The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-29


Questions Of social nature that may be sub
mitted. Such questions should be addressed TO
The Arbter. care The Washington Herald.
Following a custom. which dates back
10 the foundation Of the government the
formal opening of the social season at
the Capital viii begin with the New
Years reception at The White House by
the President and his consort Despite
the carping of critics In its simplicity
and dignity. the Presidents house is one
of the most pleasing buildings in town.
and never appears to better advantage
than when decked in holiday array for
the reception of the beginning of the
year. Flowers. ferns and branching
palms are banked on the mantels and
in corners where they will not inter-
fere with the passing crowd. and hun
dreds Of electric lights illumine the rooms.
which. with their gilt furniture. up
holstered in rich brocades. gold frames
and shining mirrors make a nit setting
Tor the gayly attired throng that gathers
20 wish the President a Happy New
Year, for on this occasion every one
wears his best and gowns from the rue
de Ia PAX brush their aristocratic sheen
against the somber frocks with made
at home written indeiibly upon them.
while the stately ambassador, in the gold
lace and flowing plumes of his court
dress. rubs against the well-worn uni
form OF the bowed veteran.
The order of ceremony at this i'm
portant social gathering is too well
known TO need recounting. but there are
always some newcomers in official cir
cles who are glad for hint or two.
which is therefore, given: The President
and Mrs. Roosevelt. with the women of
the Cabinet who assist them. form a lire
across the Blue Room from the door Of
the Red Room TO that OF the Green
Room. cutting off twO-thirds Of the room
IN which the reception takes place The
space behind the receiving party is. for
the nonce. little court where the men,
Ders or the Diplomatic Corps. those bigh
In official life. and the special few in
vited by the President and Mrs. Roose-
Welt, assemble. This so-called court cir
Gle Is much resented by ultra-republi-
cans. who proclaim their radicaIism from
the housetops, but If. from a democratic
point of view, il is an evil. il is a very
necessary and proper evil. for il is alb
solutely essential THAI some place should
he set aside where the Presidents Official
guests can mingle, which would De i'm
possible If the hundreds of visitors who
pass by the Chief Executive on New
1ear Day were allowed the privilege of /
invading every room.
The doors OF the White House are
opened for the New Years reception at
IL o'clock. The first TO enter is the Diplo- /
matte Corps. headed by its dean. who
IS, NJ present the Italian Ambassador.
Baron Mayor des Planches. The members
Of this distinguished body make a brave
showing IN their court dress heavy with
gold lace, the chapeaux decorated with
nodding plumes. The ladies Of the corps
don their most beautiful gowns, and wear
all their jewels. and their orders. If they
are so fortunate as to possess any Of
these baubles, and Mrs Roosevelt. and
the women who assist her. honor the
occasion by appearing in their smartest
toiettes. The officers of the army and
navy wear the uniforms of their service /
and rank. and no one is entitled 10 a
Ilooon Who does not deck himself with it I
for the New Years reception.
After the officials are received. there is 1
a public reception. 10 which any one who /
succeeds in gaining an entrance before ,
the hour for closing the gates Of the
White House arrives, is welcome and Il (
is always an interesting and curious /
crowd that. under the general head Of /
the public pushes its way past the Presi- I
dent, Mrs. Roosevelt. and their assistants I
on the hrst day Of the year. A book could 4
be written of the amusing happenings at
the Presidents New Years reception. but I
there are pathetic Incidents as well 4
story is told Of a woman, who is a dow /
ager now, of her first experience in re- /
celVlng at the White House, that would 1
DE SAD II II were not so funny II was in I
the Arthur administration. perhaps and /.
the gown in which she received was \
much decorated with the tinseI that was
the fashion in those days There were l
yards OF silver fringe around the bottom \
of the skirt, and almost as many Yards /
around the overskirt-for this was in Z
the days Of overskirts-and a generous /
fringe finished the neck Of the decolette /
bodice. A little waif of the street had ,
somehow pushed her way into the very /
midst OF the holiday throng that was pass !
ing before the President and his party.
espying the beautiful tinsel she stOpped F.
short at the head Of a long procession. /
and walled pathetically. "Ohi Miss. the
ashman brought me a beautiful Christmas
tree, won't you give me some Of this
stuff, and she fingered the fashionable I
trimming affectionately. TO put on jt9''
Inc story has happy ending, for the
child's beautiful Christmas tree" was
properly trimmed. although the tinsel
fringe was not sacrificed for its adorn-
ment.
There is invariably a protest by women
who squander much money on their
toilets because Of the crowds at the Pres
ident's receptions. especially at New
Years, which make it impossible to have
ones gown properly appreciated. "One
might just as well have worn a wrapper"
said a disconsolate woman last year. who
was fresh from Paris. where she had in
vested a fortune on her wardrobe. 1T
isn't only that no one sees my gown. but
just look at it, I have worn it one even
ing and il is nothing but shreds and tat
ters.' 1t is inevitable that a frock should /
receive rough usage at such a crowded
place as a Presidents reception. and the
experienced and wary do not nut on
their best frocks for this function. The
mass Of people IS so great that ii makes 1
little difference what sort Of skirt a (
woman wears. but the corsage must be
AS smart and stylish as ones purse al
lows. a practical woman in the official /
circle has what she calls her admins
tration skirt" 1t is OF black satin. very
long, and very simple in its lines, and Of |
such style that any waist can be worn
with it, 1T cost a small fortune in the
beginning, its owner frankly confesses. I,
but. taken all in ALL 1t is the most eco /.
nomical thing l possess. and has saved
my buying a dozen gowns"