The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-02
NEW YEARS AT WHITE HOUSE.
brilliant RECEPTION GIVEN BY
THE PRESIDENT.

Mrs. Mckinley Attended During the
Oficial Part of the Programme.
Diplomatic Corps as Usual Fur
nished the Show of the Occasion.
Question of Precedence Between
the Army and Navy Settled in Fav-
or of the Former.
Washington, Jan. 1.-Beneath a sky as
bright as Cuba and in a wind as cod as
the Arctic over 1000 citizens stood in line
al the White House gates To-day waiting
to pay their respects to the President of
the United States ct the brilliant official
reception. which ushered in the new year
and marked the opening of the social sea-
son in Washington.
There have been larger crowds in the
past at the White House New Year gath
erings, but few functions of the sort have
been more brilliant, and in none have the
crowds been better handled, with less
confusion or less of feminine heartaches
and resentment for dainty toilets disar-
ranged in the crush.
Beginning promptly at II a. m, the
ceremony was concluded at lis, at which
time 1854 guests Lad passed down the
line Mrs Mckinley was present despite
her feeble health. She remained in the
Blue parlor only through the strictly Of
fetal section of the programme, retiring
then as had been previously arranged.
With the flush of exctemt Mt on her usual
ly pale face, she looked bright and happy
as she led the cabinet procession down the
corridor with the President TO the Blue
room.
The brilliant lights reflected from the
crystal chandeliers overhead. the twinkle
of tiny electric globes through the heavy
draperies of smilaX and the jungle of
palms and foliage plants that walled the
red carpeted corridor made an excellent
stage setting for the official procession as
it moved down the staircase and through
TO the blue parlor where the receiving
party was to take its stand. Mrs. Mckin-
ley bowed and smiled to the little crowds
of favored spectators who filled the end of
the corridor to witness this opening act
of the days ceremonies. AS she turned
into the blue room she kissed the tips of
her white gloved fingers to some of the
children who waved their hands TO her
from a point of vantage near the door.
Army Ahead of the Navy.
The troublesome question of precedence
between the army and navy was settled in
favor of the former, Gen. Niles leading
the military contingent, with Adjt Gen.
Corbin at his left side. After the army
had passed in review Admiral Dewey with
the venerable Admiral Melville on his arm
led the naval line. Mrs. Dewey, how
ever, was with the receiving party, and
was escorted in on the arm of Secretary
Long.
The diplomatic corps, which headed the
list of guests was, as always the show
feature of the reception. Lord Pauncefote,
the British ambassador and dean of the
diplomatic corps, led the way The display
of uniforms was brilliant Turkish fez.
g lded orders of continental powers, the
fur trimmed tunics and high polished
to1ts of the Russians; the queer, sage
green, golden crusted uniforms of the ia
panese and the ermine trimmed slken
rob- S of the Koreans and Chinese all com
bined TO form a picture of unusual bril-
Nancy.
Interest in Duke d'ArcOs.
Special interest conferred in the appear
auce of the Duke d'Arcos, the Spanish
minister, and his beautiful American wife.
1t was the first White House reception at
which Spain has been represen ed since the
c'ose of hostilitles and the gree tings &c
corded them were especially cordial
Following the diplomats. the American
officials, judges of the Supreme Court, SEN
ators and representa- lives, department
chiefs and the like, made a longer, if less
striking procession. The reception to the
general public concluded the function.
The Secretary Of State and Mrs. Hay
entertained the members of the diplomatic
corps at breakfast at noon. at their hand
some residence or Lafayette Square. 1t
was repetition of the brlliancy attend
ing the presence of the diplomatic repre-
sentatives at the White House.
Most of the wives and near relatives of
the several cabinet officers received dur
ing the day.
The Admiral of the navy and Mrs.
Dewey received a large number of callers.