The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-03

cd Beyond NIL Former Years. -
,ti., WASHINGTON. D. G., jan. e,-The
President and Mrs, Mckinley received
the season's greetings to-day from tho
4 grea. throny OF callers representing ev-
Z cry, branch of public HE, who attended
I the white house reception. II was the
frst timo s!nce the present ndmlnistra-
t!on began that circumstances permit-
ted the observance OF this custom. and
this as we'll as the happy and propl-
tuous circumstances under which the
!; scar begins, added 10 the interest md
enjoyment surrounding the event. l.
was on Ideal mId-wintcr day, the air
crisp and bracing and the ground COW
4 cred With snow. The executive mansion
was elaborately decorated for the event,
q wealth of cut flowers, palms. potted
! plants and ferns transforming the
B apartments into bowers OF shrubbery
fand bloom. z. $50 IS ~
In the receiving line with the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley wereI the mem
bers OF the cablnet and the cabinet la
dies. while back OF the line stood many,
ladies from the army, navy, congress-
ional and judicial circles. Among the
most notable figures In the line OF call
: ers were the foreign ambassadors and
! ministers in their rich diploma tic uni
z forms. Officers OF the acmY and navy
1 also were in full uniform, giving bril-
llancy and dash to the occasion. The
= army group which attracted most at
tentlon was one made up OF Major Cen
eral Miles, Shafter- and Lawton and
4. Brigadler General Corbin. who. after
! greeting the presidential party. were In
8 rited to join the receiving party. The
reception LASTED something over two
hours and was In every way a success
1ul and happy usherins In OF the New
Year.
Tic Decorations.
The decorations OF the Interior OF the
stately edihce were entirely orboreal
and floral. Entering the central corrI-,
dor the guests passed beneath wreaths
and festoons OF Smilax. suspended from
the crystal chandeliers. while tall rub
Der plants and palms bordered the way.
The red parlor which was set apart
for the reception OF the cabinet and the
diplomatic corps, was handsomely dec:
GRATED with potted plants; maiden hair
& ferns In crimson 1ardlnlcres. IN l1i,
The next Of tho, aPartments.ino order,
the famous blue parlor, was marvellous
AslE benutIfulln lis Goral adornment.y The
Z heavy curtains were :; drawn, towering
palms studded with scarlet poInsettn
tiilled the southern end ofithc room and
n HOOD of soft light from the central
i Chandelier draped with smilaN poured
upon the great garlands OF cnmellas
which adorned the mantels ana the
wreaths Of ivy aud red holly berries
suspended upon the gold framed mir
rors ana flaming with ting slows Of
electric light. Across the northern end
4 OF the room a row OF closely set gllt and
niue conches separated the receiving
party from the long line OF callers.
The green narlor was more simple IL,
Its decorations which were made tlp al
together OF foliage plants standing In
pale green lard!nlores and n few dwarf
palms. 2. !
2, The spacious east room was trans
formed for the occasion into great
/ conservatory of tall palms and potted
plants, masses Of cut flowers and
!, GRACEFUL, festo0a OF maiden hair fern.
reaching palm trees rose ont OF q bank
Of dark green and russet foliage. The
recessed windows looking toward the
Potomac wore also filed with palms,
touching the ceiling and clusters of
7oinsetta blossoms. From the chande:
4 Hers hung garlnnds OF ferns and galaS
leaves. while from the large dlvIn In
Z the center Of the room rose a nrofusion
O.. rich tropical plants. -
Shortly after half past ten o.clocl, tho
members OF the cabinet with their fam-
lies began TO arrive; and closely fol-,
+ lowing them were the ladies who had
heen selected to asslst Mrs. Mckinley
IN the reception. They were shown Into
the prirnte reception room where they
left their wraps and then asceaded tho
stairway 10 .hc library where they wera
met By the President and Mrs. McKIa-
ley. $500. ~
The brilliant Diplomatic Corps.
Then came the diplomatic corps. am
bassadors. ministers and their suites in
the gorgeous uniforms and decorations
characteristic OF the foreign representa-
t!on. At ihei: head was the British
E Ambassador. Sir Julian Paunccfote. with
Lady Pnuncefotc. the Misses Paunce-
fote and the numerous staff Of the. en-
bassy. The ambassador greeted the
President and Mrs. Mckinley most COR
. daily, Dauslng n moment FOR m ex-
change of AnSlo-Amcrican greetings.
Sir Julian wore close-fitting coat. the
breast heavily corded and embroidered
In sold. With chapeau under his arm,
md gold-mounted sword at his side. He
Showed the effect of. his recent serious
+ attack OF the grip, and moved about
with some effort. 80 50. r. 5.N
y Then came the German ambassador,
& DIR. Van IIollenbep. III theGermah diplu-
matte uniform OF highest rank with its
abundance of gold lace ana medals OF
distinction. With him walked Baron
Peck Won Sternberg, first secretary OF
the German embassy in, The brilliant
blue uniform of imperial, guard with
high top boots, cossacls fur cap and Sill
Ter potnpom. ;.t'H
. The German military naval and civll
attaches. In their various uhifGrmG, add
ed TO the brllliancy of this party In
the absence Of ". Cambon;:. the French.
ambassador. the French embassy was
Represented by a trio Of richly Gecora-
ted oalclals-AIm, Thiebnui, Telrny
and Boeufre. There whs one very no.
table feature ofSlhc French party, IN
thnt con the, breast OF zach showed for
{. the FIRST time ut M official functIonss the
superb. decorations conferred on them
4 my the queen reuent'Of, Spain for. their
Z services In re-egtahlishinS. peace.
5, The decorations consisted OF jeweled
Z crosses OF .tlle order of lsabellu CntOli-.
ca, suspende1 fpm. iwidn tTi-coiorcI
ribbons showing the colors OF Spain.
y The Russian party included Count Cas-
Ainl, The tnil anu DISTINGUISHED amhas.