The evening times., 1900-01-11
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

tives Of the foreign powers last night II
stite reception. given by Mr.. and Mrs
Mckinley in honor Of the Diplomatic Corps
This annual courtesy. apart from its Off
cial signifeanee of International good
will is always the most scenically inter
esting incident In the calencar cT Admi l.
istration functiops. the gorgeous dress and
decorations o. other nations contrasting
Dicturesquely with the conventional garb
Of cur own
The President and Mrs. Mckinley were
assisted in receiving the dignitaries Of the
Diplomatic Corps and the Army and Navy
Of the United States by the ladies Of the
Cabinet. there being an unusually promi-
nent assemblase of maids and matrons OF
this coteTie banked. like flowers. behind
the line"
The White House is never seen to better
advantage than at night. when the cold
WhitcnesS Of the exterior is brought cut In
cameo-like silhouette by the radiance of
the blue and yellow glow OF electric lights
Official aides were in constant evideLcs.
and carried out the details Of the reception
in their perfection of arrangement Aside
from the White House guards. there were
details OF police at every entrance to the
grounds aud Mansion, while the latter was
guarded as If the safety Of a State we're at
stake. At the main entrance was located
policeman with a huge megaphOne. while
in the grounds before MIN he had a mate
These two bawled in stentoriln tones the
nun oers OF the hundreds Of carriages >
they were required. and the Jehus' ear that
was deaf 10 that thunderCus summons was
not m evidence last night.
Fer perhaps the only time in a twelve
month, the White House Grounds were
empty of strOllers, but in their stead there
were banked scores OF carriages, deposit
ing their freight OF dignity and beauty.
or taking IL up again when 1t had paid
its homage to America through her Chief
Magistrate Quite 2.O0C people thus paid
their respects TO the President personally.
Midnight only saw the percephble lessen
ing OF the thTong which came in greeting.
Men and women softly jostled each other
IN the rOse-scented fragrance OF the great
East Room. and the corridors were packed
or want OF room elsewhere.
The main vestibule. as usual. had been
transformed into a cloak room. leaving
merely an aisle through which the guests
passed on their way to the rooms beyond.
The great east parior was thrown open,
and those who arrived early enjoyed the
pleasure OF an inspection OF its splendid
decorations without experiencing the
discomforts OF the crush later on. As
usual on such occasions. the room was e
jungle Of palms The ceiling studded with
electric lights cleaning through opalesceut
bulbs was festoOned with smilax. thai
swung in graceful loops from the prisons
OF TIE crystal chandeliers Banked about
the base OF the futed columns were exotic
foliage plants and the reCesses over the
doors were filled In with leaves and grasses
IN rich and varied hues. The mantels were
mass Of bloom. the colors pink and white
and the mirorr rests were ablaze with fam
ing red pOinsetta against a background o.
fern leaves.
In the beautiful Blue Parlor roses Of
/ every hue blOOmed I'm bowls and vases
and smilaN tendrils were twined about the
chandeliers. shortly after the gates were
opened small groups OF men and women
. distinguished in official and social life be-
gan TO stroll about the room. the assem-
. blage growing larger. until the great doors
( leading from the East Room into the cor
ridor were thrown open and a trumpet sa
lutte proclaimed that the President and his
party were about 20 descend the stairs.
/ Then the Marine Band burst into Q meIo-
dious crash and 10 the strain OF Hail 10
the Chief the receiving group came down
the crimson -carpeted steps. led by Colonel
Bingham and Major McCawley. each wear
ing the full uniform of his rank Having
crossed the corridor into the Blue Parlor.
Mrs. Mckinley seated herself as is her
and the ladies Of the Cabinet TO her right.
with Mrs. Hay occupying the post OF honor.
hlled by Mrs. Hobart last year An the
Z ladies OF the receiving party were in white
Mrs. Mckinley's gown was Of heavy bro
cddc. trimmed eiahorately with pearl and
silver passementerie. She wore her dia-
mOud necklace and a white osprey tip in
her hair.
Mrs. Hays gown was OF satin. having
down the front panel OF spangled net
embroidered on each side in a pattern OF
leaves edged with gold. Al the shoulder
was large bow Of turquoise velvet which
matched the plumes in her coiffure
Mrs Gage was attired in white moire.
enriched with silver spangles and softaned
with rare laces. Artificial blossoms of a
cerise color ornamented her corsage and
furnished an artistic touch Of color amid
the soft waves Of her hair
Mrs Root Was i'm a white lace gown.
trimmed deliberately with light-blue satin.
and in her hair she wore a knot OF blue
velvet
Mrs. Smiths gown. Of figured satin. was
paneled with lace. She had no color about
her save the rainbow shades flashed By
magnificent suuburst OF diamonds. which
was fastened in tho Iaces Of her corsage.
Mrs. Hitchcock was gOwned in heavy
white satin with ga-nitures Of lace about
the SKIRT and bodice and touch of Law
ender
Both Miss Long, daughter of the SeCre-
tary of the Navy. and Miss Wilson. daugb-
ter Of the Secretary of Agriculture. We're
absCot from the line
Miss Fannie Cox. of Denver Col. and
Mr. Charles II. Duod. Of Boston. Mass
were married last night at the residence or
the brides uncle. Justice Brewer The
ceremony was performed by Rev Thomas
II. Cooke. ID. D. Miss Elizabeth Brewer
attended the bride. Mr.. and Mrs Dood
left later in the evening for a wedding
tour after which they will go to Boston
10 reside.
Mile Cassiui. OF The Russian Embassy.
was too indispCsed to attend the diplo-
matte reception last night and she will
not receive today.