The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-02
SCARLET CLOTH AND
GOLD BRAID IN
EVIDENCE
One of the Most Magnificent
Receptions Ever Witness
ed at the White House
All Sorts and Conditions
of Men and Women Re-
ceived.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 1.-Pres-
ident Roosevelt's New Years reception
was one of the most brilliant events in
Washington's social history. All call
ers were afforded the opportunity OF
greeting the president and Mrs. Roose-
welt. No distinctions were made ex-
cept such as were rendered necessary
in preservation of order and the greet
ings extended to all were alike cordial
and sincere.
Today the general public, for the
first time, had an opportunity to see
the widely heralded improvements ir
the White house-improVeme which
when completed will have cost about
100000 To many who were familiar
with the interior of the mansion as il
was year ago, the changes made were
a revelation. While, in a general way
the form of the interior has been re-
tanned in beauty and effectiveness, il
is wholly different.
Just 102 years ago today President
John Adams and his wife opened the
White house with a New Years re-
ception 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.
Lights and Flowers.
An hour before the time for the for
NAL reception to begin the mansion
was aglow with myraids 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 receptions al
the White house, were arranged with
art and effectiveness.
1t was merry day for the Roosevelt
children. Prior to the reception they
had jolly time in the lower part OF
the house. They manifested the live
lest interest in ali the arrangements.
Shortly before II o'clock, the hour al
which the reception began, the diplo-
matte corps began to assemble in the
red room. The members of the corps
entered the mansion from the south
side.
At II o'clock the trumpeters of the
marine band sounded a fanfare, an
nouncing the approach of the president
and Mrs. Roosevelt and the immediate
receiving party. President Roosevelt
with Mrs. Roosevelt on his arm, de-
scended the main staircase and passing
across the main corridor and through
the green room, entered the blue room
where the guests were received. Fol-
lowing, then came the members of the
The receiving 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 at the re-
ception. Between the two receiving
sections of the party, a passage was
formed by cordOns of old gold velvet
Through this lane the callers passed
from the red room, proceeding through
the green room into the east room and
thence down the staircase into the east
terrace and passing into the street, op-
posite the west entrance of the treas
ury
The president was attired in a froclx
suit and the only dash of color about
his attire was a tie of greenish tint.
The Women's Costumes.
The following ladies were invited to
assist
Mrs. Hay, Mrs Shaw, Mrs. Knox,
Mrs. Payne and Miss Wilson.
Mrs. Roosevelt wore a gown of ecru
lace over a blue moUsseline de sole
Miss Roosevelt a white silk gown with
lace.
Mrs. Hay wore a white "fleur de We
lours, trimmed with duchesse lace
Mrs. Shaws gown was black en-
broidered silk over yellow silk
Mrs. Payne wore a dress of black
lace over pale blue, with amethyst or
naments. Miss Wilson pink satin
trimmed with lace and with shirrs OF
mousseline on the waist with touches
of black.
The introductiOns were made by Col
Theodore A. Bingham, the presidents
military aide, assisted by Maj. Charles
McCawley, Capt. John r. Proctor Jr
and Lieut.. Frank Mccoy. The officers
We're in full-dress uniform.
The members of the diplomatic corps
were received first. All of the ambas
sailors and ministers were accompanied
by their entire suites, their uniforms
weighted with a wealth of gold lace
and rich ornamentation and decora-
tons.
After the diplomats President and