The National tribune., 1903-01-08

DIAGRAM OF tt
wife in order of Presidential succession.
Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treas
ury, Secretary of War, Attorney General,
Postmaster-General, Secretary of Navy,
Secretary of the Interior, and the Secre-
tary of Agriculture, who tags along, hav-
ing been named after the passage of the
act. A fine new marble stairway has
taken the place of the quaint old walnut
one which led to the business offices of the
President, at the east end of the house,
in the little corridor between the main
entrance and the East Room. The stair
way now runs the other way and into the
old corridor and is exactly opposite the
Green Parlor door, Down this stairway the
Presidential party passes, across the end
of the corridor, through the Green Parlor
door. and into line in the back of the Blue
Parlor. A great bronze double gate is
constructed across this stairway, which is
closed as soon as the party passes it.
The Marine Band, in its brave bright
red uniform, is stationed in the main en-
trance to the left, the guests passing to the
right of it to get into the Red Parior.
When the President is ready to start down
the marble stairway, three buglers sound
a fanfare twice, then the band strikes into
''The Stars and Stripes Forever" and the
procession starts. When in the line
the Secretary of State stands at the
left of the President and introduces
all the Diplomatic guests, who are
always the first ones presented. After
of the SO Powers accredited to the
United States, the Superintendent of Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds OF the District
of Columbia, always an Army officer, and
never below the rank Of a Colonel, pre-
sents all the other guests by name. You
give your name to a young subaltern, who
gives it to the Colonel, he prOnounces it
as you reach the President, and a third
subaltern pronounces it in loud voice as
you pass down the line;
The scene which followed the entrance
Of the reception party was one of those
brilliant cosmopolitan affairs which only
Washington can produce. The DiplO-
matte Corps was out in full feather. and
how it did loom up. Some Of the brilliant
uniforms had creases in them. and looked
as though steaming and pressing would
help their appearance, but the gold lace,
and epaulets. the tinsei embroidery en-
riched with gems OF every hue. the feath-
ers, and medals. the spurs and pontoon
boots, oh, it was gorgeous! It was q
masque ball by daylight, Mardi Gras in
the parlor, mimic throne room pageant,
and it really was downright pretty.
The little Japs, scarcely as large as r.
year-old boys, looked like toy men in their
fine broadcloth uniforms, heavily encrust-
ed with gold embroidery that simply made
every woman's heart ache with covetOus-
ness. The Austro- Hungarian attaches
have a particularly magnificent uniform,
and wore it with great pride, on this their
very first opportunity since their Minister
became full-fedged ambassador. The
ambassadors. ''regalia" beggars the Ian
suage. 1t is 'of velvet and cloth, satin
and silk. ermine bordered, and gold en-
brodiered, and has three distinct shades of
red in it which simply shrek at each
other. The medals which adorn his br ,ad
breast are worth fortune. His tile
now is quite suited to the uniform and
medals. He answers to the name and
title Baron Ladislaus Hengelmuller Won
Hengervar, ambassador Extraordinary
and Minister Pienipotentiary."
The Chinese Legation was there about
20 strong, and how it did rustic in its long
satin brocades of fabulous richness and
riot of color. 1t is sinful for men to wear
fabrics that were meant for pretty women.
Sir Michael Herbert, Great Britain's new
ambassador, was there in his brilliantly
red broadcloth, looking just like the leader
Of the Marine Band, although the Brit
isher had more medals and more gold en-
broidery. He looks like good deal of
man. however. which is well. for dear, de-
lightful old Lord Pauncefote was model
diplomat. and everybody liked him. Then
the Persian Minister was there resplendent
in the Court costume Of his country. He,
too, has a title from here to yonder, "Gen.
Isaac Kahn, General Aid de Camp to His
Imperial Majesty The Shah, Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary,"
but you do not say 1t all; plain "Gen.
Kahn" will always bring a very pleasant
| response from the big fellow-he is really
| the biggest and brawniest Of the whole lot
and has fighting record. He looms up
above the other Orientals like the Hima-
| layas above Capitol Hill. His rich red
coat is bordered with Persian lamb, and
| his fez-shaped head-covering - OF Persian
lamb that is worth an hundred times its
| weight in bright gold. Spain sports as
much gold lace and embroidery and has as
| many gilt straps as though she had not
| been shorn Of all her glory. and Repub-
| lican France may have abjured her titles,
but not the trappings Of royalty; while
Mexico, Russia, Germany and Italy sim
ply revel in gold lace and embroidery.
Apropos Of Italy. the new ambassador
nearly caused q panic. or rather Mrs EN-
| bassadress did. Signor Edmondo Mayor
des Planches. ambassador Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary Of Italy TO
the United States, had touched the hand
Of the President. and was about to present
his wife, Signora Mayor des Pla inches.
who was just at his side. when the beau
| tfniiy -gowned Embassadress gave little
| shrek, and turning, fed from the Presi-
DENTS outstretched hand. through the Red
Parior and out into the corridor. How
shs eTer got through without tearing her