Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-05
AT The WHITE HOUSE
President and Mrs. Mex inley Hold
New Years Reception.
TIE FUNCTION A BRILLIANT oyE.
Foreign Ambassadors In Their Rich DIpio-
matte Uniforma-Army and Navy on.
Gers Also in Full Unif0rm- societies
and General Public Pay Respects.

88sAc nuu N8vy VIZ
cers Also In Full societies
and General Public Pay Respects.
Washing ton, Jan. S.-The president
and Mrs Mckinley received the sea-
sons greeting yesterday from the great
throng Of callers, representing every
branch Of public life, who attended the
white house reception. 1t was the first
time since the present administration
began that circumstances permitted
observance OF this custom and this as
we'll as the happy and propitious cir.
cumstances under which the year be.
gins added to the interest and enjoy
ment surrounding the event
1t was an ideal midwinter day, the
air crisp and bracing and the ground
covered with snow. The executive
mansion was deliberately decorated for
the event. q wealth OF cut flowers,
palms, potted plants and ferns trans
forming the apartments into bowers
Of shrubbery and bloom. In the re-
ceiving line with the president and
Mrs Mckinley were the members OF
the cabinet and the cabinet ladies,
while back Of the line stood
many ladies from the army, navy, con.
gressional and judicial circles Among
the most notable figures in the line
OF callers were the foreign ambassa-
doris and ministers in their rich diplo-
matte uniforms. Officers OF the army
and navy, also, were in full uniforms,
giving brilliancy and dash to the oc-
casion. The army group which at
tracted most attention, was one made
up Of Maj. Gems. Miles, Shafter and
Lawton and Brig. Gen. Corbin, who,
after greeting the presidential party,
were invited to join the receiving
party. The reception lasted some
thing over two hours and was in every
way a successful and happy ushcring
In Of the new year.
Shortly after 1880 the members OF
the cabinet with their families began
to arrive and closely following them
ladies who had been selected to assist
Mrs Mckinley in the reception. They
were shown into the private reception
room, in which they left their wraps,
and then assembled the stairway to the
library, where the were met by the
president and Mrs. Mckinley. Fol.
lowing the members OF the cabinet
came the ladies invited behind the re-
ceiving ike.
Promptly at II o'clock a bugler sta.
toned In the central hall blew call
upon his instrument, and the presi.
dental party, descending the western
stairway, entered the reception room
and greeted the diplomatic body as the
band struck up Hail to the Chief"
and the president, following closely
behind Col. Bingham and Capt Gil
more, the master OF ceremonies, passed
into the blue parlor and took up their
places in the receiving line, the presi-
dent at the head, Mrs. Mckinley next
and the ladies' of the cabinet in the
order of official precedence. Ia the
rear were several of the cabinet officers ,,
and the ladies specially invited by
Mrs. Mckinley to assist behind the line. |
The senate and house Of representa- |
tives were well represented although
two notable absentees from the house c
were Speaker Reed, who is at {
tending the funeral of his only sister q
at Portland, and Representative Ding
ley, who is confined TO his bed with .
pneumonia
Secretary Algcr presented the vari-
Gus army officers, comprising the
many hundreds OF staff bureaus on the
retired list The navy followed, the
officers being presented by Secretary
Long, There were many inquiries for
Admirals Sampson and Schley, who
were not, however, in the city. Capt
Robey Evans was in theline, being c
now stationed here {
In rapid succession delegations were
received from the Smithsonian and all /
the government departments, veterans I
Of the Mexican and civil war, the
Grand Army, Loyal Legion, Oldest In. I
habitants' association, and finally the
general public.
The public reception lasted until 9:l5
when the doors were closed and the
president and Mrs. Mckinley led the
receiving party back to the private
quarters of the mansion. The two
hours Of continuous handshaking had
passed without an unpleasant occur.
renee. Mrs. Mckinley remained seated
most Of the time. The greetings ex-
tended to her were particularly heart
felt, some Of the callers bending to
kiss her hand as they passed. Alto
gether the reception was regarded as
q most suspicious and happy opening
Of the new wear
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t,rund nuLa Cvril,s Ontnlau