The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-01
BriIl1ance. Electric and Floral.

The mansion was aglow with a myriad
of electric lights, and to this was added
the beauty Of .profusion Of 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 Topped
with smilaX, while the recesses of the
chamber were banked with poinsettia bios
SONS, begonias and tall ferns. In the red
and blue Darlors there was the same
effective disposition of flowers and plants,
the flaming red Of the poinsettias being
most apparent everywhere.
In the outer corridor, just within the
/ entrance, the band of the engineer corps,
U. S. A, sixty strong, in their brilliant
uniforms, were ranged in tiers, while fur
Their along in the conservatory was the
full membership of the Marine band, in
bright red uniforms. While the musicians
were taking their places, the Roosevelt
children 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
presidential family. Shortly before II
o'clock the throngs of distinguished call
ers began to assemble in the main corri-
dor.
In Many-Hued Array.
First came the members of the diplo-
matte corps in their rich court uniforms,
Respondent in medals and decorations. 1t
was a most cosmopolitan throng, with the
oriental silks of the Chinese minister. the
red fez of the Turkish minister, and the
more modern attire of the Japanese con-
spicuous amid the group of diplomatists.
The members of the corps gathered in the
red parlor preparatory to being presented
to the president and those about him.
At II o'clock a fanfare from three
trumpeters stationed at the further end
of the main corridor, announced the ap-
| proach of the president and the receiving
| party. At the same moment President
and Mrs. Roosevelt appeared at the upper
landing of the corridor and, arm in arm,
descended the stairway, while the Ma
| rine band broke into Hail to the Chief
The president bowed as he passed along,
| frequently giving a CHEEKY response to
| the New Years greetings extended to him
from those in the line.
Mrs. RooseveIt's Gown.
| Mrs. Roosevelt held in her hand a su
| perb bouquet of pink orchids. She wore
| a gown of white satin, heavily plated
| with lace yoke and diamond ornaments,
| and in her hair sparkled diamond tiara.
| The president was in the conventional
black frock coat He had no boutonnier
and the gray striped neck scarf was the
only bit of color in his attire. Following
! the president and wife came the men,
bers of the cabinet and their wives, the
secretary Of state and Mrs. Hay, the sec
| rotary of the treasury, the secretary OF
| war and Mrs. Root, the secretary Of the
navy and Miss Long, the postmaster gen
! eral and Mrs. Smith, the attorney general
and Mrs. Knox, the secretary of the inte-
rior and Mrs. Hitchcock, the secretary OF
| agriculture and Miss Wilson, and Secre-
tary and Mrs. Cortelyou.
The presidential party took up theil
station In the blue parlor with the presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt Immediately
alongside the entrance, ready to grasp the
hands Of callers as they were announced
The cabinet ladies' formed long line ex
/ tending from Mrs. Roosevelt to the further
side Of the room, while back of the re-
ceivlng line were grouped the members o
the cabinet and gay party of young
people.
AS soon as the president took his posi-
tion he turned to the ladies invited, bacl
Of the line, and gave them a hearty greet
ing and we'll wishes Of the day.
Diplomats Received.
When the signal was given for admittin:
the distinguished official callers who b.
this time filed the outer corridors t.
! overlooking. AS dean Of the diplomat
corps, the British ambassador, Lore
! Pauncefote, is usually the first Of the for
! egn callers to greet the president To
day. however, he was absent from the line
| having conveyed his private greetings t.
the president, and the head of the linz
| was taken by Lady Pauncefote and tn
Misses Pauncefote and the many naval
military and civil attaches of the British