The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-07

The President was in the conventional
black frock coat He a no boutonier
an the gray striped neck scarf was the
only bit Of color in his attire.
Following the president and his wife
were the members Of the cabinet and
their wives.
In the Reception Room.
The presidential party took up their
station in the Blue parlor with the pres
fdent and Mrs. Roosevelt immediately
alongside the entrance. ready to grasp
the hands of callers as they were an
nounced. AS soon as the president took
his position. he turned to the MANY
ladies invited behind the line and gave
each of them in turn, a warm greeting
and the well wishes Of the day. The
the signal was given for admitting the
DISTINGUISHED official callers who, by
this time. filled the outer corridors TO
o~verfiowing.
AS dean of the diplomatic corps. the
British ambassador. Lord P~auncefote.
Is usually the first of the foreign callers
to greet the president. Today. howaV-
er. he was absent from the line. hsv-
ing conveyed his private greetings 10
the president. and the head of the Gne
was taken by Lady Pauncefote and the
Misses Pauncefote and the many mill
tary. naval and civil members of the
LII u ALC ~
in full uniform.
The French ambassador, NJ. Cambon,
with all the members of the embasSv
staff was next in line. Following MIN
came the German ambassador, DR.. Won
Hollenben. accompanied by a retinIe Of
dashing young officers of the German
army n navy. The Russian ambas-
sador. Count Cassini, the Italian am
bassador. Signor Mayor, and the Mcxi-
can ambassador. Senior AZpiroz, wers
similarly accompanied by large official
staffs. Following the ambassadors
came the ministers Of many countries.
RooseveIt's Gracious Manner.
President Roosevelt's manner Of re-
ceiving his callers was exceedingly
gracious and happy. AS each guest
was ~announced by Colonel Bingham.
the president grasped the hand of the
visitor and wished him a hearty New
Year. often accompanying this with
some felicitous expression to any one
recognized as a close friend.
There was no hurrying along of the
callers. and often there was considera-
BILE delay while pleasantries were ex-
changed.
Mrs. Roosevelt proved to be a most
charming New Years host, and the COR
diality of her greetings reminded many
of the callers of the days when Mrs.
Cleveland was mistress Of the White
house.
The Supreme Court and Congress.
After the members of the diplomatic
corps came Chief Justice Fuller and the
associate justices of the United States
supreme court, and following them the
judges of all the other high federal
ourts in Washington. representing as a
whole the judicial branch of the gov
m
Next came the legislative branch.
Sanntnrc and anraSontotiyac IN onn-
gress. Speaker Henderson was among
these.
The Army.
There was another flash of gold lace
and clank of saber and spur when at
11:40 o'clock the highest ranking officers
of the army and navy were received.
Side by side, at the head of the army
contingent strobe the stalwart well
known figures, Lieutenant General Mel
son A. Miles commanding the army.
and Major General Henry c. Corbin,
adjutant general. General Miles was in
the full uniform of his high rank, with
heavily gold embroidered cap and wide
gold scarf across his breast from
shoulder TO hip. Following him came the
many officers of his staff, and the heads
of the army stats stationed in WASH
ington.
In view of recent events expectation
was OF tip toe as General Miles appear
ed before the president, but the curious
We're not rewarded with anything I'M
usual. The president greeted General
Miles with the same hearty courtesy
he had shown to others, and General
Miles returned the salutation in the
same spirit and hen passed, smiling,
along the line exchanging we'll wishes
with the ladies.
The Naval Contingent.
Admiral Dewey was another of the
distinguished callers to engage the at
tention Of the crowds. He was at the
head of the long line of naval officers,
all in full uniform and including the
ranking admirals and heads of the ma
val staff department.. The admiral
wore the superb sword voted to him by
ongres for the victory Of Manila, and
on his breast was the congressional
medal commemorating that event. He,
too was most cordially welcomed by the
president.
The officers of the marine corps with
Rrigadier General Haywood at their
head, followed the navy. After them
came a number of government officials
and various veteran organizations.
The Public Admitted.
An stations, colors. creeds, sexes and
ages were represented in the motley
throng. which elbowed up to the presi-
dent. The latter in no way relaxed his
onr6ia1itv and oil roooiuod tho Saroo