The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-01
PRESIDENTS
new YEARS
RECEPTION
White House at Washington
Scene Of Annual Social Sos-
SIOn-RIch and Poor Ex-
tend Greetings.

Washington. Jan. president and Mrs.
Roosevelt fnaugurated today the official
social season In the nations capitol with
a brilliant reception at the White House.
For more than a hundred years IL has
been an unbroken custom OF presidents
OF the United States TO receive on New
Years day all officials of the govern
ment located In Washington and such
citizens as might care 70 pay their re-
spects 10 the nations chief magistrate
In addition to citizens OF the United
States. members OF the diplomatic corps
always embrace the opportunity person
ally to extend 10 the president their own
good wishes and the greetings or their
governments.
The reception OF the president on New
Years day is thoroughly domestic. THAT
OF today was notably SO. No distinctions
OF rank or class were made, except such
an were rendered necessary by due re-
spect for order. All persons-rich or
poor. with or without rank-were given
q gracious greeting by the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt.
For half hour before the hour for the
reception, II o'clock, carriages containing
members OF the diplomatic corps rolled up
TO the southern entrance OF the White
House, the ambassadors, ministers and
attaches OF the embassies and legations
assembling. as usual. in the red parlor.
Among the Representatives OF the ma
tions oft he world Colombia. one OF this
country's sister republics OF the South.
was not represented at the reception. In
view OF the present relations between the
United States and the government Of
Colombia, the absence OF a representa-
tive o. the South American republic was
noted instantly and regarded as signih-
cant.
Today. az a year ago. new republic
was represented for the rrst time I'm the
line OF diplomats. Last year IL was Cuba
this. the republic OF Panama, NJ. Bunau-
Varilla being the accredited minister of
the infant state who exchanged greetings
with the president.
At IL o'clock fanfare OF trumpets an
nounced the opening OF the reception and
the approach of the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt. President Roosevelt escortine
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.
Notable abcentees from the receiving line
was Secretary Of State Hay, who Is con-
fined to h's home by illness Mrs. Hay,
however, was In the line.
Arriving in the blue parlor. the presi-
dent and Mrs Roosevelt extended cordial
greetings TO the members OF the cabinet
and the ladies accompanying them, as
well as TO the members of the other sec
tion Of the receiving party.
Following the diplomatic corps, the
members OF the United States supreme
court. headed by Chief Justice Fuller,
were received by the president and Mrs.
Roosevelt.
The justices wFre accompanied by the
LADIES' OF their households. They were
invited by the president to take positions
with the receiving party. Judges Of the
United States courts OF claims of the dis
trict court OF appeals and OF the supreme
court OF the District OF Columbia were
then received. They were followed by
former cabinet members and ex-mip listers
of the United States. The reception of
members OF congress began at II 80
o'clock. after which hundreds OF citizens
took advantage OF the opportunity of
extending their greetings TO President
and Mrs. Roosevelt. The line was un-
usually long.