Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-01-28

granite steps of the navy department,
and marched by twos through the
grounds to the white house.
All wraps and overcoats were laid
aside, and the full-dress uniforms
were dazzling with their gold lace,
medals and epaulets. First came the
infantry, with Gen. Miles, command
ing the army, in the lead. Then came
the red-plumed officers of the aTtil-
lery, followed by the yellow-plumed,
helmeted commanders OF the cavalry.
The officers of the navy were followed
by the redstriped officers of the marine
corps, all of them marching with the
precision of veterans on dress parade
and inspection.
The great east room was magnificent
in its simplicity. To over-adorD that
splendidly spacious apartment would
have marred its grandeur. Under the
direction of Mrs. Mckinley the floral
decorations were meager occupying
little space, and leaving ample room
for the throngs which were to come and
fill it almost to sutfocation. In the
east room and south windows palms
were massed from floor to ceiling, and
on the mantels were numerous grow
ing plants; among them most con-
| spicuously blooming were thousands
of white primroses. In the blue room,
where the presidential receiving party
stood, there were palms intermingled
with ferns, and glowing American
Beauties, scarlet pionsettes, white
blossoms, red and purple flowers of
every variety, and fringes of grass and
J smilax, the whole room friezed with
; Sfeathery greens, the entire effect being
: beuutitied and enhanced by the un-
usually tasteful arrangement of eiec-
| trio Jets, smothered in scarlet and
white blossoms.
Promptly at II o'clock the president
descended the grand staircase, aor
companied by Mrs. Mckinley, who was
beautifully gowned in full dress, and as
the party entered the blue room the
Marine pand in the corridor announced
the beginning of the reception with the
strains of Hail to the Chief"
Ine diplomatic corps assembled in
the red parlor, and the first arrival was
Sir Julian Pauncefote, ambassador
from Great Britain, accompanied by his
family. Sir Julian held quite a recep-
tion as the spsmbers of the diplomatic
corps arSVss. AS soon as the strains
of the .lurine band were heard, the
dipor,A,4c corps with Sir Julian, the
dean Of the body, in the van, proceeded
to the blue parlor, where they were pre-
sented to the president and Mrs. Me-
kinley by the secretary Of state. his
reception occupied more time than was
allotted TO it on the programme, as
there were fully $50 in the diplomatic
party.
Then, in the regular order, came the
chief justice and associate justices OF
the United States supreme court, the
senators and representatives in con-
gress, the heads of the executive de-
purtments; and, last of all, fully 5000
American citizens, male, female, old
young, and even infants in arms. Sew
erul of these latter were patted upon
the head by the president; and theiI
mothers will tell them OF it thousands
| OF times as they grow older
The reception lasted from II o'clock
in the morning until two o'clock in the
: afternoon. Then the tired president
and wife went TO their private apart
ments for dinner, and long Afternoon
of we'll deserved rest.
| SMITH II FRY