The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-03
COLORESQUE DAY
At WHITE HOUSE
Hands White, BrindIe, Old
Gold and Ebony.
TEDDY GRIPS EN- ALL
A Sort of Hands Up Spectacle, Secret
Service Men Nosing For Conceal
ed Weapons. Who Wants to
be President on New
Years Day?
(By the Associated Press )

Washington, Jan. 2.-OfficiaI and
resident Washington today extended
New Years greetings to the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt at the White
House. The event-brilliant and
spectacular as the Presidents New
Years receptions always are-marked
the formal opening of the social sea-
son Of 1905.
The reception was characterized by
true democracy. The portals of the
White House swung wide for all the
world. All the people whether of
high degree or low, whether rich or
poor, were welcomed TO the historic
mansion and afforded the opportunity
personally to greet both the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt. The total num-
Der of callers as 7,71S, nearly a
thousand more than last year.
BY the Presidents direction, no alb
solte limit of time was placed on the
reception. 1t was hedged about, how
ever, by certain restrictions in aid of
the preservation of order, but in other
respects the White House was free to
all. The reception of guests began
shortly after IL o'clock and was con-
alluded a. .2Te o clock
AS the callers entered the White
House, they were greeted by a burst
of mlody from the Marine Band sta
toned in the great vestibule. A blaze
of color and a breath of perfume
from beautiful floral decorations; and
a scene Of SDlendor the brilliance of
which was enhanced by the soft glow
from myriads OF shaded electric
lights. The floral decorations. while
not elaborate. We're more profuse
than have characterized recent White
House receptions.
President and Wife.
The beginning of the reception was
announced by flourish sounded by
trumpeters of the Marine Band, sta
toned near the, foot of the main
staircase. The fanfare signalized the
approach of the President and Mrs
Roosevelt, no entered the Blue Par
lor to receive their guests.
Both the President and Mrs. Roose-
welt were in excellent spirits and
joined animatedly in conversation
with their guests.
Near the entrance to the Red Room
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt
stood. Directly in the door stood a
secret service officer, who closely
Scrtinized every person who passed
in line. Every precautiOn as taken
throughout the house to insure the
safety of the President and others an
extra detail of police, beside several
secret service officers being on duty.
Nobody was permitted TO carry
handkerchiefs or mufRGfs in his hands
and nobody was permitted to pass
along the line with hands in his pock-
cts.
Among the first to greet the Presi-
dent were the members of the diplo-
matte corps, headed by Count Cas-
sni and including the British French
and Italian Ambassadors and the Jap
anese minister.
Members of the Supreme Court fol-
lowed and then Senators and Repre-
sentatveS in Congress We're received
Following the legislative, came the
military branch of the government
II consisted of officers of the United
States army, navy and marine corps,
an duty in Washington, and the gem
eral and staff of the militia of the
District of Columbia.
About one o'clock the general re-
ception to citizens began. Every
phase Of life was represented in the
line, old and young, rich and poor,
black, white, yellow and red. All
were greeted by the President and
under the stirring music of the band
the people were kept moving rapidly
past the receiving party.