The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-02
An Immense ThrOng Attends
First New Years Reception
Held by the President and Mrs.
Mckinley in Washington.
FLORAL DECORATIONS
We're of Surprising LONELINESS
and PrOfuSiOn.
Marine Band Furnished Music
in the Conservatory.

Washington, Jan. 2.-President Nc
Kinley held his first New Years recep-
tion at the White House today. The
weather which had been severe and
bad for the past two days was much
more pleasant when the day broke and
as the sun mounted higher a warm
Southerly breeze began to melt the
snow and turn conditions pleasantly.
AT the executive mansion every ar
rangement had been made for the or
derly handling of the great throng
which was expected. The gates to the
grounds were closed and watchmen
stood at intervals along the broad drive
ways leading up to the great portico.
In the conservatory was posted the
United States marine band in their
brilliant scarlet uniforms, making a
fine show and rendering appropriate
music at each stage of the ceremony.
The decorations of the interior Of the
stately edifice were entirely floral. En-
tering the central corridor the guests
passed beneath wreaths and festoons
of Smilax, suspended from the crystal
chandeliers while tall rubber plants
and palms bordered the way.
The red parlor which was set apart
for reception of the cabinet and the
diplomatic corps, was handsomely dec
GRATED with potted plants, maidenhair
ferns in crimson jardinieres
The next of the apartments in order
the famous blue Darlor was marvellous
ly beautiful in it's floral adornment. The
heavy curtains were drawn, towering
palms, studded with scarlet poinsetta
filled the southern end of the room, and
a flood of soft light from the central
chandelier, draped with snnilax poured
upon the great garlands of camelias,
which adorned the mantels and the
wreaths of ivy and red holly berries
suspended upon the gold framed mir
rors and flaming with tiny glows of
electric light. Across the northern end
of the room, a row of closely set gilt
and blue coucheS separated the receiV-
ing party from the long line of callers.
The green parlor was more simple in
its decorations, which were made up al
together of foliage plants standing in
pale green jardineres and a few dwarf
palms.
The spacious east room was trans
formed for the occasion into a great
conservatory of tall palms and potted
plants, masses of cut flowers and grace
ful festoon of maidenhair, fern. On the
further side of the room wide reaching
palm trees rose out of a bank of dark
green and russet foliage. The recessed
windows looking toward the Potomac,
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 prOfuSion of rich tropi-
cal plants.
Shortly after half-past 10 o'clock, the
members of the cabinet with their fam
lilies began to arrive and closely fol-
lowing them were the ladies who had
been selected to assist Mrs. Mckinley
in the reception. They were shown into
the private reception room where they
left their wraps and then ascended the
stairway to the library where they were
met by the president and Mrs. Mczin-
ley.
Following the members of the cabinet
came the ladies invited, behind the re-
ceiving line.
The following named ladies were in
vited to the blue room behind the
Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Bingham, Miss Bar
ber, Miss Mabel Mckinley, Miss Nc
Williams, the Misses Reynolds, Mrs.
Fuller, Mrs Bate. Mrs. Burrows. Mrs.
Cullom, Mrs. Daniel, Mrs. Davis, Mrs.
Elkins, Mrs. Fairbanks, Mrs. Faulkner,
Mrs. Frye, Mrs. German, Mrs. Gray,
Mrs. Hanna, Mrs. Hoar, Mrs Lodge,
Morgan, Mrs. o. H Platt, Mrs. T. c.
Platt, Mrs. Proctor, Mrs. Teller, Mrs
Wetmore, Mrs. Wolcott, Mrs. Reed, Mrs.
Berry, Mrs. Catchings, Mrs. Dalzen,
Mrs. Dingley. Mrs. Grosvenor, Mrs.
Henderson, Mrs. Hit, Mrs. McClennan,
Mrs. McN1illin, Mrs. Marsh, Mrs. Payne
Mrs. Steele, the Misses Wheeler; Mrs.
Miles, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Howell Mrs
Haywood, Mrs. Gen. Grant, Mrs. Gen.
Sheridan. Mrs. James A. Gary, the
Misses Gary, Mrs. VIM. r. Day, Mrs.
Whitelaw Reid, Mrs. Parsons, Mrs
Manning and Mrs. McKittrick
Then came the diplomatic corps, am
bassadors, ministers and their suites, in
gorgeous uniforms and decorations
tion. At their head wasthe British am
bassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote, with
Lady Pauncefote. the Misses Paunce-
fote and the numerous staff of the en-
bassy. The ambassador greeted the
president and Mrs. Mckinley most cor
daily. pausing a moment for an ex-
change of Anglo-American greetings.
The Diplomatic Corps.
Sir Julian wore a close fitting 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 grippe and moved
about with some effort.
Then came the German ambassador,
DR.. Won Holleben, in the German dipIo-
matte uniform of highest rank, with it's
distinction. With him walked Baron
Speckvon Sternberg, first secretary of
the German embassy in the brilliant
blue uniform of the imperial guard with
high top boots, -CoSSack fur hat and tall
silver pompom.
The German military naval and civil
attaches, in their various uniforms
added to the brilliancy of this party.
In the absence of M. Cambon, the French
ambassador the French embassy was
represented by trio of richly decorated
oficials-Mm. Thiebaut, Taigny and
Beufve. There was one very notable
feature of the French party, inathat on
the breast of each showed for the first
time at an official function the superb
decorations conferred on them by the
in re-estabIishing peace
ha n r-ufi ions fod Of 4crr- 1IeT7