Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-02
Reception at the white House is an
Elaborate Affair.
FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN FULL DRESS
WI Ting Fang, Late Chinese Minister, One
Of Most Missed.
REY OFFICERS IN NEW UNIFORM
Visitors Astonishsd at the Grandeur Of
Improvements in Mansion.
ALL ARE MOST CORDIALLY GREETED
After the oneiaI Reception General
Public Pays Its GreetinEs 60 Ma
tiOn's Chief and Meets
with Warm welcome.


| WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-Prestdent Roose-
velt's reception was one Of the most brill
liant events In washington's recent social
/ history
All callers we're afforded the opportunity
! OF greeting the president and Mrs Roose.
| welt and exchanging with them the opm-
pliments Of the New Year. No distinctions
\ were made. except such as were rendered
/ necessary In preservation OF order, and the
greetings extended TO all-high and low.
rich and poor-were alike cordial and sim
/ cere.
TNtsy 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 $500. 900. In addition
! TO desire. personally, 10 wish the presi-
/ dent and Mrs. Roosevelt happy New Year.
| hundreds were attracted by wish to see
the White House in its new and handsome
interior furnishings.
To many who we're familiar with the in
terror Of the mansion as II was a year ago
| the changes made were a revelation. While
in general way the form OF the interior
has been retained in beauty and effective
ness. # is wholly different
Just l02 years ago 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
| hrst fete day within the walls. since become
! historic, was accompanied by the noise OF
saw and hammer. as was this day.
| soL 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 i'm
provements now are more nearly completed
than was the mansion itself at that time Il
will be several months before the workmen
/ will have finished their task.
AgIow with Electric Lights.
An hour before the time for the reception
the mansion was aglow with myriads OF
electric lights. Towering palms OF rare
varieties were placed in inches about the
vestibule. main corridor and staircases.
J Two great square rnasses OF American and
English holly were arranged between The
vestibule and main corridor, affording a
brilliant and effective background lor the
handsome scarlet uniforms OF the Marine
band. sixty strong. which occupied the
tiers Of seats in the vestibule
In the red blue and green rooms. and In
the splendid east room were disposed few
vases containing cut flowers. principally
white lilies and Lilies OF the Valley II
was noticed. however. that the floral deco
rations had been suborned to the new fur
nishngs and hnishings OF the rooms.
It was a merry day for the Roosevelt
children. Prior TO the reception they had
jolly time in the lower part OF the house.
They manifested the liveiiest interest In all
the arrangements.
Shortly before IL O'Clock. the hour at
which the reception began, the diplomatic
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 candelabra the spectacle presented
by this cosmopolitan gathering. attired in
court uniforms, sparkling epadlettes and
glittering swords. showing resplendent
against the red velvet upholstering and
woodwork. was gorgeous.
Approach of the President.
A: IL O'Clock the trumpeters Of the
Marine band sounded a fanfare. announcing
the approach of the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt and the immediate receiving
party
President Roosevelt. with Mrs. Roosevelt
on his arm, descended the main staircase
and. passing along the nlain corridor and
through the Green room. entered the Blue
room. where the guests were received.
Following them came the members OF the
cabinet and women. The receiving party
was arranged in the arc OF a circle in the
bay window Of the Blue room Facing
them were the women invited 70 assist.
Between the two sections OF the rseeiv-
ing party a lane was formed BY eordoDs Of
old gold velvet. Through this line the
callers passed from the Red ROOM proceed
ing through the Green room into the East
, room and thence down the staircase into
the east terrace. and passing into the
street opposite the west entrances Of the
treasury.
The president was in excellent spirits
and Mrs. Roosevelt never seemed happier
or more gracious. The president was at
tired in a frock suit and the only dash ot
color about his attire was tie Of grayish
tint.
Shortly after the receiving party as
sembled In the Blue room the RECEPTION
proper began. The introduetions we're made
by Colonel Theodore bingham. the presi-
dents military aide. assisted By Major
Charles AcCawley, Captain John n. Proc
tor. r.. and Lieutenant Frank Mccoy. 1hey
we're in full dress uniform.
: order of the Reception.
, The members Of the diplomatic corps
were received hrst, AS dean OF the CORPS.
Herr Won Holleben. the German hmbss.
sadOr. occupied the post of honor az the
head OF the line. All the ambassadors and
ministers we're accompanied By their suites
q their uniforms weighted with a wealth OF
: gold lace and rich ornamentation and deco
, rations.
Among the diplomats particularly missed
was WI Ttngfang, now enrouts home
where new honOrs awe4t him The Chinese
= legation was represented By Shen Tung
2 the charge d'anaires. and his suite. all
, attired In gorgeous Oriental silks and
satins. Another familiar face missing vas
2 that Of Jules Canton. the French aml-as-
sad0T. whose successor has not yet ar