Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-01-26

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 fuIl-dress uniforms
were dazzlng 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-pIumed officers of the oTtil-
lery, followed by the yellow-pIumed,
helmeted commanders OF the cavalry.
The officers of the navy were followed
by the red-striped 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-adorn 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 sulfocation, 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-
spcuously 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
smilaX, the whole room friezed with
feathery greens, the entire effect being
beautified and enhanced by the UNI
usually tasteful arrangement of cleo
trio Jets, smothered in scarlet and
white blossoms.
Promptly at II o'clock the president
descended the grand staircase, nc
compunied by Mrs. Mckinley, who was
beautifully gowned in full dress, and as
the party entered the blue room the
Marine band in the corridor announced
the beginning of the reception with the
strains of Hail TO the Chief"
The 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 recep-
ton us the members of the diplomatic
corps arrived. AS soon as the strains
Of the Marine band were heard, the
diplomatic corps with Sir Julian, the
dean OF the body, in the van, proceeded
to the blue parlor, where they were pre-
scented 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 il 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 ue-
partments; and, last of all, fully 5,UUO
American citizens, male, female, old.
young, and even infants in arms. Sew
eraI of these latter were patted upon
the head by the president; and their
mothers will tell them CT it thousands
of times us they grow older.
The recpDtiou lusted 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 D. FRY.