The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-04
BANQUET IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
Dewey the Guest Of Honor at
n Large Dinner Party.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 3-President Nc
Kinley, in honor of Admiral Dewey, to-
night gave the largest Inner party in the
history of the White House social func-
tons. Covers We're laid for over eighty
persons. The guests included the Cabinet,
the Governors of nine States, justices of
the Supreme Court, some Of the members
OF both houses of Congress, army and navy
officials and others. 1t was a brilliant af-
fair. An hour before the hour announced a
large crowd of spectators had gathered in
front of the White House and watched the
arrivals. Admiral Dewey came at s O'Clock,
and, as he passed inside with Flag Lieuten-
ant Brumby and Flag Secretary Caldwell,
the admiral was enthusiastically cheered.
Rear Admiral Schley was given a similar
ovation.
The guests passed into the East room,
whence they proceeded to the White House,
corridor. which served tonight as a state
dining room, the usual room being too
small for the purpose. The corridor was
decorated. In the center of the table was a
large cut-glass vase filled with dark-red
Meteor roses, set in a mound of Farleyense
fern. At intervals on either side were six
large mounds of pineapple plants in fruit.
set In begonias in flower, interspersed with
the broad green-leaved bilbergia splendense,
a native plant of the Sandwich islands. Be
tween these were two vases filled with Me-
teor roses standing in beds of orchids, max
ing in all thirteen pieces, one for each of
the original thirteen States of the Union.
In mantels were banked with cut flowers
asparagus vine. On the large colored glass
screen back of the Presidents chair had
been hung the Presidents flag. and on the
opposite side of the table, TO the rear of
Admiral Dewey's seat, was the four-starred
nIue nag Of the admiral of the navy. At
leading into the East room, where Secre-
tary Long sat. was the flag of the secretary
of the navy, and over the west end hung
the nag OF the secretary of war.
The Red and Blue parlors were effectively
decorated with plants. The decoration of
the East room We're unique and consisted
entirely OF plants. Palms and the multi
colored croton filled all of the window
spaces and mantels. Mr.. Phister, who has
charge Of the White house Conservatives
and to-day used sixty varieties in the East
room decorations. Twenty varieties of the
Maranta plant were used. as we'll as many
The list OF guests was as follows: The
President, Admiral Dewey. secretary of
state secretary of war. the attorney gen
erai, the postmaster general, the secretary
OF the navy. the secretary of the interior,
tne secretary OF agriculture, the secretary
tice Gray, Justice Brown, Justice White.
General Miles, General Merritt, General
Corbin, Surgeon General Sternberg. Col.
Sampson. Schley, Sicard and CrowinshieId
Captain Lamberton, Captain Mahan, Flag
Lieutenant Brumby, Flag, Secretary, Cald-
Foraker, 7. c.. Plat. Depew. Hanna, Davis.
Lindsay, Sewell, Elkins, Tillman. Thurston,
McComas, Penrose, Daniels, Martin and
Boutelle and Livingston; Governors Smith
OF Vermont, Wolcott of Massachusetts.
Roosevelt Of New York. Lowndes Of Mary
Rollins OF New Hampshire, Atkinson of
West Virginia, Pingree. of Michigan, Gen.
r.. A. Alger, Hon. James A. Gary, Hon.
Gen. Nathan Gon. Assistant Secretary
Pruden, Assistant Secretary Cortelyou, AS
sistant Secretary Hill. Assistant Secretary
sistant Secretary Allen, Assistant Postmas-
ter General Heath, President ]. G.. Schur-
Harrison of Philadelphia, commissioners
Wright, Ross and Beach, Charles Dewey,
George G.. Dewey of New York, Col. Myron
Moses.
The dinner occupied two and a half hours,
and was altogether informal. There was no
and no reference to the Manila victory. A
telegram was received by the President
from Vice President Hobart, saying he was
unhappy that he could not be present, and
sending greeting to the party.
The President telegraphed, expressing his
own regrets and that of the company. and
| CSpCClaiy VI tnC S0Ccl " OAlOi DCy
the reading of this dispatch, there was nc
incident, and the evening passed in indi-
vidual conversation. At its close Admiral
Dewey took leave Of the party, and amid
cheers from a small crowd Of spectators
was driven DIRECTLY to his house, where he
soon retired.
Admiral Dewey was given an impromptu
reception at the Metropolitan Club late this
afternoon. 1t was a complete surprise to
him, his first intimation OF 1t being when
one of the club members called for him.
The admiral was accompanied by Flag
Lieutenant Brumby. 1t is Only a couple OF
blocks from the Mclean residence to the
clubhouse, and the admiral strolled leisurely
across. attired in a suit of black. with tor
hat. At the club numerous old friends
greeted him enthusiastically. The party
soon adjourned to one of the smoking par,
lors. where Governor Roosevelt. a number
| of the members of the Cabinet, most OF the
club governors in the city. and others
grouped about the admiral, and for over
an hour the party chatted about a VARIETY
Of subjects. The rest Of the afternoon the
admiral spent quietly In his rooms at Mrs
McLean's residence. There was a host Of
callers, but most OF them simply left theil
cards, not asking TO see him. A few cards
however, were sent UP, and in one or two
Instances callers were received.