The Washington herald., 1907-02-08
LAST BIG RECEPTION
Army and Navy Received by
President Roosevelt.
LARGEST CROWD OF SEASON
Handsome Uniforms Of American
Officers and Foreign Government
Representative One of Features Of
Spectacular state FunctiOn-BIue
Room List the Larger.

Gold lace, brass buttons, and blue broad
cloth. gowns OF silk gowns of satin.
gowns of chiffon, and gowns of lace;
walls draped in American flags. the ma
tionaI emblem. and navy ensigns were the
elements that blended to make the army
and navy reception at the White House
last evening perhaps the most brilliant
spectacle of the present social season.
Admirals and ensigns, generals and sec
Ond lieutenants, and officers of all inter
mediate rank were the guests Of honor,
and the simple beauty of their blue
uniforms and gold trappings compared
most favorably with the more snowy
rcgalia of some of the diplomats present.
1t was the last of the four evening
functions given by the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt, and, as usual. was at
tended by a greater proportion of invited
guests than any Of the other three, save,
perhaps. the Congressional reception.
The Blue Room party was the largest Of
the season, completely filling that cham
Der and rendering il so uncomfortable
that many of these special guests paid
their respects to host and hostesses and
sought breathing space in the anteCham-
bers and corridor.
The line of assistant hostesses was as
small as at the two past functions, Mrs
Shaw. Mrs. Taft, Mrs. Bonaparte. Mrs.
NIetcalf, and Mrs. Straus being the only
women Of the Cabinet able to attend Mrs.
Dewey was not present, and neither were
Gen. Grant and Mrs. Grant Gen. and
Mrs Bell and Admiral Dewey We're the
first Blue Room guests to be received.
Reception Late in Opening.
The reception was late in opening. At Q
O'Clock the Blue Room party was almost
entirely assembled in the corridor, and
Director Santelmann, of the Marine Band.
paced anXiously up and down at the foot
OF the staircase, waiting for the signal to
sound the trumpets and strike up THE
Star Spangled Banner" in time-honored
style. It was not until 9;l5 that the
signal was given, and the Presidential
party descended.
The Blue Room party was first re-
ceived, a ceremony that lasted much
longer than usual, owing 10 the crowd
Meanwhile the line Of general guests, con
Sisting almost entirely of army and navy
officers and members of their families.
was formed in the coIonnade and marched
upstairs into the state dining room. where
it was halted, TO wait until the Blue Room
guests had been received.
The line passed through the Blue Room
and into the East Room. as at the other
receptions, and then scattered through
the corridor and ante-rooms Groups OF
recent graduates from West Point and
Annapolis gathered and discussed the
prospect Of service, groups OF gray-haired
officers and their wives discussed the
weather, and the band discussed the
Hands Across the Sea" march.
The crowd soon became so cOngested in
the East Room and corridor that the Off
GERS had trouble in keeping their swords
clear Of ''frilly" Things. The corridor be-
fore the Blue Room and leading from the
East Room TO the state dining-room was
strihngly decorated for the occasion.
Flags Draped from Arch.
Great American flags were draped from
the arch of the alcove, where the band
was placed, and between the flags hung a
large reproduction Of the national en-
blem, the screaming eagle clutching the
arrows and olive branch. At either end of
the corridor hung a large naval flag, one
blue with white stars and anchor. the
other white with blue stars and anchor.
American flags were hung about other
parts Of the walls Roses We're the princi-
pal floral decorations used in the Blue and
East rooms, a few pots of ferns complet-
ing the effectiveness of the setting.
The White House party was increased
by the presence Of several house guests,
Mr. and Mrs A. Lawrence Lowell, Miss
Tyler. and Miss Christine Roosevelt. \
fair number Of diplomats and their wives
attended. With the French delegation
came Count and Countess NIartel.
Mrs. Roosevelt wore a gown of white
velvet and gold, Mrs. Shaw, white lace
and pearl sequins; Mrs. Taft. pale blue
brocade; Mrs Bonaparte. white brocade
and lace: Mrs Metcalf. heliOtrope and
gold brocade. and Mrs. Straus. white
satin and lace
Mrs. LOngwOrth's Pretty Gown.
Mrs. Longworth wore brown chiffon
with dun gold sequins; Baroness Won
Sternburg. white satin and tulle; Wis
countess Aolli, pale blue brocade: Count
ess Hatzfeldt. black pailletted net. Nine.
CalderOn. black net; Mrs Reeves Rus
sell, white satin with touches of pink on
the bodice; Miss Sessions. pale yellow
satin; Miss Emma Shaw. white tulle and
lace; Niscountess de Martel, black net;
Miss Pauline Magruder. yellow satin En-
pire gown; Miss Haguer, white lace. with
bodice and sash of rose pdnne velvet:
Miss RiXey. white chiffon, with pearl
passementerie; Mrs. Sharpe black velvet
princesse gown; Mrs. Garfield, violet vel
vet and tule, with diamond corsage
ornaments; Miss Finch, white Liberty
silk.