Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-01
WHITE HOUSE
Illaugurated Social
 Season To-Day. BRILLIANT EVENT
Thoroughly Democratic and Informal.-Decorations Were Elegant--The
 Guests Present.

| Washington, Jan 1.-President and l Mrs Roosevelt inaugurated to-day the
 official social season in the nations capital with brilliant reception at the White House. For more than a hun -dred years it has been an unbroken
 custom of presidents of the United
 States to receive on New Years day all officials of the government located in Washington and such citizens as might care to pay their respects to the naflonss chief magistrate. Ill addition to citizens of the United States, mem bers of the diplomatic corps always embrace the opportunity personally to exten1 to the president their own good wishes and the greetings of their gov ernments.
 The reception of the president on
 New Years day is thoroughly demo-
 cratic. That of to-day was notably so.
 No distinctions of rank or class were
 made except such as were rendered necessary lby a due respect for order.
 All persons rich or poor, with or with
 out rank, were given 8 gracious greet ing by the president and Mrs Roose-
 welt
 The interior of the White House
 never was more beautiful than to-day.
 The mansion glowed with electric
 lights and floral decorations were dis
 posed about. the corridors and parlors. Rare palms, potted plants and exquis- ite cut flowers were arranged effective ly in every available space. Great rectangular urns, banked to the edges
 with dwarf palms and holly, were
 placed between the main corridor and the yestibule, forming fitting back
 ground for the gorgeous new uniforms
 of the Marine band, which. sixty
 pieces strong, was seated in the vesti-
 bufe. The band furnished music throughout the reception under the
 baton of the conductor, Lieutenant w. H. Santelmann. In the red, blue and
 green parlors the predominant decora- tions were vases of cut flowers, chiefly lilies of the valley, roses and flaming poinsetta blossoms.
 For the children of the president and Mrs Roosevelt it was a memorable oc- easion. They were here, there and ev- anywhere about the mansion having always merry word for their friends and deep interest in all the arrange ments
 Eleven o'clock was the hour fixed for the beginning of the reception. For a half hour before that time carriages containing members of the diplomatic corps rolled up to the southern entrance
 of the White House, the amba ssadors, ministers and attaches of the embas- 1 sies and legations assembling, as usual, in the state dining room. All were at l tired in magnificent court costumes or handsome military or naval uniforms. and with sparkling epaulets and glisten- ing swords, presented gorgeous spec tacle. Among the representatives of l the nations of the world it was noticed 1 that there was one absentee, Colombia, one of this country's sister republics of l the south, was not represented at the reception. In view of the present re lations between the United States and l the government of Colombia the ab- sence of q representative of. the South 1 American republic was noted instant l ly. Indeed. among some of the diplo- l mats it was regarded as significant. l General Rafael Reyes, thes minister of Colombia in this country on q special l mission, did not attend the reception, l lest, it is understood, his presence at l the White House might be miscon- strued by his people He. therefore, l had begged to be excused. pr Gorran, l the Colombian charge d'affaires, was detained at his residence by bronchial affection.
 l To-day, as a year ago, Il new repub- l lie was represented for the first time
 in the line of diplomats. Last year ii 1 was Cuba; this, the republic of Pana-
 ma, NJ Bumau- Varilla being the ac-
 credited minister of the infant state, 1 who exchanged greetings With the president.
 l At II o'clock a fanfare of trumpets
 announced the opening of the recep- ] tion and the approach of the president
 and Mrs Roosevelt President Roose-
 welt. escorting. Mrs, Roosevelt. descend l ed the main staircase and passed tothe ] blue parlor, where the guests were re l ceived. They were followed by mem.
 bers of the cabinet and their accom- l panying ladies and members of the i'm.
 mediate receiving party.
 l A notable absentee from the Teceiy- ] ing line was Secretary of State Hay. who is confined to his home by illness
 Mrs Hay. however, was in the line l She remained only q short time, leav. iHS early III OfueF to receive at her own l home the members of the diplomatic corps who were guests of the secretary of state and Mrs Hay at breakfast. l The members of the receiving party were arranged in the arc of circle in the bow window of the blue room, the guests invited to assist in the reception 1 facing them behind the line The two sections of the receiving l party were separated hX-a lane made l 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
 l The guests left the mansion by the l east terrace.
 Both the president and Mrs Roose- velt were particularly gracious in the greeting of their callers. The presi l dent freanenflv iokes1 with friend
 and Mrs Roosevelt eAIered into tho af-
 fair with evident aaiovmerlt. Presi, dent Roosevelt was attirea i1a a con; 1 Iventiotal froek shit.