The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-03
WISHED THEM WELL.
President and Mrs. Mckinley
Greeted on New Years Day.

white house, which each year inaugu-
rate the social season at the national
capitol, none, perhaps, was more bril-
liant than the n which on Tuesday
ushered In the twentieth century.
And perhaps no feature of 1t was so
universally gratifying to the dis
~tinguished throng which came to ex-
tend the greetings Of the new year
to the chief executive of the republic
as the fact that the mistress of the
white house was able to participate in
the happy occasion and, with the
president, receive the Fluctuations and
well wishes of all. The grounds of
the mansion presented a stirring
scene as the carriages began to ar
rive, and the long line Of army and
navy officers, in full uniform, formed
to the left of the massive ~port-cochere.
Within, under the glamour of myriads
of electric lights, which were reflect
ed in the happy faces Of the shifting
throng, all was brilliancy. The Ma
rine band, stationed under the stair
way, discoursed national airs and
lively marches throughout the cere-
mony.
Reception Begins.
The members of the cabinet and
their wives, together with the ladies
of the receiving party, were the first
to arrive. They laid aside their wraps
in the state dining-room, and ascend
ed to the private apartments Of the
president, where they exchanged
greetings with Mr.. and Mrs. McKin-
ley. The ladies of the receiving party
entered the red and blue parlors and
took their places behind the line.
Meantime the ambassadors and min
listers Of foreign countries, with the
attaches of the various legations, in
their gorgeous and resplendent court
uniforms, had gathered in the state
d~ining-room. Promptly at II o'clock
the bugles sounded the approach of
the presidential party and, led by
Col. Bingham, the master of cere-
monies, and Maj. McCauley, of the
marine corps, the president and Mrs.
Mckinley descended the main stair
case, followed by the members of the
cabinet and their wives. AS the party
passed along to the receiving room
the president reflected in his smiling
face his health and happiness. He
bowed repeatedly to the crowds as
sembled in the corridors, greeting
many of them with well wishes of the
day.
Mrs. Mckinley also bestowed her
gracious greetings upon many in the
throng, and when three sweet-faced
children near the front chirped a Hap
ply New Year" to the first lady of the
land she took a handful of buds from
her exquisite bouquet of white roses
and tossed them to the children. The
party passed into the blue parlor and
took their places while the full Marine
band burst forth with the stirring
strains of Hail to the Chief" In ad-
dition to the ladies of the cabinet
many other ladies were invited to oc-
cupy places behind the line, and nearly
all of them were present.
The Diplomats.
After the receiving party had taken
their places the long line of guests be-
gan to move. First in the line came the
ambassadors and ministers from for
eign courts, accompanied by their full
stats. At their head was the venera-
BILE and dignified Lord Pauncefote, Brit
ish ambassador and dean of the diplo-
matte corps, in the full uniform of his
high diplomatic rank. With him were
Lady Pauncefote and the honorable
Misses Pauncefote and the ambassa-
dorial staff. Following them came
Baron Fava, the italian ambassador;
DR.. Won Holleben, the German ambassa-
dor; NJ. Cambon, the Frnch ambassa-
dor; Count Cassini, the Russian am
bassador, and Senior Don Azpiroz, the
Mexican ambassador, each accom-
by his staff and ladies. The
French ambassador returned only Mon
day night from Paris, having come on
at this time to extend to the president
the fluctuations of the new year. The
Chinese minister, in his rich oriental
silks, accompanied by Nine. WI, in
deliberately embroidered gown, attract
ed much attention.
A Stirring Scene.
After the ambassadors and ministers
the chief justice and associate
of the United States supreme
court, the Judges of the court of ap-
pesls, senators and representatives in
congress, former cabinet officers and
ministers of the United States. AS the
guests now began to move from room
room of the spacious mansion a scene
Of beauty and briiliancy met the eye.
From the state dinipgroom the guests
passed into the red parlor, where the
rich red furnishings, tapestries and
walls were set off with a wealth OF
and flowers. Along the mantel
were ranged the fragrant red begonia
and the flaming poinsetta, while below
the central chandelier arose superb
clusters of American beauty roses and
orchids. The blue room was the center
of attention, for here the presidential
party received, surrounded by the men,
bers of the cabinet and their ladies' and
those invited to assist in receiving.
The curtains were drawn and the
electric globes threw a soft.
radiant light on the delicate blue Of the
room and the brilliant assemblage.
From the superb chandelier hung a pro-
fusion Of smiL=X and from the apex of
the f~estoons burst a gorgeous mass Of
bowers. Across the front of the room
. line Of lounges formed an aisle
through which the long line Of guests
proceeded. Immediately 10 the left
stood the president and Mrs. Mckinley,
receiving each guest as Col. Bingham.