The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-02

he having the distinction Of being the
senior minister. Cuba was represented
to-day for the first time, Senior Con-
zales de Quesada having the honor of
extending the first greetings of a new
year to the President on behalf of the
new island republic. In all, thirty
five embassies and legations were rep
resented at the reception.
How the Celebrities Appeared.
Soon after the diplomatic corps had
been received Secretary of State and
Mrs. Hay left the receiving line ana
repaired to their own residence at Six
teenth and Lafayette Square. where at
noon they received and entertained st
luncheon the entire foreign diplomatic
representation in the city
After the diplomats President and
Mrs. Roosevelt received the Supreme
Court of the United States, headed by
Chief Justice Fuller All of the JUS
tees were accompanied by the ladies
of their households.
AT 1880 o'clock the reception of SEN
ators, representatives and delegates in
Congress began. Seemingly, there
were fewer than in some former years,
owing largely Ito the fact that a ma
Jority of the congressman have not re-
turned to Washington from their holi-
day vacation.
Following the congressional came
the military contingent. Gen. Miles,
who is in China, en- route home from
a tour of the Philippines, and Admiral
Dewey, who is in command of the
combined fleets at Culebra Island, who
led the military procession to the
White House last year, We're both alb
sent Maj. Gen. Young, next in rank
to Gen. Miles, accompanied by Maj.
| Gen. Corbin, adjutant general, led the
line of army officers, who preceded the
naval officers. At the head of the lat
ter were Rear Admirals Remey and
Melville.
| The army officers appeared the first
| time as body in their new dress uni
| forms. The new cap with flaring top,
| which has taken the place of the ola
! cap, which was inclined to lose shape
with wear, is a distinctive feature of
| the change. The frocks are elaborate
| ly ornamented, thus producing a more
| snowy effect, as was noticeable to-
! day.
AT the conclusion of this feature of
the reception various departmental Of
ficials We're received. In this section
! Vice Gov. Luke f. Wright of the Phil
| ippines was a notable figure. The Pres
| ident gave him a most cordial greet
ing.
Then Came the HOi-POIIOi.
At 1 o'clock the reception to citizens
| generally began. For hours hundreds
of people of all ages, colors, sexes and
conditions had been waiting in line to
| greet the President, and to receive his
greeting. The line passed slowly
| through the main entrance of the
| White House across the corridor into
| the Red room and thence past the
President and party in the Blue room.
The throng was tyDically American,
| happy, fine looking and well dressed.
The weather throughout the reception
was so delightful that none suffered
| any discomfort or inconvenience from
| the long wait in line which many of
| them had. There was no hurrying, and
sometimes slight delays occurred as
the President or Mrs. Roosevelt ex-
changed pleasantries with particular
friends. Occasionally the President va
| ried the formality of the receiving by
| inviting, as a special compliment, some
personal friend or dignitary of rank
| to take place with the receiving party.
| Mrs. Roosevelt endured the long
| strain of the reception admirably. A
few minutes before the close of the
| reception Mrs. Roosevelt, not knowing
how long it might yet continue, left
the Presidents side and was escorted
| by Capt. Cowles to luncheon in the
| private apartments of the mansion.
No Hands i'm Pockets Allowed.
The gates were closed at 2:25 o'clock,
| the line by that time having passed
within the grounds. The reception of
callers was concluded at 2:34 The
| President, after chatting a few min
utes with the receiving party, retired
to his private apartments for lunch
! con. According to programme the re-
| ception should have ended at o'clock
but the President directed that all per-
sons in line should be afforded an OPP
| portunity of entering the White House
and being received
! The total number of callers fell a
! trifle short of 1000. The President eX-
! tended a cordial greeting and hand
| shake to each one. He was partic-
ularly interested in the babies, many
of whom were carried by their pa
rents. At the conclusion of the re-
ception the President manifested lit
tie fatigue.
The police arrangements were under
the personal supervision of Maj Syl-
vester and Chief Wilkie of the Secret
Service was present with agents of his
corps. The detectives permitted no
one to pass the line with a hand in a
| pocket or covered.