The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-09
PRESIDENTS new
YEARS RECEPTION
Washington's Annual Society
Event Pulled Off With More
Than Usual SpIendor.
ATTENDANCE WAS ARG
First Opportunity of the General Pub
lie to Sec the White House in Its
New Furnishings Attracts
Hundreds of People.

Washington, Jan. 3.-President
Roosevelts New Year reception was
sone of the most brilliant events in
Washington's recent social history. All
callers were afforded an opportunity of
greeting the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt, and exchanging with them
the compliments of the new year. No
distinctions were made except such as
were necessary in the preservation of
order, and the greetings extended to all
high and low, rich and poor, were alike
cordial and sincere.
Today the general public for the first
Slme 4 an opportunity to see the
widely heralded improvements in the
Whlte House--improVements which
when completed will cost about $780,
300. In addition to the desire to person.
ally wish the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt a Happy New Veal hun
dreds Of persons were attracted to the
reception by a wish to see the White
House in its new and handsome in
terror finish II furnishings.
Mansion Beautifully Decorated.
An hour before the time for the for
mai reception to begin the mansion
was aSloW with myriads of electric
lights. To the brilliance of the great
crystal chandeliers and the splendor Of
of the new furnishings was added the
beauty of the floral decorations, which,
although few as compared with these
of previous New Years receptions at
the White House, were arranged with
consumate art and effectiveness. Tow
erlng palms OF rare varieties were
placed in inches about the vestibule,
n main corridor and the staircases.
Two great square masses of American
and English holly were arranged be-
TWEEN the vestibule and the main cor
ridor, affording a brilliant and effective
background for the handsome scarlet
uniforms Of the Marine band, sixty
pieces strong, which occupied tiers Of
seats in the VeStibule. In the red, blue
and green rooms, n the splendid east
room were disposed a few vases con-
tanning cut flowers, principally large
white lilies and lilies-of-the-valley.
a Brilliant Spectacle.
Shortly before IL o'clock the dip!o-
matte corps began to assemble in the
red room. Members of the corps entered
the mansion from the south side as
usual, in order to avoid the crush of
the throng already gathered about the
main entrance on the north side. In
der the glare OF the electric candelabra
the spectacle presented by this cosmo-
polltan gathering, attired in magnih-
cent court uniforms, sparkling epau-
lettes and ~9listening swords, showing
Respondent against the red velvet
walls and ivory woodwork. was gor-
geous
Promptly at II o'clock theetrumpeters
of the marine band sounded a fanfare
announcing the approach Of the presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt and the i'm
mediate receiving r@rty. President
Roosevelt, with Mrs. Roosevelt on his
arm, descended the main staircase and
n SEi D. y ~, ~; ~,;1~ z-1
through the green room entered the
blue room, Where the guests were re-
.ceived.
Received in Blue Room.
Following them came the members Of
the cabinet and their
ladies: The receiving party was ar
ranged in the arc of a circle in the bow
window Of the blue room. Facing them
were the ladies' invited to assist at the
reception. Between the two sections of
the receiving party a lane was formed
by cordons Of old-gold velvet. Through
this lane the callers passed from the
red room, proceeded through the green
room into the east room, thence down
the staircase into the east terrace and
passing into the street opposite the
west entrance to the treasury.
The president was in excellent spirits
and Mrs. Roosevelt never seemed hap
pier or more gracious. The president
was attired in Il frock suit, the only
dash of color about his attire was his
tie of a grayish tint.
Shortly after the receiving party had
assembled in the blue room the recep-
ton proper began. The introductions
Bingham, the presidents military aide,
assisted by Major Charles McCawIey,
Captain John r. Proctor, jr., and Lieu
tenant Frank Mccoy. The officers We're
all in full dress uniform.
Diplomatic Corps Came First.
The members of the diplomatic corps
were received first. AS dean of the
corps, Herr o Holleben, the German
ambassador, occupied the post of honor
at the head of the line. All ambassa-
d0fS and ministers were accompanied
by their entire suites, their uniforms
weighted with a wealth of gold lace,
rich characterization and decorations.
Cuba was represented today for the
first time, >Senor GonsaleZ de Quasada
having. the honor of extending the first
greeting of the new year to the presi-
dent on behalf of the new island re-
public. In all thirty-fiVe embassies and
legations We're represented at the re-
ception.
Followed by the Judiciary.
Soon after the diplomatic corps had
been received Secretary of State and
MIs.AHay left h receiving line and re-
paired to their residence, where at noon
they received and entertained at lunch
con the foreign diplomatic representa-
i've in the city. After the diplomats.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt received
the supreme court of the United States.
headed by Chief Justice Fuller. All the
justices We're accompanied by thel ladies'
of their households. Then olIowed the
Judges OF the United States court Of
claims, the district court of appeals. tbe
supreme court of the District Of Co
Iunbia, e~x-cabinet members and az
ministers Of the United States.
At 1880 the reception of senator's
representatives and delegates in con.
gress began. Seemingly there were
fewer than in some former years. ow-
ing largely to he fact that#a maiority
the congressman haye@not returned
to Washington from their holiday va
Following the congressional contin-
gent came the military, of
Officers of the United States army and
navy and marine corps, together with
the general and his s4aff of the militia
.of the District Of Columbia. General
Miles, who is in China en- route home
from a tour of the Philippines and8Ad-
Iniral Dewey, who is in command OF
the combined fleets at the Culobra ISL
-alids. and who led the military process