The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-02
HAND OF PRESIDENT
SHAKEN BY MANY CALLERS AT
THE WHITE HOUSE.
THE NEW YEARS RECEPTION
HAD TOUCH OF ROYALTY IN ITS
MAGNIFICENCE.

Dignitaries Paid Their Respects to
the Chief ENecutive-Chief officials
of the National Government Were
in Attendance Handsome Uni
forms and Gowns Added to the
BriIliance of the Scene-Was the
Public's First Opportunity to See
White House improvements.
Washington, Jan. 1.-President
Roosevelt's New Years reception was
one of the most brilliant events in
Washington's recent social history. All
callers were afforded the 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
We're rendered necessary in the pres
ervation of order; and the greetings ex-
tended to all-high and low. rich and
poor, were alike cordial and sincere.
To-day the general public for the
first time had an opportunity to see
the widely heralded improvements in
the White House--improvements which
when completed will have cost about
100000. In addition to a desire to per-
sonally wish the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt a happy New Year. hun
dreds of persons were attracted by
desire to see the White House in its
new and handsome interior finish and
furnishing. To many who were familiar
with the interior of the mansion as it
was year ago, the changes were a
revelation. While in a general way the
form Of the interior has been retained,
in beauty and effectiveness it is wholly
different.
When White House Opened.
Just 102 years ago to-day President
John Adams and his wife opened the
White House with a New Years re-
ception to their friends and to the pub
lie generally. The dawn of the first
fete day within the walls, since be-
come historic, 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
occupied by President Roosevelt as a
library. While the improvements are
now more nearly completed than was
the mansion itself at that time, It will
be several months before the work
men Will have finished their task
An hour before the time for the for
NAL reception to begin, the mansion
was aglow with myriads of electric
lights. To the brilliance of the great
crystal chandeliers and the splendor
OF the new furnishings was added the
beauty of the floral decorations, which,
although few as compared with
those of previous New Years recep-
lions, were arranged with consuin-
mate art and effect Towering palms
of rare varieties were placed in inches
about the vestibule, main corridor and
staircases. Two great square masses
of American and English holly were
arranged between the vestibule and
main corridor, affordng 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, and in
the splendid East room, were disposed
a few vases containing cut flowers,
principally large white lilies and Ii
lies of the valley. Here and there
poinsetta blossoms showed splashes
of flaming red.
Young ROOseveIts Merry.
1t was a merry day for the Roose-
Welt children Prior to the reception
they had jolly time in the lower part
of the house. They manifested the
liveliest interest in all the arrange
ments
Shortly before II o'clock. the hour
at which the reception began, the
diplomatic corps began to assemble in
the Red room. The members of the
he the
south side. as usual in order to avoid
the crush of the throng already gather
ed about the main entrance on the
north side.
Promptly at II o'clock the trumpeters
of the marine band sounded fanfare,
announcing the approach of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt and the inn
mediate receiving party. President
Roosevelt with Mrs. Roosevelt on his
arm. descended the main staircase,
and passing across the main corridor
and through the Green room entered
the Blue room, where the guests were
received. Following them came the
members of the cabinet and their ac-
companying ladies' The receiving par
ty was arranged in the arc of 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
q lane was formed by cordons of old
gold velvet Through this lane the
callers passed from the Red room, pro-
ceeding through the Green room into
the East room and thence down the
staircase into the east entrance.
They Were in Good Spirits.
President Roosevelt was in excel
lent spirits, and Mrs. Roosevelt never
seemed happier or more gracious. The
President was attired in a frock suit
and the only dash of color about his
attire was a tie of grayish tint.
Mrs. Roosevelt wore a gown of ecru
lace over blue mousseline de sole; Miss
Roosevelt a white silk gown, with lace.
The receiving party having assem-
bled in the Blue Room, the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt greeted each one
of the party and those behind the line.
The Presidents greeting to the mem
bers of the cabinet was marked by
particular cordiality.
This ceremony over, the reception
proper began. The introductiOns were
made by Col. Bingham the President
military aide, assisted by Maj. Charles
McCawley, Capt. j. r. Proctor, Jr.,
and Lieut. Frank Mccoy. The officers
We're in full dress uniform.
The members of the diplomatic corps
We're received first. AS dean of the
corps, Herr Won Holleben, the German
ambassador, occupied the post of honor
at the head of the line. All of the
ambassadors and minister's were ac-