The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-02
Inauguration of the Social Season. The Rich and the Poor Alike are Given a Most Cordial Greet ing by the President
  and His Most
 Gracious Wife.

Roosevelt jnaugurated today the official
 sociaI season in the nations capital with
 a brilliant reception at the White 1ouse.
 For more than a hundred years 1t mas
 been an unbroken custom of Presidents
 of the United States to receive on Nsw
 Years day all officials of the Government
 located in Washington and such citizens
 as might care to pay their respects to the
 nations chief magistrate. In addition 10 the citizens of the United States. menu
 bers of the diplomatic corps always em-
 brace the opportunity to personally ex- tend the President their own good wishes and the greetings of their Governments. The reception of the President on New Years day is thoroughly democratic. That of today was notably so. No distinctions of rank or class were made. except such as were made necessary for due respect to order. All persons, rich or poor, with or without rank. were given gracious greeting by the President and Mrs Roose- welt.
 The interior of the White House was never more beautiful than today. The mansion glowed with electric lights and floral decorations were disposed about the
 corridors and parlors. Bare palms, potted plants and exquisite cut-fiowers were ar ianged effectively in every available space. Great rectangular urns, banked to the edges with dwarf palms and holly,
 were placed between the main corridor and the vestibule, forming a fitting back ground for the gorgeous new uniforms or the marine band, which. sixty pieces strong. was seated in the vestibule The band furnished music throughout the re- ception under the baton of the conductor. Lieutenant w. H. SanteImann. In the red. blue and green parlors, the predom- | inant decorations were vases of cut-how- 0f hA and | flaming poinsette blossoms.
 For the children of the President and l Mrs. Roosevelt 1t was a memorable oc- i casion They were here, there, and ey- | anywhere about the mansion, having al | ways a merry word for their friends and l showing a deep interest in all the arr engagements.
 Eleven o'clock was the hour fixed for the beginning of the reception. For half an hour before that time, carriages con- ! taining members of the diplomatic corps
 rolled up to the Southern entrance of the White House. the Ambassadors, Minis | ters and attaches of embassies and lega- l tions assembling. as usual in the red par Tor. All were attired in magnificent court costume or handsome military or naval | uniforms and with sparkling epaulettes and glistening swords presented gorge" ous spectacle.
 Among the representatives of the i,a- tions of the world, 1t was noticed that there was one absentee. Colombia one of the countrys sister republics of the South was not represented at the recep- tion.
 In view of the present relations be- tween the United States and Government of Colombia. the absence of a represen- tative of the South American Republic
 was noted instantly. Indeed among some
 of the diplomats 1t was regarded as signi- fcent. General Rafael Reyes. the Minis ter of Colombia in this country on q spe- cial mission, did not attend the reception, lest it is understood his presence at the White House might be miseonstrued by his people He, therefore, had begged to
 be excused. Dr. Herran, the Colombian Charge d'Affaires, was detained. at his residence by bronchial affection. Today as a year ago a new republic was represented for the first time in the line of diplomats. Last year 1t was Cuba,
 this year the Republic of Panama, M. Bunau-Varilla being the accredited Min lister of the infant State. who exchanged greetings with the President ' At Il o'clock a fanfare of trumpets an- nounced the opening of the reception and the approach of the President and Mrs Roosevelt President Roosevelt, escorting Mrs. Roosevelt. descended the main stair
 case and passed to the blue parlor. where the. guests were received They were fol-
 lowed by members of the Cabinet and
 their accompanying ladies. and members of the immediate receiving party. A notable absentee from the receiving line was Secretary of State Hay, who
 was confined to his home by illness. Mrs.
 Hay, however. was in the line. She re-
 mained only a short time. leaving early
 in order to receive at her own home the
 members of the diplomatic. corps who
 were guests of the Secretary of State
 and Mrs. Hay at breakfast.
 The members of the receiving party
 were arranged in the arch of circle in
 the bay window of the blue room. the
 guests invited to assist in the reception
 facing behind the line The two sections
 of the receiving party were separated by
 lane made of cordons of twisted velvet
 touched with old gold. Those received
 passed through this lane into the green
 room and thence into the east room. The
 guests left the mansion by the west ter
 rance.
 Both the President and Mrs Roosevelt
 were particularly gracious in the greeting
 of their callers The President jokea
 with a friend and Mrs. Roosevelt entered
 into the affair with evident enjoyment.
 President Roosevelt was attired in a con-
 ventional frock coat.
 Arrived at the blue parlor, the President and Mrs. Roosevelt extended cordial | greetings to the members of the cabinet
 and the ladies accompanying them, as | We'll to the members of the other section | of the receiving party. The reception | then properly began. The introductIons
 were made by Colonel Thomas w. Sym | ons.
 First to be received were the members | of the diplomatic corps. All of the am
 bassadors and ministers were accompan-
 jed by their entire suites. As dean of the | corps. Count Cassni. the Russian Am | bassador and master of the imperial
 court. occupied the position of honor at | the head of the line. He was accom-
 panied by his daughter. Countess Mar guerite Cassni. and was attended by his
 entire staff. The brilliant uniform worn | by the Ambassador was adorned by deco
 rations which have been bestowed on him
 during his diplomatic career
 | Following the representative of the | Czar in order were Senor Don Manuel | De Aspiros, the Mexican ambassador and | stan; Baron Hengelmuller. the ambassa-
 dor of Austria-Hungary. Baroness Hen gelmuller, and the ambassadors staff:
 M. Jusserand the French ambassador.
 Mime. Jusserand and suite; Baron SpeclS Won Sternberg, the German ambassador,
 Baroness Won Sternberg, and the embas-
 sy stan, and Sir Henry Durand. the
 British ambassador, Lady Durand. and
 the embassy stan. In the absence of the ! Italian ambassador, Count DcCelleri the
 charge affairs of the embassy. accom-
 panied by his staff, represented the Ital- | ian government.
 Among the ministers who attended q
 New Years reception at the White | I