Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-03
An Ideal Midwinter Day-Army Group
Made Up of Generals Miles,
Shafter, LaxtOn and Corbin
Attracts a Great Deal
of Attention.

potted plants and ferns transforming the
into bowers of %shrubbery and
bloom.
In the receiving 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, congressional and judicial
circles. Among the most notable figures in
the line of callers We're the foreign ambas-
sailors and ministers, in their rich diplo-
matte uniforms and officers of the army
and navy, also in full uniform. giving 4
brilliancy and dash to the occasion. The
army group which attracted most attention
was one made up of Major Generals Miles.
Shafter and Lawton and Brisadier General
Corbin, who, after greeting the presiden-
tial party, were invited to join the receiV-
ing party. The reception lasted something
over two hours and was in every way a
successful and happy ushering in of the
new year.
Every arrangement had been made at the
executive mansion for the orderly handling
of the great throng which was expected:
The gates to the grounds Were closed ard
watchmen stood at Intervals along the
broad drivewayS leading up to the Sreas
portico. In the conservatory was posted
the United States Marine band in their
brilliant scarlet uniforms. making a, line
show and rendering appropriate music at
each stage of the ceremony.
The decorations OF the interior of the
stately edihce was entirely floral. Enter,
ing the central corridor the guests passed
beneath wreathS and festoonS of smllaX,
suspended from the crystal chandeliers.
while tall rubber plants and palms bor-
dered the way.
The red parlor, which was set apart for a
reception of the cabinet and the diplomatic
corps. was handsomely decorated with pot
ted plants and maidenhalr ferns in GRIM
son jardinieres.
The next of the apartments in order. the
famous blue parlor. was marvelously beau
e e,fnl aim IN its horal 7I adernme snx nne h me- ms
studded with scarlet poinsetta filled the
southern end of the room, and a flood of
draped with smilax poured upon the great
garlands of camelias which adorned the
mantels and the wreaths of ivy and red
framed mirrors and flaming with tiny giows
of electric light. Across the northern end
Of the room a row of closely set gilt and
flue coucheS separated the receiving party
from the long line of callers.
The green parlor was more simple in its
decorations. which Were made up alto
sether. of foliage plants standing in pale
green jardinieres and a few dwarf palms.
The spacious east room was transformed
for the occasion into a great conservatory
of tall palms and potted plants. masses of
cut flowers and graceful ~feStOonS of maiden
hair fern. Or the further side of the room
dark green and russell foliage. The re-
ceSSed windows looking toward the Poto-
mac were also filled with palms touching
the ceiling, and clusters of poinsetta BIOS
sons. From the chandeliers hung gar
lands of ferns and galax leaves, while from
the large divan in the center of the room
rose a profusion of rich tropical plants.
Shortly after half past 10 o'clock the
members of the cabinet with their fami-
lies began to arrive; and closely following
assist Mrs. Mckinley In the reception.
They were shown into the private recep-
ton room. where they left their wraps. and
fhpn nSranHe1 tho StnfryUlN- tn rho lilT-arN-
and Mrs. Mckinley.
came the ladies invited, behind the receiv-
ing line. They We're:
Mrs. Porter. Mrs. Bingham. Miss Barber,
Miss Mabel Mckinley. Miss McWilliams.
Mrs Burrows. Mrs. Cullom. Mrs. Daniel,
Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Filkins. Mrs. Fairbanks.
Mrs Eauiknsr; MIS-; Frye; Mrs; Gorman'
Lodge. Mrs. Mcmillan, Mrs. Mills. Misses
Morgan: Mrs. O. H. Platt. Mrs. F.. c.
Pratt, Mrs Proctor. Mrs; Teller, Ms.
Berry. Mrs. Catchinss. Mrs. Dalzell. Mrs.
Grosvenor Mrs. Henderson. Mrs. Hit.
Mrs: MeGlennan: Mrs; McMiIlin. Mrs.
Wheeler. Mrs. Miles. Mrs. Wilson. Mrs.
Howell. Mrs. Haywood. Mrs. General
Grant, Mrs; General Sheridan. Mrs: James
Day, Mrs. Whitelaw Reid. Mrs. Parsons,
Mrs. Manning. Mrs. :McKittrick.
Then came the diplomatic corps. ambas-
sadors. ministers and their suites in the
gorgeous uniforms and decorations char
acteristic of the foreign representation. At
their head was the British ambassador.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, with Lady Paunce-
fote, the Misses Pauncefote and the nu-
merous stan Ct the embassy. Tne am
Mckinley most cordially: pausing Il mo-
ment for an exchange of Anslo-American
greeting. Sir Julian wore a close lifting
coat. the breast heavily corded and en-
broidered in gold. with chapeau under his
arm and gold mounted sword at his side.
He showed the effect of his recent serious
attack of the grip, and moved about with
some effort.
Then came the German ambassador, DR..
Won Holleben. in the German diplomatic
uniform of highest rank. with its abund-
ance of gold lace and medals of distinction.
With him walked Baron Speck Won Stein
berg. first secretary of the German en-
basSy. in the brilliant blue uniform of the
imperial guard. with high top boots, cos
sack fur hat and tall silver pompom.
The German military. naval and civil at
taches. in their various uniforms. added to
the brilliancy of this party. In the absence
of NJ. Cambon. the French ambassador. the
french embassy was represented by Il trio
NJ Taigny and NJ. Beufve. There was one
very notable feature of the French party.
IN that on the breast of each showed for
the first time at an official function the
superb decorations conferred on them by
the queen regent of Spain for their services
%o On rezest cnnl;hg5 peace; The dec.
NSisISStu " it"tlto CRUISES
of the Order of Isabella Catolica, suspend
ed from wide tri-cciored ribbons showing
the colors of Spain.
The Russian party included Count Cas-
SIM. the tall and distinguished ambassador.
who presented his New Years respects for
the first time at the White House; General
MortvaZo, the Russian military and naval
attache, in full uniform. and the large stan
OF the embassy. Following these came the
many other foreign. delegations. making
4 cosmopolitan assemblage of Turk in fez.
Cinnamon in gorgeous Oriental silks, Ko-
rean in tall. sieve-iike hats. and Japanese
in modernized diplomatic uniforms. which
symboliZed Japan's recent forward march
in civilization.
Promptly at II o'clock a bugIer stationed
in the central hall blew a cali upon his in |
strument, and the presidential party. de-
scending 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 close |
ly behind Colonel Bingham and Captain
Gilmore. the master of ceremonies. passed
into the blue parlor and took up their
places in the receiving line. the president |
at the head. Mrs. Mckinley reXt and the
ladies of the cabinet In the order of Off
cial precedence. In the rear Were several
of the cabinet officers and the ladies spe- |
ciaily invited by Mrs. Mckinley 10 assist
behind the line.
The justices of the United States supreme
court Who cama GiractIv after the din,o- l