The age-herald., 1902-01-02
MRS. ROOSEVELT GREETED
 ALL WITH GRACIOUS HAND
The Weather Was Delightful, and for Three and Half Hours 5000 per sons Passed Through Gates
 to Extend Greetings.

Washington. January 1. President Roosevelt's first public reception was at tended more largely than any New Years reception in a number of years In all S10O persons filed through the White House and shook hands with the Presi- dent
 MT. Roosevelt, on being informed that the crowd outside the White House was unusually large, gave orders that the gates should not be closed until the last person desiring to do so had an oppor- tunity to pay his respects. The recep- tion begen promptly at Il o'clock, and 1t was 2:3O o'clock before the last person in line had been presented to the President, and quarter of an hour later before the reception came to an end. The weather was delightful. being clear and crisp, so that no hardship was suffered by the throng that waited for hours before ad- mission to the White House.
 To each person the President extended a cordial, happy new year. and Mrs. Roosevelt was equally pleasing to each of those who filed past the line in the blue parlor where the reeeivirss party stood.
 Miss Alice Roosevelt was conspicuous among those assisting at the reception. party of her young girl friends, by in vitation, also participated in the func- ton.
 An Ideal Day.
 The day was ideal for the observance of the time honored custom of making New Year calls. The sun shone from a cloudless sky, the air was cold and bracing and a light westerly wind made the White House flags stand out proudly. Early in the day an army of decorators and florists took possession of the mansion and transformed the stately corridors and parlors into bow CTS of palms. potted plants and sweet smelling flowers.
 The official programme of the day fixed Il o'clock as the time for ,.he opening of the reception, but some time before that hour the approaches leading up to the marble portico were filled with car rlages while long lines of people took po- sition at the outer gates in order to have points of vantage when the public re- ception began.
 The interior of the mansion was a glow of myriads of electric lights, and to this odH Had ha hao fu ar r1,.ofuajOu nf flowers plants and vines. banked about the mantels and draped from Chandeliers and walls The floral decorations reached their height of effectiveness in the east room. Here the great crystal chandeliers were looped with smilax. while the re- cesses of the chamber were banked with poinsetta blossoms, begonias and t. Il ferns. In the red and blue parlors there was the same effective disposition of flowers and plants, the flaming red of the poinsetta being most apparent every where.
 In the outer corridor. just within the entrance, the band of the engineer corps, United States army, sixty strong. in their brilliant uniforms, were ranged in tiers, while further along in the conservatory was the full membership of the Marine Band in bright red uniforms.
 Assembled at il O'Clock.
 Shortly before Il o'clock, the throngs of distinguished callers began to assem- ble in the main corridor. First came the members of the diplomatic corps in their rich court uniforms, resplendent in med als and decorations. It was a most cos mopolitan throng, with the Oriental silks of the Chinese Ministers and his suite, the red fez of the Turkish Minister and the more modern but equally gorgeous attire of the Japanese and Coreans, con spicuous amid the groups of diplomat ists. The members of the corps gath cred in the Red parlor preparatory to being presented to the President and those about him.
 Exactly at Il o'clock fanfare from three trumpeters stationed at the fur ther end of the main corridor announc- ed the approach of the President and the receiving party. At the same moment, President and MrsA Roosevelt appeared at the upper landing of the corridor and arm In arm descended the stairway while the Marine Band bfoke into Hail to the Chief" The President bowed as he passed along, frequently giving cherry response to the New Years greetings extended to him from those in the line.
 Some of the Dresses.
 Mrs. Roosevelt looked exceedingly pretty and youthful in white dress. The mater ial was a very heavy white silk. corded about an inch apart. A square of Irish lace with revert of lace trimmed the bodice and the high collar. also of lace, was finished at the back with rosette of white tulle. A few jewels were worn in the corsage and diamdnd topped combs held back the smoothly dressed hair. An ornament of white leaves in which dia-
 fcont,nuad on second Paxe.l