Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-04
At THE WHITE HOUSE
President and Mrs. Mckinley Hold
a New Years. Reception.
NILES PRECEDED ADMIRAL DEWEY
The Foreign AmbassadOrs and Mlnlstera
Resplendent In Their Court Dresses
Other Receptions by the Mem
bers Of the Cabinet

Washington, Jan. 2-Beneath sky
as bright as that above Cuba and In 4
wind as cold as the Arctic, more thar
1000 citizens stood in line ut tht
white house gates yesterday waiting
to pay their respects to the president
of the United States, after the bril-
liant official reception which ushered
In the new year, and marked the
opening of the social season in Wash
ington.
There have been larger crowds in
the past at the white house new year
gatherings, 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 hearlaches and resent
ment for dainty toilets disnrranged
in the crush. Beginning promptly at
II a. NJ, the ceremony was concluded
at 1;1j, at which time 1884 guests
had passed down the line. Mrs. Nc
Kinley was present in spite of her
feeble health. She remained in the
blue parlor only through the strictly
official section of the programme,
retiring then as she had previously
arranged. With the flush of excite
ment on her usually pale face, she
looked bright and happy AS she led
the cabinet procession down the cor
ridor with the president to the blue
room. The brilliant lights reflected
from the crystal chandeliers over
head, the twinkle Of the tiny electric
globes through the heavy draperies OF
smilax and the jungle Of palms and
foliage plants that walled the red
corridor made an excellent
stage setting for the official process
sion as II moved down the stairs and
through to the blue parlor where the
receiving party was to take its stand. |
Mrs, Mckinley bowed and smiled to
the little crowd 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 point OF vantage near the
loor.
The troublesome question of prece-
lence between the army and navy was
iettled In favor Of the former. Gen
Niles leading the military contingent
With Adj. Gen. Corbin ut his left
ide. After the army had passed in
eview Admiral Dewey with the ven
rable Admiral Melville on his arm,
ed the naval line. Mrs. Dewey was
n the receiving party and was es-
orted in on the arm OF Secretary
.0ng.
The diplomatic corps, which headed
he list of guests was, as always, the
how feature of the reception. Lord
auncef0te, the British ambassador
nd dean Of the corps, led the way,
he display Of uniforms was brilliant;
urkish fez, gilded orders OF conti- {
entail powers; the fur-trimmed tu- s
les and high polished boots OF the
ussians; the queer, sage-green, gold !
ncrusted uniforms Of the Japanese,
nd the ermine-trimmed silken robes n
the Koreans and Chinese all COM +
ned to form a picture OF unusual ,
rilliancy. n
Following these, the American Off n
ais, judges Of the supreme court, u
nators and representatives, depart
ent chiefs and the like, made a
niger, II less striking procession. The ~
ception to the general public con :,
lded the function. =,
The secretary Of state and Mrs. Hay !,
tertained the members Of the d. =,
omatic corps at breakfast, at noon. n,
their handsome residence on La ~