Evening star., 1900-12-12


room The reception did not last long. Col.
Bingham introduced all those who shook
hands with the President and members of
the cabinet The President cordial in
his greetings to all the officials
Those who took part in the reception went
on to the east room. where seats We're
found for them by members of the COM
mittee The President himself Joined the
party in the room, and the exercises there
began at once.
White House Model.
When the President entered the east room
shortly before II O'Clock he found dis
tinguished company there, for while he had
been receiving the governors the other in
vited guests had arrived and had been shown
at once into the great apartment Of the
house where the formal exercises We're to
be held. There had been no attempt made
to decorate on an elaborate scale, Tor as
one of the chief points Of interest in the
celebration is the proposed addition 10 the
White House, and as the completed model
made under the direction of Col. Theo. y.
Bingham. t. S. A, superintendent Of pub
lie DuLGings and grounds. was on tXhlbi-
ton for the first time. that ana the draw
iirgs We're the main objects of interest The
model made in plaster of paris and pure
white rested on raised platform that &C.
cupied the center of the apart ment
ABOUT lflt SlttS Gl tlG ItldtltiI III was Iet
drapery and a:so a fringe of foliage pans.
The contrast between the red and green
shades of the setting with the white OF the
model enhanced the effect and showed the
proportions 10 The bes effect. AgainsI the east
wall and in the center between the pillars
on bach ground Of ;hc yellow window
draperies We're fastened the drawings of
the plans. In the center was large water
color OF the building when completed, with
ground plans and a side section and also
view of the building as il will close the
vistas of New York avenue and Pennsyi-
vania avenue. Above this display We're
draped the American colors, while at the
top was an inscription as follows:
1I91-19G0.
Corps of Engineers,
L. S. Army.
Office of Public Buildings and
Grounds,
Theo. A Bingham,
L. S a.
The model as well as the drawings We're
soon surrounded /, and the general effect as
well as the de. aiIs were examined with a
good deal of interest well curiosity
There were no need of introductions as the
company We're wei acquainted. consisting
as it did of those prominent in official and
civi! life Although the bright winter sun
light streamed in from the southern win
dows the lights in the ceiling ard in the
great chandelier We're blazing that the
apartment was bright with light. In the
window embrasures and at various points
about the room were massed foliage plants,
while the mantels We're banked with flow
ers.
BriIIiun Scene.
Chairs were arranged at each end OF the
room, the space in the center being occu-
pied in part by the model. Near the east
wall were chairs placed for the President
and the sneakers. After most OF the com
pany had been seated the army officers and
the members of their staffs in uniform be-
gan to come in, and their presence rather
frightened the effect of the maSS-nS OF an
assemblage of men in morning dress. How
ever there were some half a dozen ladies
present but they were the exception, as
owing to the limited seating capacity the
iryitations were sent only TO those in Off
c;al life and members of the citizens com
mittee.
The President in entering the room was
accouDanied by the speakers of the occa-
sion the members Of the cabinet, the gov
errors Judges Of the United Supreme Court
and others having previously been shown
To- their places. The entrance Of the Pres
iCent was the signal TO the audience, which
rose and remained standing. AS Prcsiden;
Mckinley looked about the room his eye
rested upon a representative gathering that
Was typical not only of the life of the cap
ital city, but of the nation. The s!gniil-
cance of the occasion and the events Whicn
were thus being commenlordted must have
occurred in vivid light to those who
thought of the White House and the ma
toEal capita one hundred years ago and
as they appeared today.
The difference consisted mainly in the
surroundings of a completed Executive Man
sion and a magnificent capital city. AS for
the exercises themselves. they We're as sim
PIE and as devoid of display as anything
that could have taken place in what is sup
posed TO have been. the palmer day of cur
forefathers.
Presently the link between the past and
present was found in the venerable figure
of w. w. Birth. whose span of life nearly
comedies with the period of the location of