The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-02
RECEPTION AT
WHITE HOUSE
One of the Most Brilliant Events
in Nations History.
FAIR WOMEN AND BRAVE MEN
WEALTH OF SILK, SATIN, GOLD
LACE AND FLOWERS.

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 ex-
cept such IS were rendered necessary
in preservation Of order, and the greet
ings extended to alI-high and low.
rich and pOOr-were alike cordial and
sincere.
Today the general public for the first
time had an opportunity 10 see the
widely heralded improvements in the
White House-improveme which,
when completed, will have cost about
100000. In addition to a desire per-
sonaily to wish the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt a happy New Year, hun
dreds We're attracted by a wish to see
the White House in it's new and hand
some interior finish and furnishing. To
many who were familiar with the in
terror of the mansion as il was a year
ago, the changes made were a reveal
ton. While in a general way the form
of the interior has been retained IN
beauty and effectiveness. it IS wholly
different just 1O2 years ago today
President John Adams and his wife
opened the White House with a New
Years reception to their friends and
to the public generally. The dawn of
the first fete day within the walls Since
become 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 now
are more nearly completed than was
the mansion itself at that time, it will
be several months before the woTkmen
Will have finished their task.
Electric Effect.
An hour before the time for the for
NAL reception the mansion was aglow
with myriads of electric lights. Tower
ing palms of rare varieties were placed
in inches about the vestibule, main
corridor and staircases- Two great
square masses of American and Eng
lish holly were arranged between the
vestibule and main corridor, 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 and
in the splendid East room were dis
posed a few vases containing cut flow
ers, principally large white lilies and
lilies of the valley. 1t was noticeable,
however, that the floral decorations
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 liveliest interest in all the arrange
ments
Shortly before IL o'clock the hour at
which the reception began. the dipIO-
matte 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
crush of the thrOng already gathered
about the main entrance on the north
side. Under the glare of the electric
Candela bra the spectacle presented by
this cosmopolitan gathering. attired in
magnificent court uniforms. sparkling
epaulettes and glistening swords,
showing respondent against the red
velvet walls and ivory woodwork, was
gorgeous.
Reception Begun.
Promptly at II o'clock the trumpet
ers or the Marine band sounded a fan
fare announcing the approach Of the
president and Mrs. Roosevelt. and the
immediate receiving party. President
Roosevelt. with Mrs. Roosevelt on his
passing across the main corridor and
through the Green room. entered the
Blue room, where The guests were re
ceived. Following them came members
OF the cabinet and ladies'. The receiv-
ing party was arranged in the arc of
a circle in the bow window Of the Blue
room. Facing them were the ladies
invited to assist. Between the two
sections Of the receiving party q, lane
was formed by cordcns of old gold
velvet Through this lane the callers
passed from the Red room, proceeding
through the Green room into the East
room md thetce down the staircase
into the east terrace and passing into
the street opposite the west entrance
OF the treasury.
The president was in excellent spir-
its and Mrs. Roosevelt never seemed
happier or more gracious. The presi-
dent was attired in a frOek suit and
tne only dash of color about his attire
was tie Of grayish tint.
The following ladies were invited tC
assist: Mrs. Hay, Mrs. Shaw. Mrs
Knox. Mrs. Payne and Miss Wilson
Mrs. Root and Mrs. Hitchcock, being
III mourning. did not attend the recep-
The Ladies' Costumes.
Mrs. Roosevelt wore gown Of cert
lace over blue mousseline de sole, Mis-:
Roosevelt a white silk gown with lace
Mrs Hay wore a white "neur &c
VeiOurs' trimmed with duchesse lace
Mrs. Shaw's gown was black embroi-
dered silk over yellow silk. Mrs Payne
wore a dress of black lace over pale
blue with amethyst ornaments: Mis-.
Wilson pink satin trimmed with lacs
and with shirrs Of mousseline on tn,
waist with touches Of black.
The weather conditions were ideal
the air being crisp but not cold.
Shortly after the receiving party as
sembled in the Blue room the reception
proper began. The introductions wer,
made by Colonel Theodore NJ. Bingham
the presidents military aide assiste,
by Major Charles McCawley. Captain
John R. Proctor, jr., and Lieutenan
Frank Mccoy. They were IN full dress
Uniform.
Head Of the Line.
The members Of the diplomatic corp
were received first. AS dean of tn
corps Herr Won Holleben, the German
ambassador, occupied the post of homo
at the head of the line. All OF the am
baSsadors and ministers were accom-
panied by their suites. their uniform
weighted with a wealth of gold lac
and rich ornamentation and decora
tsons. Among the diplomats particu
larry missed was WI Ting Fang. nov
en- route home. where new honors avail
him. The Chinese legation was rep
resented by Shen Tung the charge DAT
fairies, and his suite. all attired in gor
geous Oriental silks and satins. An
other familiar face missing was tina