The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-26
RECEPTION TO THE
ARMY and NAVY
The Nations Defenders Pay
Tribute to Their Chief.
A Scene of Unequaled Spiendor
and Beauty.
The Most Handsome Display of Toi-
Icttcs Seen ut the Capital
This Season.

Never in the history of the White House
vas a mere brilliant scene presented than
that CT last night when President and
Mrs Mckinley rendered their annual re-
ception to the army and navy. There was
sneCial Significance to last nights recep-
tion. II was the first social gathering Of
the representatives Of the army and navy
since the opening of hostilities with Spain
last April For more than thirty years
the nation had been at peace. Fresh from
the fields of triumph, in the opinion of the
masses the army and navy seemed greater
auxiliaries TO the General Government.
The uniforms seemed brighter. the swords
bore evidence of additional polish. They
lad been unsheathed in defence of the
couDtry's honor.
Those who manned the ships before San
tiago met. perhaps, for the first time since
that event in history; those who led the
forces through the swamps grasped hands
again in the social world of the National
Capitol. and those who staid at home to
direct the movements of those who went
to the front took intense delight in meet
ing under these more happy conditions the
men whose victorious movements they mad
taken part in from afar off. 1t was an as
sembage of fair women and brave men.
Il was the reunion of the COMMANDMENTS
Chief and his lieutenants. Great vi tories
had been won; page after page OF history
had been made; the map OF the world had
been changed: Americas greatness was
extended beyond its traditional water
lines. BY the power of the sword the
nation had unfurled freedoms banner Ger
the colonies of Spain.
The three real heroes of the occasion
were Gen. Nelson A. Miles, major general
commanding the army; Rear Admiral
Schley. the destroyer of the Spanish fleet
in Cuban waters; and the grizzied, grand
old man. General Wheeler. There were
many others present who had performed
their duties well and faithfully. From the
immense assemblage there seemed TO be
no one absent except the man behind the
guns
There were happy meetings. too. II was
not unusual to see Scared warrior in
high rank to exchange greetings with
lieutenant, a captain, or a colonel, whom
he had last seen through the smoke of bat
tie, when White House social functions
was the last Thing in the world thought OF.
When the trumpeter of the Marine Band
heralded the approach of the Presidential
party the main corridor and lobby at the
foot of the grand stairway were filled with
beautifully gowned women and their
faullessly attired cavaliers. Preceded by
Colonel Bingham and Captain McCaw!ey,
each wearing the full uniform Of his rank,
the President and Mrs. Mckinley. FOLLOWED
by the members OF the Cabinet and their
ladies. passed into the Blue Room and
took their places in line Mrs. Mckinley.
as usual seated herself in one OF the blue
and gilt couches that divided the receiving
party from the special friends who had
been invited TO vieSy the brilliant panora-
ma from behind the line. Mrs. McKin-
ley's toilet which was the handsomest and
most becoming she has worn this winter,
was of faintest lavender satin bro AIDED in
waves of color of deeper tint. The cor
sage scintillated with diamonds, and she
carried bouquet OF lilies OF the valley
and violets. Mrs. Hobart was gowned in
silver gray satin with artistic touches of
pink. Both skirt and bodice We're embroid-
cred in cut steel and her jewels were dia-
monds.
Mrs Hay. whose resemblance to Mrs.
Cleveland was strikingly noticeable, wore
cameo pink satin and point lace.
Mrs Gage white satin with spang. ed
front duchess lace and diamonds.
Mrs Alger. electric blue satin embroid-
cred in silver spangles, opening over a
front of white satin cascaded with jewelel
lace.
Mrs. Griggs. white silk and tulle, with
corsage cluster of pink roses.
Mrs. Smith, pale blue Dresden satin,
Powered with pink roses.
Miss Long. gray silk, Powered with Grim
son.
Miss Wilson, white satin, the low bodice
trimmed with duchess lace.
Other strikingly handsome toilets were
worn by Mrs. Miles, silver blue satin ami
point lace Mrs. Cushman X. Davis, SUI
perb Paris gown Of rich silver gray satin
brocade the bodice laced in the back and
the shoulders outlined by a rope of large
! pearls; Mrs. Daniel Manning, president
/ general of the ID. a r.. light blue satin,
spangled tulle, and diamonds; Mrs. Stern
/ berg white satin; Sonora RengifO. white
satin and point lace, the corsage trimme. I
! with pink blossoms; Nine. Calvo. pink
satin; Mrs. PAX Ye, wife OF the Korean
minister pale blue satin. and her curious
/ native headdress of black and gold; Mrs.
I Foraker, blue satin brocadc and wine col
ored velvet; Mrs. Harlan. white satin, with
I corsage cluster of red roses, Miss Harlan,
! pink silk and gauze; Mrs Sartoris, gray
! satin and diamonds; Miss Sartoris. white
I satin and gauZe: Miss Lindsey Poor,
geranium pink silk and white lace: Mrs.
| John Davis, black velvet and diamonds.
with white ostrich plumes in her hair;
{ Mrs. Sheldon, white lace over white silk
Mrs. Knapp wife Of Lieutenant Knapp,
! blue and white satin; Miss Tonner of Can
ton, pale green satin and lace; Mrs Rich
ardson Clever, blue satin brocaded with
/ white: Miss Miles, blue silk and white
4. lace; Miss McKeuna white satin and jew
I eled gauze.
The first dignitary to shake hands with
/ the President was the Russian Ambassa-
| dor. who was accompanied by his niece.
| Mile. Marguerite Cassini, who wore a girl
| ishly dainty gown of white satin yelled
/ with misty lace. Interspersed with the uni
| formed officers Of the army and navy were
the heads and attaches OF the various en-
| bassles and legations, together with the
! British members of the Joint High Com
mission and the Supreme Court body with
their wives. AS usual the Chinese minis
ter attracted interested attention. his cos
tune last night being a cherry satin
! brccaded gown over an underskirt Of pale
blue. Fastened 10 his head blazed Il huge
solitaire.
There was suppressed hum of admirine
comment as the nations heroes passed
along the line. Some of them bowed will
the grace of cavaliers born TO the ways OF
courts, while others. after shaking hand.
with the President and Mrs. Mckinley go
through with the ordeal OF passing the
line OF Cabinet ladies with shyness thai
seemed to imply that facing battery OF
bright eyes and smiln" faces required
more courage than to face an enemy on the
battlefield Tho ovation rf the evening was
achieved by Admiral Schley. who PROVED
himself courteous as well as hero. As
he passed before the ladies with the banC
playing Dixie" every spectator show.
ed in his or her face an almost ire
pressible desire to change their under
current Of admiration into a cheer.
The decoration have never heep NOR,