The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-01

| '-"a lhe announcement, contain 600 sep
| arate pieces OF glass. we're twined with
smilax. There was plenty Of smfIax in
/ the other rooms. too. along the ceilings
and On the walls and around the mirrors
The Blue Room. where the President
! and Mrs. Roosevelt stood. was resuIendent
and odorous with cut flowers. They were
placed in great masses on the mantels
and in every place where they could be
conveniently and appropriately displayed
'HHiI TO the ChIefv
Just at II o'clock the leader of the
United States Marine Band. red coated
stationed in the public lobby. waved his
baton and his musicians crashed out with
Hail TO the Chief" which they ALWAYS
play when the President appears az the
annual reception. A crowd Of privileged
| people who were gathered in the private
corridor just outside the Blue Room knew
the air and looked toward the stairway
at the corridors end.
Here they come. WAS the whisper that
| went around.
Down the stairway came the receiving
party, led by three officers in uniform
Colonel Bingham. Major McCauIey. and
/ Capt John c. Gilmore. ir. immediately
after them came the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt. who were IN turn followed by
members Of the Cabinet party.
In the Blue Room the Cabinet officers
mcdestly got out Of the way. and their
ladies' formed in a line. which began with
the President, near the door leading from
the Red Parlor. He was really at the left
instead Of the right Of the line. Mrs.
Roosevelt stood beside him. and then
came Mrs. Root. Mrs. Knox. Mrs.
Long, Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Hitchcock.
and Miss Wilson. There was no reDre-
sentative Of the Treasury Department.
Mrs Case. who was present an the last
New Year Day RECEPTION at the White
House, died last summer.
Asked Rchind the Line.
While the Presiden-. Mrs. Roosevelt and
the Cabinet ladies were doing their dut,
manfuliy and womanfuIly a great crowd
Of well-dressed people in the back part
+ OF the Blue Room appeared to be ENJOYING
themselves immensely These we're the
ladies who had been asked behind the
line and the men who went back there
10 talk with them
Most OF the Cabinet officers remained
behind the line" until they saw good
opportunity 10 escape. These passive
members Of the receiving contingent were
the wives and daughters OF prominent
officers OF the Executive branch. Of sena-
tors and Representative. Of generals and
2dmirals and some personal friends Of
Mrs. RooseveIt's
It is considered a great distinction 10
be asked behind the line, and the younger
portion OF those thus honored seemed
TO enjoy their prominence immensely.
While the band was stm crashing out
Hail to the Chief the reception began.
The Diplomatic Corps came nrst. The
venerable oeau or the foreign body In
Washington. Lord Fauncetotc OF Preston.
. The British Ambassador. was not present
at the reception, being unable TO leave
the embassy on account OF illness. He
wes represented. however. by the mem
ber5 Of the embassy staH. 1ne, hearty
looking Englishmen. one OF them tower
ing head and shoulders over most OF the
men in the room.
A long line OF diplomats followed. pre-
senung a spectacle that il not exactly
rainbow-hucd was gorgeous enough TO be
called brilliant. Most Of the diplomats
wo-e uniforms that were respIendent in
gold ornamontation. Some OF them had
their breasts fairly covered with medals
and royal decorations.
Mr.. Wu's RuStIimE Gown.
There were white uniforms. blue uni
forms, green uniforms. red uniforms. and
uniforms Of other shades Quite a num-
Der OF the diplomats wore bright colored
sashes. The representatives Of all the
Oriental nations except the Chinese had
on conventional European court COS
TUNES. Even the Koreans have discarded
their picturesque gowns.
Minister WI Tiug-fang wore a Chinese
costume Of silk that rustied in way TO
make The heart Of a woman green with
envy. Mr. Wu's secretaries and attaches
were attired likewise. The Turkish Min
ister would not have attracted any par
ticu.ar attention among so many men as
brilliantly attired as himself, if he had
not worn the distinguishing fez which
custom requires him to keep on his head
81 Official functions.
Wives Accompanied Diplomats.
Many Of the diplomats brought their
wives and orhe- ladies OF their families
This has always been customary. One
reason given for II is that as the women
Of he Diplomatic circle accompany the
men 20 the Secretary Of States breakfast,
they find il more convenient 90 90 20 the
White House with their Iiege IorIs and
proceed thence in COMPANY 70 IN break
fast. Another reason assigned IS tha, the
invitation 70 every member Of the Diplo-
matte Corps for the New Year Day re-
ception includes the ladies' OF his family
and the average foreign representative
would get up out Of a sick bed to attend,
for he regards the invitation not onIy,as
q great honor. but as a command.
Justices and Senators.
II did not take long fcr the Ambassa-
dors, the Ministers, and the attaches TO
pass. The Justices Of the United States
Supreme Court followed. led by Chief
Justice Fulf~r. Their black frocI coats
looked even more sombre than ever after
(coHanuod on Fifth Page)
GENERAL, MILES AND AID