The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-06
PRESIDENT AND MRS. RoosE.
WELT RECEIVE.
The EXECUTIVE MANSION
General Public for First Time Have
Opportunity to Inspect Re-
cent improvements.

Washington, Jan. 2.-President
Roosevelt's New Years reception
was one of the most brilliant events
in Washington's social history. All
callers were afforded the opportunity
of greeting President and Mrs. Roose-
welt and exchanging with them the
compliments of the new year. No dis
tinctions were made except such as
were rendered necessary in preserva-
ton of order and the greetings ex-
tended to all-high and low, rich and
The general public for the first
time had al opportunity to see the
widely-heralded improvements in the
white house-improvements which
when completed will nave cost about
100000. In addition to a desire per
sonally to wish President and Mrs.
Roosevelt a happy new year hundreds
were attracted by a wish to see the
white house in IS new and handsome
interior finish and furnishing.
Many Changes Made.
To many who were familiar with
the interior of the mansion as it was
a year ago, the changes made were
a revelation. While in a general way
the form of the interior has been re-
tained, in beauty and effectiveness it
is wholly different.
Just 1902 years ago President John
Adams and his wife opened the white
house with a new years reception to
their friends and to the public. The
dawn of the first fete day within the
walls which has since become histOri-
cal, was accompanied by the noise of
saw and hammer, as was this day. On
account of the unfinished condition of
the lower floor President and Mrs.
Adams received their guests in the
room on the second floor, now occu-
pied by President Roosevelt as a Ii
brary. While the improvements now
are more nearly completed than was
Tile llldi1SlOl lioCll az lndL LILLY, IL
will be several months before the
workmen will have finished their task.
Magnificent Decorations.
An hour before the time for the
formal reception the mansion was
aglow with myriads of electric lights.
Towering palms of rare varieties were
placed in inches about the vestibule,
main corridors and staircases. Two
great square masses of American and
English holly were arranged between
the vestibule and main corridor, at,
fording a brilliant and effective back
ground for the handsome scarlet uni
forms of the Marine band, 60 pieces
strong. which occupied tiers of seats
in the vestibule.
In the red. blue and green rooms
and in the splendid east room were
disposed a few vases containing cut
flowers, principally large white lilies
and lilies of the valley. 1t was notice
able. however, that the floral decora-
lions had been subordinated to the
new furnishings and finishing of the
rooms.
1t was a merry day for the Roose-
welt children. Prior to the reception,
they had a jolly time in the lower part
of the house. They manifested the
livliest Interest in all the arrange
ments.
Gorgeous Spectacle.
Shortly before II o'clock, the hour
at which the reception began, the dip
lcmatic corps began to assemble in
the red room. The members of the
corps entered the mansion from the
south side, as usual, in order to avoid
the throng already gathered about
the main entrance on the north side
Under the glare of the electric can
delabra the spectacle presented by
this cosmopolitan gathering, attired
in magnificent court uniforms, spark
ling epaulettes and glistening swords
showing respondent against the rec
velvet walls and ivory wood was
gorgeous.
Promptly at II o'clock the trump
eters of the Marine band sounded
fanfare announcing the approach o
President and Mrs. Roosevelt and tn
immediate receiving party. Presiden
Roosevelt, with Mrs. Roosevelt on hi
arm, descended the main staircas'
and passing across the main corrido
and through the green room, entere'
the blue room, where the guests wer
received. Following them came men
hers of the cabinet and ladies. TIL