The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-01
GRBB4ING TEE PRESIDENT
The New Year Reception at the
Executive Mansion.
Thc East Room. Profuseiy Decorated
with EaIns and Flowers, Presents
brilliant Scene-ElabOFate Uni-
forms % the Memters of the DIpIo-
matte Corps--TboSe Behind the Line

New Year Day was observed at the
White House in the usual way. by q public
reception. Hundreds OF persons, prominent
and obscure, wished the President OF the
United States a happy New Yeas. For
three and one half hours tides OF ysople
flowed through the corrid idOrs and eidied
about the rooms Of the Executive Mansion
Il wish you a happy NCT Year" is what
everybody said. People sttered that sen
timent so often that X seemed to come
from their lips and tongues mechanically
1t frequently happened that two persons
would say The same thing at the same
dme. so that neither heard what the other
said but that matered not Men in pub
lie life whose personal relations are known
10 be inharmonious. automatically repeated
the sentence. Il wish you a happy New
Year"
But IN much of this there was a lack OF
( heart action. Many voices that said these
words were as cold as the wind ihat came
I down from The north and piled snow 10 Hit
tie drifts about the White Lot But - IN
most things there was another side some
or the voices that said. II wish YOU a happy
Z New Year were musical witn s0uI-toueg
There was much that was beautiful az
the White House. particularly in the mat
tcT Of the decorations The hlstori, East
Room was brilliant with crystal gold. aud
green The great mirrors multiplied the
soft electric lights that burned In the gid
I ea ceiling and sidewalks. and hedges OF
bright green had been planted in the win
/ dows and upon the maDtels. The crowd
Of holiday callers was deusest there For
half an hour, the Ambassador Of Great
I Britain and several OF those connected with
. lhc British Embassy held little side re-
ception beneath the central chandelier the
SPOT which guides point out 10 strangers
as that on which the casket of President
l Lincoln once rested.
Lord Pauncefote was dressed ia uni-
form. which in elaborateuess we'd with that
worn by Minister HengelmuIler and Minis
| ter Wa Tiug-fang- Lord PauncafoJs's dress
was q blue cloth, oyerlaid with gold braid
or, mere accurately speaking OF god brazil
uDdeIlsid with blue 81 N. Only here aud
there did a little blue shoW through the
cleaning gold His bright. sword cIanked
~ every step The sccretaTies and attaches
Z Cf the Embassy wore uniforms made after
I the fashion OF rhat worn boy Lord Pduuce-
/ 'ote, but sOmewhs, less remarkable TO. the
/ display Of gold.
One Of the other conspicuous figures iu
he East Room was the Austrian minister
! lie wore dark red tights and short top
/ boots cT his right shoulder was thrown
| a red we've. broc8de cape, which hung from
I his lefJ shoulder. 70 which it was secured
[ hy a ,Lain. The cape was trimmed WITH
fur. SIC carried "a sword and wore sod
spurs
n tRe entire OF a group or people were
/ the Chinese minister and his wife. The
minister wore black hat with a bunch OF
! hushy red tassels a red silk garment and
white silk shoes. Mrs. Wu TinE-fang wore
q gown Of Oriental cut made OF rare blue
! ana white figured silk. a swCn OF silver
gold and carved red coral was upon her JET
black hair Blue diamonds weighing three
CaTals each flashed in her ears.
The Floral Decorations.
Though the floral decora lions were not as
elaborate as in the case at the state re-
cep,ions which the President viii give
/ later in the season. the scene was one thai
t would have amazed primitive President Ad-
ans hundred years ago. Tail palm trees
( lined the walls of the East Room. and In
I the window inches were foliage plants min
gled with the scarlet OF pOinsetJa blooms
and carnations. Delicate Ereen vines were
I wreathod amid the pendants OF the crystal
/ chandeliers and in the Blue Room were
blossoms. pink and blue that contrasted
with the furnishings OF azure and gold.
Promptly at II o'clock corps OF bUgleTs
stationed in he corridor. sounded a salute
| 10 the Commander in Chigf OF the Army
and Immediately afterwzrd Colonel BiuE-
| ham and Major NcCawley. each in the full
uniform OF his rank. descended the stair
way followed by the President and Mrs.
Mckinley Behind them were the mem
bers of the Cabinet with their wives and
I daughters. and a number or prominent ma
I irons and maids whom the President and
Mrs Mckinley had invited TO stand behind
the line. As the Presidential party crCss-
ed the corridor and through the golden
gaze into the Blue Parlur where the recep-
tion was 70 be held. the Marine Band play
ed the stirring strains CT Hail 10 the
Chief"
Mrs. Mckinley. superbIy gowned in deli
cate silver grey satin that scintillated with
spanGles. and wearing her famous neck
lace Of diamonds. seated herself. as is her
custom in one Of the blue and gold chairs
that define the line. Tho President stood
at her left and the ladies OF the Cabinet to
/ her right with Mrs Hay wife Of the Sec
retary Of State. in the pos, Of honor at her
side.
Missing From il,e Line
The changes that have occurred in thy
Presidents official family during the past
! twelve mouths was a has, ,er OF comment
among those who attended the reception
last year. Mrs. Hobart. wife Of the ate
Vice President. was miss d from the place
occupied by Mrs. Hay this morning Last
year splendidIy gowned and jeweled ra-
, diantly good humored and so tactfui that
her always cordially extended hand saved
| Mrs. Mckinley from an exhaustive siege OF
| hand shalng-hers was the most impos-
| ing present in the line.
Mrs Alger. wife Of the former Secretary
/ of War whose gowns were always so beau
/ tiful, and who. like Mrs. Hobart had a
/ smile for everyone was also missing. her
/ place in the line today being filed by Mrs
/ Root.
/ eral has been detained in Paterson by
vacant today.
Mrs. Hay was resplendent in point lace
| over yellow chiffon. with a knot OF blue
! on the cOrcage. A whle osprey tip vas
| fastened in her black hair and her jewels
were diamonds.
Mrs. Gage, whose toilets are always as
| handsome as they are artistic. wore pur-
! pie crepe de chine. the skirt paneled widely
I with white lace. Her hair was dressed
| with white aigrette and she wore her
1 splendid dog collar OF diamonds.
| Mrs. Roots gown was OF black plated
/ chiffon over white sa IN, the overdress
| sparkling with tiny spRugles OF silver
| Miss Long, daughter of the Secretary Of
the Navy, who. as usual, represented Mrs
| Long in the Cabinet line. wore delicate
/ blue silk, with yoke and sleeves OF white