The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-01

: The Congressional reception at tn
E White House last night was one of III
largest and most brilliant of these annus
functions ever held by the President tn
, attendance OF those paying their respect
l being estimated at fully twelve hundred
E The President and the official party de
seconded the stairway into the main cor
ridor at o'clock. a blast of trumpet
preceding him. and Hail to the Chief" b
the Marine Band. greeting the party, VIII
moved into the Blue Room where the re
ception was held. Mrs. Mckinley wa
seated, as usual, Mrs. Porter occupyin
the post Of honor on her right hand, Will,
behind the line were the laiies of tn,
Cabinet and some members of the fam
lies of prominent Senators. For nearn
f; two hours the review passed along th
, rooms leading to and past the official par
. ty, while the Marine Band, in two sec
! tons, one in the conservatory and one, III
the hallway beside the East Room. dis
| coursed popular and classic music.
The simplicity Of the floral decoration
was again carried out. Palms banked tn,
inches in the corridors and the spac e
above the archway and in the corners o
the great East Room, while their noddins
frcnds lined the long corridor conneetins
that room With the conservatory Hun.
dreds of yards OF smilax ropes were u ed
in festOoning the ceiling and draping the
| crystal chandeliers, while every Hutet
cclunu was wound With its feathery
! leaves.
Great banks c [ azaleas filled the manteIs
| beneath the mirrors in the East Room. and
over the arches floral masses of color lent
I added charm thraus oil
GRANGE throughout the rooms OF the entire
| Mansion
! An amusing incident occurred in the
main corridor. when Baron Faya, the ,tiI-
ian Ambassador. passed through p rty
OF ladies. evidently from New York OBJ
| served him, and one greeted With:
| I'm so glad to see you again. Senator:
you are looking remarkably we'll"
| The Ambassador returned a pleasant
grestins' and passed on. not disabusiug
| their minds of the mistake in identity.
Who was it," asked one OF the party,
eagerly.
Senator Depew.'' responded the one
who CRESTED him, we are quite old friends.
and haven't seen him for such long
| time,''
There were few amused smiles among
group who had overheard the dialogue
FUT the most part the ladies' were charm
insly sowned. and made a delightful rep
rssentatiOn If all America
ADMIRAL Dewey was among the early
callers. but was obliged to hurry away TO
dinner engagement.
Mrs. Mckinley and all the ladies' Of the
Cabinet. except Mrs. Long and Mrs Griggs.
were in the receiving line.
Mrs. Mckinley wore black velvet. point
lace. and diamonds. and carried a bouquet
OF lilies of the valley.
Mrs. Hays gown wast white lace over
yellow. with q knot Of amethyst satin rib
Don fastened at the bodice and extending
over the shoulder
Mrs Gage was in black velvet. white
lace and tulie fnishias the cursage. from
the front Of which sparsled diamond clus-
tiers. diamond ornament also held the
white aigrette in her hair
Mrs. Root wore black net which scintiI-
lated with scales Of silver A large and
especially beautiful opal was fastened In
the front of the bodice and she wore a
necklace of diamonds
Mrs. Smith wore a gown Of light blue
satin siashed up the front OF the skirt
showing fine pleatings Of white chiffon
Point lace and chiffon were about the cor
sage and her ornaments were diamonds.
Mrs. Hitchcock was In white satin
striped with heiotrope with trimmings or
lace.
. Miss Wilson wore rose pink satin. white |
lace and tulIe.
The handsomest toilet of the many seen |
last night was that worn by Mrs Potter |
Palmer. If Chicago 1t was a trailing robe |
Of superb black velvet having an Arab |
esque pattern in white satin, appliqusd in |
diamonds around the top Of the bodice and |
at the hips. The finishing touches at the !
corsage and over the shoulders was white 7
tullc frosted with diamond dust In her |
ears she had immense solitaire pearls, set |
In dny diamonds
Noticeable among the pretty gowns be-
hind the line were those worn by the fol-
lowing:
Mrs. Morse. black lace and satin; Miss
Grace Mckinley, pale blue silk with bands
Of black velvet; Miss Duncan. wbite-dotted
chiffon ever pink satin Miss Hay. white
lace and silk. pink orchid in her hair: Miss
Alice Hay. pink silk and white lace, and
Miss Root. blue satin and white lace.
The guests invited to stand behind the
line. nearly all OF whom were present.
were:
Hon. William p. Frye. the Speaker OF the
iOus', Mrs. Henderson Miss Henderson the Ad.
nird of the Navy. Mrs. Dewey. General Miles.
irs. Miles, Mrs. Reber. Hon. ;. -. EgSns. Ms.
.ikiHs. Hon. John r. Morgan. The Misses Morgan,
Ion. John II. Berry, Ma. Bery. Rev DE-. +. NJ.
Bristol. Mrs Bristol. Hon. James Me
Ion. George Peabody Wctmorc Mr. j
Gilmore, the Misses WetBore. Hon. William |
! Allison. Dr. p. VI. RlAey Mrs. RiNcy. Hon.
hdrles Francis Adams. Hrs. Adams. the Misses
dams. Mr.. Henry Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Potter
almcr zen. .. q. Howard, Ceu. Wesley Merritt. !
rs- Merritt. the Chief Justice. Mr.. Fuller. Mis-
uller, Mrs. Auhery, Justice Harlan. Mrs. Harlan.
he Misses Harlan, Justice Gray, Mr.. Gray, Jus.
&c Brewer. Mis- Brewer, Justice Brown, Mrs. .
rown. Justice Shir4s. IGrs slirae Justice White .
rs. White Justice rccShsm, Nirs Pcckhnm. Jus