The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-01
GREETED BY PRESIDENT.
Diplomats Of ALI Nations Present a
Sg3 Dazzling Array,
SPLBNDOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Army and Navy Pay Respects 20
Their Commander in Chief
Other ORcials and Private
Citizens Received.

Washington cIings tenaciously TO long
established customs but the changes Of
time and feeling had their effect even on
some Of these 10 an appreciable degree
1t was not such great while ago that
everybody who was anybody in the
capital kept open house on New Year
Day. and the men had all they could do.
between the hours Of noon and midnight
10 make the rounds OF the residences
where their friends Of the other sex wait
Cd 10 receive the compliments Of the sea
son and TO deal out prodigious quantities
Of eggnOg and punch Those were the
days Of which the oldtimers love to talk.
with dis2araging comments on the con
seryatisn. or whatever it is. that has
closed the doors Of many formerly hos
pitabie homes on the first OF January.
Gradually the custom Of receiving New
Year calls has been c,utailcd until &c is
now observed almost entirely by the
President Of the United States and those
CT The inner official circle.
The Event of the Day.
The White House reception was The
great event OF today For three hours
President Roosevelt. Nrs. Roosevelt, and
the ladies OF the Cabinet stood in lire in
the Blue Parlor and smiled al and shook
hands with hundreds Of people in all
walks Of life from the ambassadors Of
sovereigns 10 humble men and women who
earn their bread by the sweat Of their
brows
This time-honored Institution has been
established for more than q hundred
years and no President has ever had the
courage, if he had the desire, 10 do away
with il. The programme is always the
same, so far as IL concerns the time ana
character OF the receDtion, hut the scenes
and incidents are always Interesting.
Many went 10 the White House today
from a sense OF duty, but few went away
feeling that they had not been repaid for
the coming
Customs of the OIden Times.
Back in the early days Of the Capital.
or the Federal City IS it was then some
times called, these annual White House
functions were homelike affairs. The pee
PIE who came before the general public
was admitted sat around the biz open
fires IN the East Room and ohatted and
had good time generally. After the
President and his wife were through shak-
ing hands with their guests the company
VAS invited into the state Dining Han.
where refreshments we're served.
IN those days these affairs we're called
leTees. and the name stuck for half a
century or so. When Andrew Jackson vas
President he kept open house on New
Year Day and there was plenty % noe
aud wine for all who came Gradually.
- the affair became an institution. the
refreshments and free and easy custom
gave place 20 the set programme now ad-
Eored 70 strictly iE all its formality.
Present Day Entertaining.
The wives Of the members Of the Cabi-
net are among that gradually diminishing
number Of residents who throw their
houses open on January /. These
receptions. like that az the White House.
are Of an Official character. All The prin-
eiDal subordinate officers Of an executive
aIEs - are expected 20 pay their re-
ladies OF their chiefs house
his custom is pretty generally
oVsefved. Il any clerk OF that depart
ment wants % come he will be welcomed
aDd ne may Iring the members Of his
family and anybody else lie DIeascz-
While the line Of exclusivencss is be-
ing drawn tighter every year. 90 IS not
necessary for q caller al the White House
o. the home Of Cabinet officer To be ac.
quaiDted Tith his host CT hostess. All
that is required in most cases is That be
be decontly dressed.
The lisa Of these who received today
shows how tbc custom is dying out some
OF the strictly society SET moi connected
!. with the official circle observed the old
lstom today but no public announce
hcEt 10 that effect was made. Most Of
he society people who we're not obliged
- conform 20 the Official requirements
of the occasion closed up their houses
anG went cut of town or played golf. or
enjoyed themselves iU other ways with
out being bothered with receiving visit
ors.
Briiiiaury Of the Reception.
The White House reception began
promptly II Il O'Clock There was a
great crowd Of waiting diplomats present
al that hour. seady 90 pass the receiv-
Ing party when the word was given. The
procession continued for three hours.
during which The old mansion presented
scene Of liTcliEcss that was enjoyed
more by TIC callers than by those Of the
. receiving party.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps most
s,of them in brilliant court dresses; officers
Of the army and navy. Justices Of the su-
preme Court. Senator's and Representa-
tives IN Congress. onclals Of the execu-
five departments. and a host OF 9th
ers Glled up the tine for an hour and
halG-Tken-b began the public reception.
P'eF reception Of citizens" as the ohcial
Progro nlnae says, which lasted for another
hour and a half.
An Effective Scene.
The White House had beer elaborately
decorated for thEssSsslon4 Growing
plants we're - Sners. win