The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-04
ANNUAL RECEPTION UNUSU-
ALLY BRILLIANT.
MRS M'KINLEY TAKES PART
First Lady Of Land Assists Nations
Executive to Receive Dis
tinguished Callers.

Washington, Jan. lin the long
line of New Year receptions at the
white house, which each year inau-
gurate the social season at the ma
tional capital, none, perhaps, was
more brilliant than the which to-
day ushered in the twentieth century.
And, perhaps, no feature OF it was so
universally gratifying to the disting-
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 presi-
dent receive the felicitation and we'll
wishes of all.
The day dawned dull and gray, but
it was soft and balmy.
Towards / O'Clock, when the re-
ception opened the sur burst through
the mist and cloud and frightened
the white walls and pillars of the
historic old mansion until they shone
like alabaster and touched the stripes
of the glorious American flag that
1oated over it into streaks of flame.
The grounds of the mansion presented
a stirring scene as the carriages began
to arrive, and the long line of army
and navy officers, in full uniform,
formed to the left Of the massive
porte-couchere and within, under the
glamour of myriads of electric lights,
xr,k,nl rnAnnfo1 IN Tho horroxy
face Of the shifting throng, all was
brilliancy. The Marine band, sta
toned under the stairway, dis
coursed national airs and lively
marches throughout the ceremony.
The members of the cabinet and
their wives, together with the ladies
Of the receiving party, were first to ar
rive. They dotted their wraps in the
state dining room and assembled to the
private apartments Of the president,
where they exchanged greetings with
Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley.
The ladies of the receiving party en-
cred the red and blue parlors and took
their places behind the line. Mean
time the ambassadors and ministers
of foreign countries with attaches of
various legations, resplendent in their
rgeOu court uniforms, had gathered
in the state room.
Promptly at II O'Clock the bugles
sounded the approach of the p1esi-
Dental party. and led by Colonel
Bingham, master of ceremonies, and
Major McCauley, of the marine corps,
the president and Mrs. Mckinley de-
scended the main stairs, followed by
members of the cabinet and their
wives. -
AS the party passed along to the re.
ceiving room, the president reflected in
his smiling face his health and hap.
piness. He bowed repeatedly to the
crowds assembled 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 chirpped Happy New Year. to
the first lady OF the land, she took a
handful of buds from her exquisite DO,
uuet of white roses and tossed them
to the children.
After the receiving party had taken
their places the long line of guests be-
gan to move First in line came the
ambassadors and ministers from for.
eign countries, accompanied by Their
full stats. At their head was the
venerable and dignified Lord Paunce.
fote, British ambassador and dean OF
the diplomatic corps, in the full uni.
form of his high diplomatic rank.
With him were Lady Pauncefote and
the honorable Misses Pauncefote and
the ambassadorial staff. Following
them came Baron Fava. the Italian
ambassador; DR.. Won Holleben, Ger
man ambassador; M. Cambon, French
ambassador; Count Cassini, Russian
ambassador, and Senior Don Axprose,
Mexican ambassador, each accompan-
led by his staff and ladies.
The French ambassador returned
only last night from Paris, having
come on at this time to extend the
president the fluctuations of the New
Year.
The blue room was the center of at
tention, for here it was the presiden'
tial party received, surrounded by the
members of the cabinet and their la
dies and those invited to assist in re.
ceiving. The curtains were drawn
and the shaded electric. globes threw
a soft radiant light on the delicate blue
of the room and brilliant assemblage
From the superb chandelier hung 6
profusion of smilax, and from thu
apex Of the festoons burst a gorgeou.
mass of flowers. Across the front o.
the room a line of lounges formed al
aisle through which the long line. o.
guests proceeded. Immediately to thu
left stood President and Mrs. Nc
Kinley receiving each guest, ant
Colonel Bingham, master of ceremon
les, announced names.
M ~ ~----