The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-02

opportunity OF greeting the President ana
Mrs. Roosevelt. and exchanging with them
the compliments of the new year. No dis
tinctions We're 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
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 $69O,o00. In addition to u
desire personally to wish the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt n happy New Year. hun
dreds were attracted by wish TO see the
White House in its new and handsome in
terror finish and furnishing.
To many who were familiar with the
Interior Of the mansion as it was a year
ago the changes made were a revelation
While, in a general way. the form OF the
interior has been retained in beauty and
effectiveness. it is wholly different.
just l02 years age to-day President John
Adams and his wife opened the White
House with a New Years reception 10
their friends and to the public generally.
The dawn of the first fete day within the
walls since become historic was accompa-
MED by the noise of saw and hammer, as
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. WI -
the improvements now are more nearIy
completed than was the manson itself at
that time, it will be several months before
the Workmen Will have finished their task.
ELABORATE DECORATIONS
An hour before the time for the formal
reception the mansion was aglow with
myriads of electric lights. Towering palms
OF rare varieties were placed in inches about
the vesubule. main corridor and stairoases
Two great square masses Of American and
English holly were arranged between the
vestibule and main corridor. affordine a
brilliant and effective background for the
handsome carlet uniforms of the Marine
Band. sixty pieces strong, which occupied
tiers OF seats in the Yestibule.
In the Red. Blue and Green rooms, and in
Ihe splendid East Room were disposed a
Few vases containing cut flowers. prinCipall.
large white lilies and lilies of the valley Il
was noticeable, however. that the floral deg
orattons had been subordinated TO the new
furnishings. and finishing of the rooms.
~ was a merry day for the Roosevelt
children. Prior to the reception. they had a
Jolly time in the lower part OF the house.
Ihey manifested the liveliest interest in all
the arrangements.
Shortly bafore IL O'Clock, the hour at
which the reception began, the Diplomatic
Gorps began to assemble in the Red Room.
Inc meinpers of the corps entered the man
sion 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, in magnificent
court uniforms. sparkling epaulets and
snstenlng swords, showing respiendent
against the red velvet walls ana ivory
WOODWORK, was gorgeous.
PRESIDENT ENTERS.
Promptly at II O'Clock the trumpeters OF
tne Marine Band sounded q fanfare an
nouncing the approach of the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt. and the immediate receive
ing party. President Roosevelt. with Mrs.
Roosevelt on his arm, desc enued the main
staircase, and passing across the main cor
ridor and through the Green Room. entered
ceiyed.
Following them came the members of tho
Cabinet and ladies. 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
Between the two sections of the receiving
party. par lane was formed by cordons of
oiu-Sold velvet Through this lane the call
srs 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
opposite the west entrance of the Treasury.
The President was in evceilent spirits and
Mrs. Roosevelt never seemed happier or
more gracious. The President was attired
IN frock suit, and the only da-h of co.or
about his attire was a tie Of grayish tint.
MRS. RoOSEvELTS GOWN.
The following ladies were invited to as
Mrs. Hay, Mrs Shaw, Mrs Knox, Mrs
Payne and Miss Wilson
Mrs. Root and Mrs. Hitchcock being in
mourning, did not attend the reception.
Mrs. Roosevelt wore a gown of ecru lace
over blue mousselne de sole; Miss Roose-
welt a white silk gown with lace.
Mrs. Hay wore a white fleur de velourS
trimmed with Duchesse lace.
Mrs. Shaw's gown was black embroid-
cred silk over yellow silk
Mrs. Payne wore a dress Of black lace
over pale blue with amethyst ornaments.
Miss wilson pink satin trimmed with
lace Lace and , with snirrs Of mousseiine on the
The weather conditions were ideal, the air
being crisp but not cold.
RECEPTION BEGINS.
Shortly after the receiving party as
proper began. The introductions were made
by Colonel Theodore a. Bingham, the Pres
dents military AID stsd BY Major
tor, Jr., and Lieutenant Frank Mccoy.
They were in full-dress uniform.
we're received FIRST. AS AS dean a;e Of the eorp CORPS
Herr. Won Holleben, the German Ambassa-
dor. occupied the post OF honor at the head
were accompanied by their suites.
their uniforms weiohted with wealth of
gold lace and rich ornamentation and deco
ratiohs.
Among the diplomats particularly missed
was Wu Ting-fang, now en- route home,
where new honors await him. The Chinese
the Charge dAfaires. and HIS suite, all at
tired in gorgeous Oriental silks and satins.
Another familiar face missing was mat
Of Jules Cambon, the French Ambassador.
whose successor has not yet arrived.
Following the German Ambassador and
suite came Count Cassini. the Russian AM
bassador: senor Aspiroz, the Mexican Am
bassador: Senior Mayor des Planchel tho
italian Ambassador. and Sir Michael Her.
bert, the British Ambassador After the
French representatives, and last in the line
Of Ambassadors. was Baron Hengelmuler.
the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador, recent !
ly raised to the higher diplomatic rank.
Mr.. Constanin Brun was the first of the
to be received. he having the /,
distinction of being the senior Minfster.
CUBA REPRESENTED. !
Cuba is represented to-day for the first |
time, Senior Gonzales De ouesada having
the honor of extending the first greetings
of new year to the President, on behalf
of the new island Republic. In ALL thirty
five embassies and legations were repre-
sented at the reception.
Soon after the diplomatic corps had been
received. Secretary and Mrs. Hay left the /,
receiving line and repaired to their resi- I,
dence. where at noon they received and en- !
tertained at luncheon the foreign diplomatic !,
in the city. |
Roosevelt resolved the supreme Court of
the United States. headed by Chief Justice I
Fuller: All of the Justices were accom- /
panied by the ladies' of their household. (,
States Court of Claims and of the District !.
Court of Appeals. and of the Supreme
Court OF the District. ex-Cabinet mempers
and ex-Ministers of the United States. /,
At I:Sc. the reception of the Senators,
Representatives AID Delegates began
Seemingly, there were fewer than in former
years. owing largely to the fact that ma
jority of the Congressman have not returned |,
to Washington from their holiday vacation. |
ARMY AND NAVY DISPLAY /
Following the congressional came the