The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-03
THE BRIGHT NEW YEAR
IN AMERICAS CAPITAL.

reception has passed into history. 1t may
or may not have been the most brilliant
event in the social annals of the White
House. but it does not seem possible that
any previous President. on any like occa-
sion could have received the dignitaries OF
other countries and ours, together with the
great body of civilians who called to pay
their respects, with more courtly hospi-
tally than did Mr.. Mckinley yesterday
morning.
At 1899 oclocl, the doors of the Execu-
tive Mansion were thrown open to all visit
tors provided with cards permitting them
to witness the diplomatic reception, and
these TO the number OF several score spent
the next half hour in the East Room chat
ting in groups or strolling around the vast
place to admire its decorations which con-
sisted chiefly OF palms.
Promptly at IL o'clock the Marine Band
heralded the approach OF the RESIDENTIAL
party, who descended the private stairway
headed by Colonel Bingham and Captain
Gilmore, L. s. A.
The President and Mrs. Mckinley, fol-
lowed by the members OF the Cabinet and
their wives, passed into the Blue Room.
where the ladies took their position, all
standing with the exception or Mrs Nc
Kinley, who seated herself on one of the
blue and gold chairs that divided the ladies
of the receiving party from those behind
the line. Superhly gowned in ivory satin
aud rich laces, and wearing diamonds and
pearls Mrs. Mckinley chatted smilingly
throughout the reception and shook hands
with all who passed down the line.
Mrs. Hobart was suffering from a severe
cold that had prevented her from keeping
a dinner engagement at the Chinese minis
ter's on Saturday evening and made her
fear to venture out even to take her place
in the receiving line. and for that reason
her place to the right of Mrs. Mckinley
was filled by the wife of the Secretary of
State.
1t was Mrs Hays first official appear
ancc. Her gown was satin of the rich
amethyst color adopted during the Vic
torian jubilee as queens purple" The
skirt was made with elegant simplicity and
the waist showed surplce effect in rich
creamy lace. Mrs. Hays ornaments were
diamonds, and the flashing jewels and the
royal shade harmonZed effectively with
her rich coloring and black hair.
Mrs. Alger wore Nile green satin and
lace, with throat ornaments of solitaire
diamonds and corsase pin. crescent shape,
of the same blazing stones.
Mrs. Griggs was attired in white brocad-
ed satin with hunters green velvet jacket
trimmed with bands of fur
Mrs. Smith, who made her first appear
ance in her official capacity as the wife
of the Postmaster General, wore blue satin
with a draped front Of point lace, the cor
sage decorated with lace and ribbon bows.
Miss Long was gowned in a gray satin
skirt brpcaded with crimson; chiffon waist
trimmed with pink and embroidered bands
OF pearls.
Miss Wilson's costume was of ivory sat
in. with yoke and sleeves of pearl embroid-
cred chiffon.
Among the pretty toilettes of the guests
behind the line was that worn by Miss Ma
bel Mckinley. a rich creamy satin, exquis-
itely finished about the bodice with dainty
frills OF lace and pearls.
Miss Barber wore white and rose. and
Miss Alice Hay was radiant in the pink
silk and chiffon in which she recently
made her debut.
Others behind the line of special invita-
ton of the President and Mrs. Mckinley
were Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Bingham, Miss
McWiliams, 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, Mrs Nc
MILAN. Mrs. Mills, the Misses Morgan,
Mrs. o. H. Platt, Mrs. T. C. Plat, Mrs.
Proctor. Mrs. Teller, Mrs. wetmore, Mrs
WolcOtt, Mrs. Reed Mrs. Berry, Mrs.
Catchings, Mrs. Dalzell, Mrs Grosvenor,
Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Hit, Mrs. McCIel-
Ian. Mrs. McMiIlin, 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. William r. Day Mrs
Whitelaw Reid. Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. Man
ming and Mrs. McKittrick.
The first diplomat to shake hands with
the President after the Vice President and
members of the Cabinet had been greeted
was the British ambassador, Sir Julian
Pauncefote, who like each foreign digni-
tary present. was resplendent in court cos
tune the combined effect of which was
a continuous dazzle Of jeweled decorations
and gorgeous colors embossed with silver
and gold. Each diplomat moved down the
line with courtly grace, accompanied by
the ladies of his family. gowned and Jew
eled in keeping with foreign Difference to
court etiquette and followed by the various
secretaries and attaches that formed his
suite.
Count Yincf, first secretary of the Italian
embassy and charge dafTaires ad interim,
represented his government in the absence
of Baron Fava. Others prominent in diplo-
matte circles were Count Cassini. the Rus
sian ambassador; Mr.. Eugene Thiebault.
charge d'affaires of the French embassy;
Mr.. G. de Weckherlin, minister from The
Netherlands: Mr.. a Grip the Swedish
minister; Mr.. Lazo Arriaea, of Guatemala;
Mr.. Andrada. of Venezuela: Baron Franz
Riedl Won Riedenau, of Austria Hungary;
Mr.. Walter Deucher of Switzerland; Mr.
Constatin Bruu, of Denmark; Mr. Carlo.
OF Ecuador: DR.. Garcia Merou. of Argen-
tine; Mr.. J. n. Leger, of Haiti; hIr. Chin
Pom We, of Korea; Mr.. Maurice Joostens,
of Belgium; Mr.. Shen Tung, from the Chi
nese legation, in the absence of Mr. WI
Ting Fang Ali Ferrouh Bey. Of Turkey;
Mr.. Carlos Morla Vicuna, of Chill; Mr.
Frederick W. Verney. of the Siamese iega-
ton and Mr.. Jutaro Komuar, of Japan.
With the exception of the reception to
the diplomats. the appearance of the Off
GERS of the army and navy created more in
terest than any other event of the day. Not
since the Civil War have so many repre-
sentatiyes OF the two branches OF the serv-
ice appeared at a public White House re-
ception. and never before have the people
of the country felt more interest in its
gallant defenders than at the close of the
year 1898, during which their victories on
land and sea have carried the flag into an
other hemisphere and made the whole
world bow its Acknowledgements.
The officers assembled in the rooms of
the Secretaries of War and Navy. in the
State War and Navy Building and pro-
ceeded in a body to the White House,
where they formed in line of blue and
gold, reaching from the Blue Room out be-
yond the portico. Maj. Gen. Nelson a.
Miles and Adjutant General Corbin headed
the line. After them came General Gil