The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-05

the Presidents left ear burn for hours
afterward, although he was really not
to blame. All might have gone well
enough but for the fatal loss of that
half hour in the beginning.
These New Year reception scenes
have been so many times described,
and are always about the same,
There were uniforms white, uniforms
green, blue. red and yellow, many of
them resplendent with gold ornamen-
tation and the breasts of some fairly
covered with medals and jewelled or
ders A number of the diplomats wore
bright-colored sashes and the clatter of
swords and sabres drowned the sound
of fooAteps on the thickly- carpeted
floors. But, sad to say, the brilliant
spectacle was shorn of it's former most
attractive feature, for all the Oriental
nations Except the Chinese), even the
group from the Hermit Kingdom, have
celebrated the dawn of the Twentieth
century by discarding their picturesque
native costume and adopting the unbe-
coming disguise of conventional Euro
pean court costumes. Only Ambassa-
dor WI Ting-Fang retained his silken
gown, whose rich rustling was family
echoed by the skirts of his suite and
attaches. The Turkish minister in his
neat black broadcloth could not have
been told from any other darkroom
pleXioned gentleman, but for his crook
ed sword and little red fez which
custom requires him to keep on his
head at all official functions. The most
gorgeously decorated diplomat was
Gen. Isaac Khan, minister from Per-
sia. His dark-blue coat was ablaze
with richlywrought flowers and SYM
bols in gold thread and jewels, and
the glittering metal and gems of his
medals must be worth several moder-
ate fortunes. Little Mrs. WI, though
not in her usual good health since her
recent return to this country was ra-
diant and Vivacious as ever, in her rob-
bin-egg blue satin gown, arabesqued
with black embroidery, his coal-black
hair stiff with perfumed oil and scin-
tillating with pink and white diamonds
and other gems. 1t was harder for her
than for any one else to stand waiting
so long in the corridor
on her useless little feet.
but she was almost the only one
of the diplomatic crowd, who made no
complaint. Owing to the illness of the
British ambassador, who is dean of the
foreign body, his wife and daugH ters
headed the procession, followed by the
embassy staff and attaches. Most of
the latter are good-looking young Eng
linens of the Anglo Saxon, towering
head and shoulders above the Latins
and Orientals. Lady Pauncefote. the
personiffcation of British matronIy
dignity, wore black satin with bodice
touches of white silk and tetted lace:
the Eon. Maude Pauncefote, black and
white striped silk relieved by glimpses
OF blue panne velvet; and the Hon.
Sybil, light gray cloth, trimmed with
narrow bands of velvet in violet
shades.
The young Countess Marguerite Cas-
sini was charming in white broadcloth,
stitched with wide bands of white
satin; with it a broad brimmed flat" of
white felt trimmed with sable and a
white lace scarf falling at the back TO
the shoulders. and her big sable muff
had bunch of fragrant violets atop.
Nine. Perez, daughter of the Mexican
ambassador. was also in white cloth.
tucked all over, and wore a mos: be-
coming hat Of white satin and dark
fur.
Mrs. Roosevelt looked exceedingly
well IN her trained dress of heavy
white silk, corded about an inch apart.
A square Of Irish lace, with reveres of
Irish ro.nt, trimmed the bodice, and
the high lace collar was finished at the
back with a rosette of white tulla. A
few jewels were worn in the c3rsage,
and diamond topped combs held back
the smoothly-d dressed hair. An o.na.
ment of white leaves in which diamond
drops gllstened. was set high at one
side of the coiffure.
The daughter of the White House,
whose coming-out ball was the next
great festivity, was girlishly pretty in
white silk muslin, with yoke and
sleeves of lace. The two Misses Letter,
lately returned from India, wore cos
tunes almost alike-one of pale blue
broadcloth, the other delicate gray
with similar garniture of white lace
and sable. Mrs. Root. who in the
absence of Mrs. Hay, through mourn
ing, and the death of Mrs. Gage. be-
came the premier cabinet hostess in
line. occupied the place of honor at
Mrs. Roosevelt's right. Her dainty
gown of pale-blue satin was elabo-
rately trimmed with cream lace and
her ornaments were diamonds. Mrs
Knox. wife of the Attorney General,
who made her first formal appearance
in the receiving line, was becomingly
gowned in white lace, striped with
silver bands. Handsome lace garnished
the bodice and with the short puffed
sleeves she wore long white gloves
Mrs. Smith, wife of the Postmaster
General. was in white silk and lace,
with ornaments of diamonds and
pearls, and she carried a large bouquet
of purple vlolets. Mrs Long wore
cameo-tinted silk; and Miss Wilson,
daughter of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture was in a beautiful Paris gown of
white crepe de chine, that had APP
pliuues OF velvet leaves and roses in
their natural colors.
Gen. Corbin and his new wife-she
in pink embroidered silk. commanded
a good deal of attention. Admiral
Dewey headed the naval contingent
but his wife. who last year was a bride
and observed of all observers. was not
present. She is still troubled by the
much-veXed question of precedence and
persistently declines all invitations to
the White House, or any other occa-
sion of official ceremony where she will
be compelled to yield to another the
place she believes should be hers. A
noticeable incident was the attitude of
the President toward Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. In full uniform, the lieutenant
general of the army headed the long
line of officers and fully sustained his
reputation of being the handsomest
man in the service. While the President
chatted cordially for a minute or two
with most of the other officers he
merely bowed stiffiy to Gen Miles, who
returned an equally stiff greeting and
| passed on stern and unsmiling. That
other bad boy, Admiral Dewey, who
has also been guilty of expressing an
| opinion, was received with equal cold