The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-01-07
THE PRESIDENTS RECEPTION
A BRILLIANT SOCIAL AFFAIR.
The First New Years Reception of Pres
ident Mckinley Bri liant Occasion
Arrangements Complete-Au N.tions
Represented-Lssted -Four Hours.

Washington, Jan. 3.-President McKin-
lev held his first New Years reception at
the White House yesterday. Every ar
rangement had been made for the orderly
handling OF the great throng which was
expected The gates to the grounds OF the
executive mansion were closed and watch
men stood at intervals along the broad
driveways leading up to the great portlco.
Just within the entrance to the house, IN
the conservatory, was posted the United
States marine band. The decorations OF
the interior of the stately edihce were ell
tirely floral
The reception took place in the blue par
lor. Shortly after 1890 o'clock members
of the cabinet, with their families, began
to arrive and closely following them were
the ladies who had been selected to assist
Mrs. Mckinley in the reception. They
were shown into the private reception
room, where they left their wraps ana
then assembled the stairs to the library,
where they were met by the president and
Mrs. Mckinley.
Following the members of the cabinet
came the ladies invited to the blue room
behind the receiving line. They were, for
the most part, wives of senators and con-
gressnen. Then came the diplomatic
corps, ambassadors, ministers and suites
in gorgeous uniforms and decorations
characteristic of the foreign represen-
tation. At their head was British Ambas-
sador Sir Julian Pauncefote with Lady
! Pauncefote, the Misses PauncefOte and
the numerous staff of the embassy. Next
came the German Ambassador, DIR. Won
! Holleben. With him walked Baron SpeciS
Won SteInberg, first secretary of the Ger
man embassy.
In absence of NJ Cambon, the French
ambassador, the French embassy was
represented by NJ. Thicbaut, Nine. THE
baut and Tgny Beaufye. There was one
very notable feature OF the French party
in that on the breast of each showed for
the first time at an official function, the
superb decorations conferred on them by
the queen regent of Spain in recognition
of services in re-establishing peace.
The Russian party included Count Cas-
sini the ambassador. General Mortvazo,
the Russian military and naval attaches
in full uniform and the suite of the EN-
bassy. Following came many foreign dele.
cations, making cosmopolitan assem-
blage of Turks, in fezzes, Chinese IN gor
geous oriental silks, Koreans in tall
sieve-like hats and japanese in modern
lied diplomatic uniforms which symbolized
Japans recent foINa ard march i'll civilizs
ton.
Promptly at II o'clock the bugler, sta
toned in the central hall, blew call upon
his instrument and the presidential party
descending the western stairway, entered
the reception room and greeted the diplO
matte body. AS the band struck up Hal
to the Chief" the president, following
- closely behind Colonel Bingham and Cap
tain Gilmore, the masters of ceremonies
passed into the blue parlor and took VI
places in the receiving line, the presiden
: at the head, Mrs. Mckinley next and tn
ladies of the cabinet in the order of OF
: fetal precedence. In the rear We're severn
+ of the cabinet officers and the ladies e.
/. pecially invited by Mrs. Mckinley to as
= sist The justices of the United State
- supreme court, who came directly afte
/ the diplomatic corps, We're the first to pas
( before the line and enter the vast cas-
$ room.
a Three striking military figures headc
e the army and navy callers-General Mile
l commanding general of the army; Majo
Y General Lawton, one of the heroes q
+ Santiago, who il about to assume mill
tary command in the Philippines, an
Brigadier General COrbin, adjutant gen
eral of the army. These officers We're i
f the full uniform OF their high militar
J.; rank.
o The public reception lasted until 2:3
e o'clock, when the doors We're closed an
= the president and Mrs. Mckinley led tn
n receiving party back to the private quar-
= tiers of the mansion. Two hours OF cor
l. tinuous handshaking had passed withou
+ unpleasant occurrence. Altogether tn
reception was regarded as a most ausp
cious and happy opening of the new yea
. Peoria DistiIiery Resumes.
. Peoria, Ill, Jan. 3.-The Great West