The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-17
ON The OUTSIDE,
Thousands Gathered Around the
White House.
Anxious to Get a Peep at the
Proceedings Inside.

Washington, Feb. 1T.=Fair as a
May morning was the wedding day
of Miss Roosevelt. Soft, balmy sun
shine poured down from a cloudless
sky and made the day like springtine
Although the guests within tn east
room who witnessed the beautiful
ceremony did not number beyond the
hundreds, thousands gathered about
the White House, fascinated by the
thought that they would be so near
the scene on which the eyes Of the
world is centered today.
A large curtain If green canvas fes-
| TONED over tn eOutside of the east
room, marked for those on the outside
couple were pledging their troth.
For this reason the crowds around
the eastern entrance were larger than
elsewhere and packed the sidewalks
beside the White House. The crowd
which gathered at the south gate to
witness the arrival of the diplomatic
corps were keenly disappointed to
note that they did not appear in uni
form Indeed, this has been a subject
of discussion for some time, the more
intimate friends OF the president in
the corps insisting that it was the
courteous thing to do. There is in the
corps, however, an am bassador who
has always opposed the idea of uni
forms except at the diplomatic recep-
ton, and rather than show to the pub
lie a marked division of sentiment, the
conservative element in the corps
yielded.
So perfect was the weather that many
OF the guests dismissed their carriages
and walked leisurely down to the White
House. This made Lafayette park cen
ter OF interest between II and Z o'clock
and reminded one of an Easter morning
Along the front of the White House there
were many promenaders who strolied
along in the Sunshine. every one e,gnrass-
ing his delight that Miss Rooseveit's su-
preme wish for bright day had been
Among the promenaders was the daugh-
ter of the Russian ambassador. Miss De
Rosen, who was out for her morning walk
with a friend.
It was a typical Washington crowd
which gathered about the White House
this morning 1t included many who were
friends of the president and Mrs. Roose-
welt and good enough friends to under
stand the impossibility of all the friends
Of the two families being invited to the
wedding There was no jOstling. no dis
order and comparatively few policemen
were on duty. No one was permitted in
the White House grounds today except
the guests. A few intimate friends and
/ relatives entered by the. north door, but
the vast majority of the guests entered by
the eaSterndoOr where by We're trecivd
I byCapain Fitzhugh Lee, u S A. and
Lieutenant Chancey Schackfcrd, Z. s. N.
| aides to the president, both in special full
dress uniform.
There was large crowd about the
LOngworth would come in that way, but
they were disappointed. Indeed, few
knew of the arrival of the bridegroom as
he came early.
BY half past 10 o'clock the line of car
riages extended from the eastern entrance
of the " rite House past the front of La
favette square and down Seventeenth
4 street nearly to the CorcOran art gallery.
SO excellent were the arrangenen for
receiving the guests, howVer, that all
wre enterd quickly and the carriages were
parked in the elipse south of the w hIte
rouse me wee Iresloent ana MIS-,
Fairbanks arrived Is minutes before y
and were among those who were received
at the north door. The British anlbas-
sador and Lady Durand and the German
ambassador and Baroness Sternburg were
also at the White House very promptly
and were assigned places near the pres
It was possible for the crowds in La
fayette park to see the guests standing in
the east room and as soon as they saw
/ them moving toward the corridor they
knew that the ceremony was over and a
ripple of excitement spread through their
ranks. Straightway there was a move
ment to the north gate because of the ru-
NOR which was current throughout the
morning that the bridal couple would
leave the White House by this entrance
I on their way to Friendship. the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. John r. Mclean, where 1t
/ Is said they will spend several days be
/ fore leaving Washington.
Some of the early watchers around the
+ White House this morning were forum 1te
enough to witness an interesting incid snt.
About half-past o'clock two men ap-
peared on the west esplande leading nom
I the White House to the executiv office
/ and promenaded UP and down in the sun
shine. their hats off. the older holding the
younger by his left arm and talking very
! earnestly. After 10 minutes walk the
older entered the office and the younger
returned to the other end of tMe esplande
/ in double quick time and disappeared
through the French window opening from
the corridor on the esplande. The one
was the president and the other was Theo-
| dore Roosevelt. Jr.
Boston Bells Peal.
Boston. Feb. 1.-THE bells Of Boston
pealed at noon today in observance of the
wedding of Miss Alice Roosevelt. This
was by direction of Mayor Fitzgerald who
arranged that for five minutes the bells
/ should be sounded on the public buildings
and on many of the churches.