Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-02
THE WHITE HOUSE
The Scene Of Very Brilliant
New Years Reception.
Thousands Pay Their Respect to Pres
>ident and Mrs. Roosevelt.
No Restriction as to Age, Sex, Color or
Condition.

velt's New Years reception was one OF
the most brilliant events in Washing
toms recent social history. All callers
were afforded the opportunity of greet
ing the President and Mrs. Roosevelt
and exchanging with them wishes for
a happy New Year. No distinctions
were made except such as were made
necessary to preserve order, and the
greetings extended to all of every class
were alike cordial and sincere.
Thursday, the general public had an
opportunity for the first time to see
the widely heralded improvements in
the White House-improvements which
when completed will cost about $500, 600.
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 102 years ago Pres.
John Adams and his wife opened the
White House with a New Years re-
cepti0n to their friends and the pub
lie. The dawn of the first gala day
within the walls. since it became his
toric. was accomplished by the noise
of saw and hammer. as was this day.
Because of the unfinished condition of
the lower floor Pres. and Mrs. Adams
received their guests in the room on
the second floor now occupied by Pres.
Roosevelt as a library. While the i'm
provemcnts now are more nearly COM
plete than was the mansion itself at
that time it will be several months
before the workmen will have finished
their task.
An hour before the time for the for
NAL reception, Thursday, the mansion
was aglow with myriads of electric
lights. Added to the brilliance of the
great crystal chandeliers and new fur
nisnings was the beauty of the floral
decorations, which although few when
compared with those of previous New
Years receptions at the White House,
were arranged with much effectiveness.
Palms stood in inches about the vesti-
buIe. main corridor and staircases.
Masses of American and English holly
were arranged between the vestibule
and main corridor, affording brilliant
and effective background for the hand
some scarlet uniforms of the Marine
Band GO pieces strong, which occupied
tiers of seats in the vestibule. In the
Red. Blue and Green rooms and in
the splendid East room were disposed
a few vases containing cut flowers,
principally large white lilies and lilies
of the valley, with here and there poin-
setta blossoms.
The Roosevelt children prior to the
reception had a jolly time in the lower
tod
the liveliest interest in all the arrange-
ments.
Shortly before II o'clock, the hour at
which the reception began, the diplo-
matte corps began to assemble in the
Red room. Under the electric candel-
abra. the cosmopolitan gathering at
tired in bright court uniforms, with
eplulets and swords showing resplend-
ent against the red walls and ivory
woodwork, We're gorgeous.
Promptly at IL o'clock the trumpeters
of the Marine Band sounded a fanfare,
announcing the approach of the Presi
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt and the inn
mediate receiving party. Pres. Roose-
welt with Mrs. Roosevelt on his arm,
descended the main staircase and en-.
were received. Following them came
the members of the cabinet and their
accompanying ladies. The receiving
party was arranged in the arc of a
circle in the bay window of the Blue
room. Facing them We're the ladies IN
vited to assist at the receiving. Be
tween the two sections of the party
was a lane formed by cordons of old
gold velvet. Through this lane the
callers passed from the Red room,
whence they proceeded through the
Green room into the East room and
thence down the stairway into the East
terrace and into the street opposite the
west entrance of the treasury.
The President was in high spirits and
Mrs. Roosevelt never seemed happier or
more gracious. TIE President was al
tired in a froci suit and the only dash
of color about his attire was tie or
grayish tint.
The following ladies were invited to
assist:
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 mousseline de sole, Miss
Roosevelt a white silk gown with lace.
Mrs. Hay wore a white "feur de velors"
trimmed with duchess lace. Mrs.
Shaw's gown was black embroidered
silk over yellow silk. Mrs. Payne wore
a dress of black lace over pale blue
with amethyst ornaments. Miss Will
son. pink satin trimmed with lace and
with shirrs of mousseline on the waist,
with touches of black.
Shortly after the receiving party as
sembled in the Blue room the reception
proper began. The introductions were
made by Col Theodore A. Bingham, L.
S. A.. the Presidents military aid. as
sisted by Maj Charles McCawley, Capt.
John r. Proctor. Jr., and Lieut.. Frank
Mccoy The officers Were in full dress
uniforms.
The members Of the diplomatic corps
were received first. As dean of the corps
Won Hollcnben. the German ambassador
had thu post Of honor al the head of the
line. the position held for many years BY
the late Lord Pauncefote-the British am
Continued on page 81