Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-01-08
WHITE HOUSE LEVEE.

The President and Mrs.. Roosevelt
gave the first of thei. State levees last
night, when the members Of the diplo-
matte corps at the capital, With their
ladies aud the members OF their stats,
were his guests.
This annual reception which Is the
most brilliant IS we'll as one oil the moet
important of ell the social gatherings oil
official life, derived It's principal To-
terest last night from the fact that IL
was the first evening reception gwen
to the representatives OF old worid
powers by the new head OF the nstios
and his wife.
The scene within the historic mansion
vas one OF unusual beauty and splen..
dor. With the glow Of hundreds OF
lights and the msssing OF plants ana
flowers blended the gay hues oil the
ladies' gowns, and the gold lace and
color OF foe uniforms.
The decorators had transformed the
stately corridors and reception rooms
into bowers OF tropical plants ano
fragrant flowers. A Gew rose from the
propagsliOg gardens, appropriately
named she Liberty" made its tirst APP
Desrsnce. This WAS deep red bloom ana
was used In banking one OF the mantels
10 the EAsi Room, where the decorations
we're eliminated in its 6ne effect.
This rose banked the center OF the
mantle and was fanked on either side
by Golden Gate and Bride roses inter-
Mingled with lillies-o valley. The
other mautel on the east side was also
banked with Bride and Golden Gate
roses, touch of color being given by
scarlet.
Intermingled with these we're violet'
and white hyacinths. Toe other
mantels and mirror rests we're banked
with ferns and ioiag Q plants andcrotons
The mirrors were partly yelled DS
| southern smilax and over each was
cornis Of maiden.hair ferns and piDf
szalias. Each window recess Wi
filed with spreading palms, srount
which clustered maiden .nair and far
eyense ferns. The large electric suo'
we're almost completely covered viii
| festoous OF smiiax aud the crystal chan
deIiers we're garisnded in The sam'
vines. The long red corridor was fur
ther beautified With Japanese lilies abt
white szslias against the. background o
Rreen, The same color scheme wa
carried out 10 the Blue Room, wher'
the reception was held.
10 one corner OF the outer corridor
The band OF the United States Artillery
60 strong, with their effective uniform
Of red and blue, helped TO make tn
continuous music Of the evening by al
.ernating with the Marine Band, which
was stationed in the inner corridor nea
the private stairway.
Shortly before 9 o'clock the distin
sulsled cues began to arrive. Prompt
IIy o. that hour the bugler In the cor
ridor gave the Presidents call, and to'
distinguished receiving party, led D,
Cjlonel Bingham, began to move dowi
the stairway. MSjor Charles McCaulel
and Captain Gilmore we're also In at
tendance. The crush was equal to tina
Of any past evening reception, notwlth
standing the efforts made TO reduce tn
number OF cards issued. 1t least 90
ladies' aud gentlemen, alter leavinl
their carriages, were compelled to wal
nalf an hour before the doors wer
opened to let 10 that special detach
ment. While 1880 was the hour fixe'
for the reception 20 close, IL was nearl'
midnight DefOIe the last person had de
parted. Mrs. Roosevelt was gowne'
IN white satin gown, trimmed dow
the front with net pialletted 10 silver
She wore silver leaves in her hair an
carried a bouquet OF mauve orchids