Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-01-08
President ~Roosevelt's First Public Re.
eeption at the White House Was
Largely Attended.
MANSION AoLoW WITH LIGHTS
An Immense Gathering of Beautiful
Women and Celebrated Statesmen
Such as is Seldom Seen.

Washington, Jan. l.-Presldent
R~oosevelt's first public reception was
attended more largely than any New
Years reception in a number of years.
In all 500 persons fled through the
White House and shook hands with
the president.
Mr.. Roosevelt. on being apprised
that the crowd in line outside the
White House was unusually large
gave orders that the gates should not
be closed until the last person desir-
ing to do so had had an opportunity
TO pay his respects. The reception be-
gan promptly at IL o'clock and il was
2:30 o'clock before the last person
in line had been presented to the
president. and a 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 wait
ed for hours before being admitted
to the White House. The reception
was in every way successful, the at,
tendance not only being large, but the
decorations really beautiful. the ar
rangements perfect, and the president
in excellent spirits. To each person
he extended a cordial happy new year
and Mrs. Roosevelt was equally pleas.
ing to each of those who filed past
the line in the blue parlor, where the
receiving party stood.
Miss Alice Roosevelt was conspicu.
GUS among those assisting at the re.
ception. A party of her young friends,
by invitation, also participated in the
function.
Mrs. Roosevelt looked exceedingly
pretty and youthful in a white dress.
The material was a very heavy white
silk corded about an incn apart. A
square of Irish lace. with revers of
lace. trimmed the bodice, and the
high collar. also of lace, was finished
at the back with a rosette of white
tulle. A few jewels were worn in the
corsage and diamond topped combs
held by the smoothly dressed hair. An
ornament of white leaves, in which
diamond drops glistened, was also
worn in the hair. Mrs. Roosevelt's
right glove, which was snowy white
at the start, a far from that color
an hour later, but the tired little hand
within 1t gave no evidence that its
owner felt any fatigue. The bouquet
she carried was of pink and purple
orchids.
The interior of the mansion was
aglow with a myriad of electric lights
and to this was added the beauty of
a p%rofusion of flowers, plants and
vines. banked about the nantes and
draped from the chandeliers and walls.
The floral decorations reached their
height of effectiveness in the east
room. Here lie great crystal chan.
deliers were looped with smilax, while
the recesses of the chamber were
banked with poinsetta blossoms, be-
gonias and tall ferns. In the red and
blue parlors there was the same eff.
fective disposition of flowers and
plants. the flaming red of the poin.
setta being apparent everywhere.
In the outer corridor. just within
the entrance, the band of the Marine
corps. U. s. A. 60 strong, in their
brilliant uniforms. were ranged in
tiers. while further along in the con
servatory was the full membership OF
the Marine band in brigt red uni
forms. While the musicians were TAX.
ing their places the Roosevelt chill
dren were having a merry time
through the corridors, and one OF
them could be heard playing the
kangaroo March" in the private
apartments Of the presidents family
Shortly before II o'clockthe tnrongs
Of distinguished callers began to as
semble in the main corridor. First
came the members of the diplomatic
corps in their rich court uniforms, re
splendent in meals and decorations
II was a most cosmopolitan throng
with the oriental silks of the Chinese
minister, the red fez of the Turkish
minister. and the modern but equally
no.nnans Attire of the ~Iananes and