The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-03
PRESIDENTS MEN YEARS.
An OFFICIAL RECEPTION, ATTEND
ED BY A BRILLIANT THRoNG.
Foreign Diplomatic Corps Presents
. Gsrgeoss Appearance, ~ Usaai.
aaA Ar.y and Navy 0mcxrs Aise
Lend Dash to the Occasion.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2-'rae president
and Mrs. Mckinley received shs season $
greetings today Of the great iilrorg Of eeal-
srx REPRESENTING every branch Of public
life, vino atserzsiea sfse W htta House fecsp-
sftn- X was the first time since the prs
eni admins ration began that circam-
stances permitted the observance % this
custom, and this as well as ma happy and
prosperous circumstances under Which the
year begins added to the interest and egs-
JoyMens surrounding the event. Ii was al
ideal mI5sinleE day, the air crisp and afac-
ing the ground covered with snow. the
executive mansion Was deliberately dec3r-
ated for ssle event. a wealth OF cut flowers
palms, ported plants and ferns transform
ing the apartments 10 bowers OF shrubbery
president and Mrs Mckinley were The
members OF the cabinet and the cabinet
ladies', waiie back OF the line stood maay
ladies' from the army. navy. congressional
able figures IN the line OF callers were tire
foreign ambassadors and ministers, in tas.r
rich diplomatic uniforms.
Ofrsesrs OF the army and navy were also
In full uniform. giving a brIlliancy and
dash to the occasion. The army GROUP
which attracted mast attention was one
made up Of Maj Gems Miles. Saafter. Law
tom and Brig. Gen. Corbin, who. after greet
ing the pres4uenIiai party, were invited 10
join the receiving party.
the reception lasted something over TWO
hours. and was in every way successful
and happy Rsiiering IN Of the New Year.
The reception took place In tie blue par
Tor. Shortly after 1899 o'clock the members
or he cabinet, with Their families. began "a
arrive, AMI ciaSely following them We're the
ladies' who had been selected 10 assist Mrs
Mckinley In the reception. They were
S7oSn into the private reception room.
where they left their wraps aud then as
<aF to fzst
We're met by the president and Mrs. Nc
kinley.
Following the members OF the cabinet
came the ladies invited 10 the blue room,
behind the receiving line. They were for
the most part wives OF senators and con-
gressinea.
Then came the diplomatic corps. am
bassdGofs, ministers and Their suites, In the
gorgeous uniforms and decorations char
arteristse Of the foreign representatives
Al their head was the British ambassador.
Sir Julian Pauneefote. with Lady fsaunee-
ioEe, the Misses Pauncefote and the nume--
Gus STAFF Of the embassy. Next came the
German ambassador. DIR. Won Hoileben.
With him walked Baron Speek Won Stern
berg. first secretary of the German en-
bassy In the absence Of NJ. Camhon. the
French ambassador. the French embassy
was fc9resenied by a trio of richly deco
rated offieiaas, VI. Thlebaut, NM. Thiebot
ana ilgney Beufye- There was one very
notable feature of ire French party in that
on the breast OF each, shown for the first
time at an official function. were the SUI
peru decorations conferred on them by the
queen regent OF Spain for their services IL,
re-estab.ishing peace. The Russian party
Included Count Cassini ambassador: Gen
MortvaZo Russian minister and naval at
tache. In full uniform. and the suite of the
embassy Following came many foreign
delegations, making a cosmopolitan ASSEM-
biage OF Turks in fezes. Chinese In sor-
geous Oriental silks. Koreans IN tan steve
Ike hats. and japanese in modernIzed
tfyxfff FIra -
pans recent forward march in civilization
Promptly at IL O'Clock hugler stationed
IN the central hall blew call upon his IN
strufnent. ana the presidential party. de-
scendlng the wessefS stairway entered the
reception room and greeted the diplomatic
body AS the band struck UP Hail TO the
Chief, and the presidents party. follow
ing closely behind Col. Bingham and Cant
Gilmore. masters OF ceremonies. passed into
the blue parlor and took up their plares
In the receiving line the president at the
head. Mrs. Mckinley next and the ladies'
OF the cabinet In the order OF official p.erss-
dence. In the rear were several OF the
cabinet officers and the ladies' especially
invited by Mrs. Mckinley to assist behind
the line.
The justices of the supreme court who
came directly after tho diplomatic corps.
were the first 10 pass before the tine and
enter the vast Esas, room
The East room has heretofore been the
scssls OF brilliant assem6aages. where the
gorgeousnsss OF The army and navy unit
forms We'd with those Of the foreign repre-
sentaltTes. This year. however the mem.
hers of thu diplomatic CORPS iid nos pass
Through 70 the East room but Iaft tha
mansion after paying their respects to the
presidential party.
Fosar striking military figures headed the
army and navy. They were zen Niles
commanding general Of the army: Mai
Gen. Iawtcg1. ora 81 the heroes Of Santg-
age. who IS sfsoat 30 assume sh4 military
command Of the PhilsgSaFass. Cen. Sfsafter
and Brig. Gen, CorDIn, acSjutant general OF
TIA army.
The Officers were In the full Uniform OF
the high military rank. Their arrival was
tHe signal for stir throughout the crowd
cd apartments. After the grpe;fffs-s were
given 70 me president ard MIRA Mckinley
and tfss receiving party the nreSf2snt in
sit<si them hscs Of the sine.
Secretary Aiger presented various army
officers The navy followed the ofytrey,a
being presented ley Secretary Long In
rapid succession delegations we're secsiy-
Cd from The Smithsonian Institution and
from all fae government d@pa rtmenss the
veterans u the Mexican and civil war the
tsrafs1 Army. the Loyal Legion ara the
Oldest fnhaa5aHt Association. ard. finally
tho g1ng-ai pslaslic-
tAs public reception lasted until $50
% eiScgs ~hsa The dDuTS were closed and
The pFesfAeus ard Mrs. NchIrsey seyE the
tec@sTIFS party back - tae FsGlvasc qlar~
tors cf the mansion. Two hours ~ cor tin
osi aa;asasking hal passed without an
unpleasant occurrence. AitnGeEhs~ the r.,-
cszsttoFl VAS regarded ss moss ausE,s,.sesss
af%: harry opening u t!ss uew year.