Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-20
RESEM BLED CANE RUSH.
The Reception Held at the White
 House on a Recent Occasion.
Washington, Jan 20, 1908.


 place at the White House recently, ac cording to the society reporters was the most brilliant social event of th esea- son. According to the opinion of those who were present it was the biggest fray of the winter and more like a football game or a cane rush than a state function. Your representative was present and while there are no fatalities to report there remain plenty 0f torn gowns to be mended and bad tempers to be readjusted. As in all American crowds, though, the general disposition of the people was cheerful and even those who suffered most from the crowding or waited longest to be received by the president brave1y as- serted that the occasion was an inter- esting one.
 For the first time the renovated White House and it's new addition were tlrown open for the reception of a large number of guests. Two thou sand invitations had been issued. The cards were easily transferable and since those who were not able to go themselves had no trouble in finding substitutes 1t is supposed that about that number paid their respects to the president and Mrs Roosevelt For the first time the new entrance on Eff teenth street was used and the usual confusion about carriages avoided From the basement corridor the guests ascendad the new broad stairway to the hall in which the Marine band was stationed throughout the evening. It Is presumed that the band played as well as usual, but if 1t did the sweet ness of it was lost on the perspiring crowd struggling to make way through the private dining room to the state dining room to wait until the diplomats and honored guests who were comfortably assembled in the Red room had been receivedby the presiden- tial party. The state dining room is a spacious apartment pane1ed in carved wood and rich tapestries and hung with buffalo head moose, elk and deer antlers and other trophies of the chase. A large portrait of the president in his Rough Rider costume hangs in the room and also the celebrated. painting called "Love and Life,'' which was properly removed from the Corcoran art gallery to adorn the White House. But the beauty of the room and deco rations were alike unseen by the el- lowing mob with wilting collars and dlsheveled pompadours panting for the final rush. ,1 .
 In the Red room the foreign ambassa- dors, ministers and their attaches with a few favored senators and members or the Judiciary waited until 9 o'clock. when the president with Mrs Roosevelt and the ladies of the cabinet took their places in the Blue room. one of the most attractive chambers in, the house. The ic nd Trop the decorations, which are all of a bright blue relieved by ivory white in the frescoing and furnishings. The plain, rich-toned walls made a fine background for the elegant gowns of the women and the gorgeous uniforms worn by the representatives of the for eign governments. This year the pres- ldent and Mrs Roosevelt have aban- doned the custom long in vogue of in vlting guests to receive behind the lines"-an improvised pen behind the presidential party where a small party whom the president desired to distin- guish was corralled. Now. however. they are invited to the Blue room'' ana stand opposite the receiving party instead of behind it.
 In former administrations the c1es+s invited to one of these large recep- tlons were generally not prevented rom seeing that their welcome was perfunctory and that the president and Ills party were conscientiously ner- forming duty for which they had lit tie enthusiasm. All that Is changed now and perhaps the most remarka bIe feature of this grand reception was the hearty greeting which the presi- dent and Mrs Roosevelt gave each uer- son who was received. There are those who say that the president actually en- Joys the performance. and Knowing now nc loves fracas it may be true It is said that the president on one of hls trfns after day of speech-makinp and hand-shal1ing that would have ex. hausted an ordinary man. exclaimed to the renorters near him @tIt's bully fun. boys. being president" It may well he imagined that after shaking the hands of two thousand persons he did not need the punching haC exer- else which he takes in the White House gymnasium every other night to insure sleep ..' '.'
 Mrs Roosevelt carried a bunch of lon" "~+emmed American Beauty rosns. which was tiresome enough. but not as strenuous as hand-shaking. Hor We'c0tne 10 the, guests was graciovs and cordial and she pronounced each name as it was repootod to her hv Ma tor McCaulev as though she were greet ing close friends. .,
 After being received by the nresi- dantial party tho erests passed on to the east room where they exchareed evneriences and comnared damages I'adies whose trains looked as tho~rh th"v had hean In a collision condcled with their sisters who had onlv s,r- v'ved the earlv nort of the. evening by the aid of smelling salts and restora tives. southern senator observed to yo''r representative that ''the whole roh Sho"'d hove boon indicted"
 After re1atino their thrilling escaoas thev took time to admire the newly decorated Fes+ room Green room ard corridor and the consans1rs of oniriou was that from co~fanad and evan ha wnv rasidnnca tho White Houso hed hnen tran eforOood into oopopoo5 o5;o-s