 20 all who pass
cd down the line. but Mrs. Mckinley ~
not strong enough Tor that ordeal In
fact. u is altogether likely Mrs. Mcnin-
ley Will have 20 sit during part Or the
receptions. The OtnoT labltS oi NA' if-
ceiving party merely bow 10 each visitor
as he passes unless he is personal
friend.
Tho guests who nave friends IN ma
auxiliary receiving party pass hehind tns
line. Others 90 20 the Green Parior, ana
through into the East Parlor where they
meet acquaintance and exchange greet
ings with them. FINALLY they make their
exit through "a window at the north FROM
OF the mansion.
h. 40
decorated with flowers ana pants from
the Government Conservatives and are
brilliantly lighted by electric lamps Inc
Marine Band plays at intervals I'm the
vcstibuie.
No refreshments VIII be served AZ any
OF these entertainments. IL wa the GUS
tom ur 90 the end or tho Arthur admins
tration 10 have refreshments. and a,
times wine has been served 10 the Presi-
dents guests. but for twelve years pas,
the White House has been an arid waste
on reception nights. ana President Nc
Kinley does not intend TO return 70 the
old order Of things
State dinners az the White House were
always given In the State Dining Room
until two years go. This dlning-room
is ion the southwest corner OF the man
sion. In size IL rs about 80 by ~ feet. ana
Peg decorated IN gold 10 harmonize with
the gilded ornaments on the table. me
central ornament "a n great plateau OF
mirrors IN ormom mountinRs. bought N
the time OF Monroe All tho table equip
ment has some historic association The
knives end forks have come down from
Van Buren's time. and there are only
four dozen of them so n the President
dimes more than forty-eleht. some or me
guests must eat with piafedwarc. Most
Of the plates belong 20 the famous SET
ordered by Mrs. Iayes in 1873 az cost
OF t19-thOuch when There arc many
guests they are eked ont with others "a
"a e.
-00 pieces I'm This Hayes set only 900 q
them remain, however and many Or me
Wis sng thousand arc known 10 be I'm mo
hands OF collectors The Washington
service. ordered from England by Mrs.
WOrthington. disappeared entirely many
years ago. and subsequent se,s-stats
services having been ordered by Pierce
and linroln--Were Uieoef ont with odd
dishes until the Presidents guests ate
Off a conclomerate of many STYLES. ms
HAYES china w1s made In France from
American designs. nut fn the depletion
~ the set the President ie ar1in reduced
10 entertaining his guests with "a harle-
Quin display Of china
Tho state dinners fnis winter VIII ne
given IN mo State DINING Room wnen
tho President does not entertain more
than fifty guests. but 81 the guests should
number ezfN-siN-1s usually has happen
ed in recent ycar-the table VIII De
spread Boz fhe corridor whicn runs from
the East Parlor 20 the cOuservatories.
This corridor will Dee lined with palm
trees and orange trees from me Govern
ment green houses. and Che walls Will 90
fcetnonel With smiiaX
Wncn me state dinners are held fn 10
state Dining Room the President receives
his guests boo fne corridor. when thot ara
held boz the corridor he receives IN tho
East Pdrlor Tho guests are taken hv
elevator tO the second floor. where one OF
the private apartments Us used as a
dressng-ro0m. Thence the guests 90
down the public stairway so familiar 70
the OF. '-scckor and enter tho last Par
Tor at me north door. When AN navs
assembled the double doors leading 10 the
corridor are thrown open. ami the Pres
ident heads the procession 10 the dining
table 40 the diplomatic dinner. tho
President VIII take in Lady Pauncerote.
at the dinner 20 the supreme Court. Mrs.
Fuller, 40 tho Cabinet dinner. Mrs Sher-
man
A great deal or private entertaining had
Teen planned hy Mrs Mckinley for her
first season in The White House. but the
death OF tho Presidents mother mas
changed the social conditions entirety
The President VIII adhere 90 the ofnctaf
progrlmW q. as already Ouauned however
painful the task may be- because ne
thinks that private grief should not inter-
fere with public duties; but In their pri-
waite ute he Pres'-en. and Mrs. Mc<in-
ley viii observe the usual period Of
mourning
GEORGE GRANTHAN RAIN