Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-01
Public Sees the improvements for
the First Time.
THE SCENE WAS A SPLENDID ONE
Glitter of Gold Lace and Fresh Deco
rations in New White House Make
Beautiful Picture-station in Life
No Bar.

Washington, Jan. President
Roosevelt's New Years reception was
one of the most brilliant events in
Washington's recent social history.
All the callers were afforded an loppor-'
tn OF greeting the President and
Nils. Roosevelt and exchanging with
them the compliments of the New
Year. No distinctions We're made eX-
cept those that were rendered ineces-
sary in the preservation of order, and
the greetings extended to all high and
low, rich and poor were alike sincere
See New White House.
Today the general public. for the
first time, had ian opportunity 10 see.
the widely herhlded improvements in
pleted will have cost about $500 Do0.
Brilliant Scene.
To the brilliance of the great crystal
chandeliers and the splendor of the
new furnishings was added the beauty
of the general decorations which, al
though few as compared with those at
previous New Years receptions, were
arranged with consummate art and eff
fectiveness. ss II 81
II, e rtecention.
Promptly at IL o'clock, the hour at
y whichethe reception began, trumIteters
OF the marine band sounded a fanfare,
announcing the approach of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt and the i'm
mediate receiving party.
President Roosevelt, with Mrs.
Roosevelt on his arm, descended the
main staircase and entered the kblue
room where the guests were received.
1rtxy xyiy,cr !. n
the cabinet and their accom- panying
ladies'.
The receiving party was arranged in
the form of an arc of a circle in the
bow window. Facing them were the
ladies invited to assist at the recep-
ton.
Between the two sections of the re-
ceiving party a, lane 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 thence into the street.
The President was in excellent spir-
its, and Mrs. Roosevelt never seemed
happier or more gracious.
The President was attired in frock
suit. The only dash of color about his
attire was tie of a grayish tint.
The introductions were made by
Colonel Theodore A. Bingham, the
Presidents military aide. assisted by
'aior Charles McCawley, Captain Johi
Proctor Jr., and Lieutenant Franlt
- Coy. The officers were in full
dressss uniform. IN
The members of the diplomatic,
corAs arrived first. AS the dean of ths,
corps, Herr Won Holleb, the German
ambassador, occupied the post of hoIl-
or at the head of the line. All the
ambassadors and ministers were ac-
companied by their entire suites, their
uniforms weighted with wealth of
gold lace and rich ornamentation and
decorations.
Cuba was represented today for the
first time, Senor Gonzales De Quesada
having the honor of extending the first
greetings of tne new year to the Pies
ident on behalf of the new island re-
public.
After the diplomats, the Presid ent
and Mrs Roosevelt received the mem
bers of the supreme court of the Uni
ted States, headed by the chief justice,
Melville w. Fuller, and accompanied
by the Judges of the United States
court of claims, the district coutt of
appeals, the supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia, the eX-cabinet mem
bers and the eX-ministers of the Unit
ed States.
At 1880 o'clock the reception to
senators, representatives and dele,
gates in congress began. Then came
the military contingent, composed OF
officers of the United States army and
navy and the marine corps together
with the general and staff militia OF
the District of Columbia. AT the con,
clusion of this feature of the recep-
ton, the assistant secretaries Of the
departments, the assistant attorney
general, the assistant postmasters
general, and the various heads of the
bureau and department Chiefs in the
government service We're received
Then were received th ssocity of Gin
Then were received the society O,
Cincinnati Associated Veterans of the
Legion, the Grand Army of the Repub
lie, the Union Veteran Legion. the
Union Veterans Union, Spanish wal
veterans and members of the Oldest
Inhabitants Association of the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
At O'clock tha oan+ion 40 o;+;