The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-02
THOUSANDS GREET
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
coNTMUED FROM FIRST PAGE.


four party OF army girls going t.
assist at some official reception occu-
pied a mud-spattered military bus drawn
by two lively little mules. foreign
military attache, in a pale blue uniform
top boots of patent leather and silver
helmet adorned by two-foot hoisehail
plume, rode alone ia all his gOrgeO asness
In an electric runabout which he manipu-
lated himself. II wasn't an unusual sight
10 see mastery martial FORM blue
coated cpauiettcd and gold laced
perched high on the bobbing seat of a
two-Wheeled skysCraping T-cart. with q
good-looking girl beside him handling the
reins.
And all these people in uniform and out
of IT, those walking and those driving
We're stopping 70 exchange greetings with
others of the official and social world
There We're plenty of women in the throng
who knew plenty of the men, and all along
the Avenue We're little groups Of some OF
its members in the blue and gold Of diplo-
matte or military service. others i'm gay
feminine fuery. and others-se secretaries
Commissioners Senators, and the Hke-in
the plain dark clothes of civilian life II
was interesting 10 walk down Connecticut
avenue from Dupont Circle 90 Lafayette
I Square, and the strangers in town who
were fortunate enough 10 be there
wouldn't have missed it for the world
Custom an Old One.
/ Much that used to pertain to New
/ Years Day is lacking in the homes Of I'M
/ official Westinghouse now. but in one
/ respect fashions do not change AZ the
/ White House. The President and his wife
/ still stand in the Blue Room for three
hours on the FIRST day in the year and re-
coiye the good wishes OF practically every
/ official OF the government. and of many
plain citizens as well, just as their prede-
cessors have done FOR the last 1l3 years
New Years Day dawnod clear. after
/ several successive DAYS OF rain and fox.
The sun shoue brightly and the day would
/ have been perfect If the temperaure-it
stood at 55-bad not been "a little too mild
/ for the season. and if the ground had
not been soaked by the recent rains
/ The President never locked in better
/ health and spirits on a New Years Day.
/ or on any other day. than he did at II
/ O'Clock, when the White House reception
: began.
A few minutes after 1880 o'clock a line
/ % smartly equipped carriages. bearing the
members Of the diplomatic CORPS and
F tasir families, began 10 enter ne White
House grounds on the east side The dip
( I1mdls. on state occasions u this charac-
[ ter. always enter the mansion by thu
south entrance.
/ With the exception of the families Of the
( diplomats ladies are not expected % at
/ tend the New Years reception of the
President and his WIFE the occasion be
/ ing theoretically az least. one upon
which bachelors and heads Of families
pay their respects 10 the Chief Executive
This unwrtten convention applies. SO far
as the officials Of the government are
/ concerned, and the reception Is always
strictly official IN character until the ere
cept0n Of citizens begins
Marine Band Played.
As on other New Years days, the mem
/ bers Of the United States Marine Band
IN their scarlet coats, formed .wo divl-
sious. one on either side Of the main
lobby iu the White House. and played
every sort of ai-, from national anthems
and battle hymns 20 music-haH songs
and ragtme. during the progress OF the
reception. The line Of people. who were
passing in a sort Of social review before
the President. never stopped, and between
the two divisions OF the Marine Band the
Z
this band noW well understand that Mr.
Roosevelt believes IN quick music" at
these receptions for il makes the line Of
guests move ulcouSCioUsly faster. and the
reception is sooner ended.
Promptly az u o'clock two buglers from
the band took their places at the foot OF
The broad marble staircase leading from
the private apartments in the White
House. and at a signal sounded the bugle
call "The President as Mr. and Mrs.
Roosevelt and the members OF the re-
ceiviug party descended and took their
places oB the south side of the Blue Room.
Then the whole Maine Band struck up
the Stars pangled Banner and the re-
eeptou was begun. The first 20 be re-
ceived were the tall and smiling Vice
President and his wife, whom the Presi-
dent greeted heartily. and who shook
hands with Mrs Roosevelt and the ladies
of the Cabinet In order. The members OF
the Cabinet came next There was much
laughing and Joking. and an entire alb
sence Of formaity as the men shook
hands with their own wives.
Gowns Of the Ladies'.
Mrs. Roosevelt wore a gown of heavy
brocaded satin. in brown and cream
shades, made princess. with panels in the
skirt portion, and point lace on the bodice
She wore diamonds. Mrs. Fairbanks was
goWned in white chiffon cloth. painted
with yiolets about the bodice, and dia-
mond ornaments. Mrs. Root was in Law
ender satin. Mrs. Shaw wore white lace
and embroidered chiffon cloth over white
chiffon and silk Mrs. Taft pink crepe de
cline. with white lace. Mrs. Bonaparte.
style with diamond ornaments Mrs.
Metcalf white lace embroidered and worn
over pale blue silk. Mrs. Straus. pale
yellow satin. with panne velvet and lace.
Mrs. LongwOrth. daughter Of the Presi-
dent. who was in the Blue Room. was in
a gown Of deep cream pauue velvet. made
with empire effect, and trimmed with lace
About her throat was a superb string OF
pearls. and a chain of diamonds which
hung almost 70 her waist line Her hair
was dressed low and very simply. Miss
Ethel Roosevelt. the new White House
belle, wore pink crepe de chine Mrs
Timmons daughter of the Vice President
was in a pale blue satin empire gown
with touches of panne velvet and eagles
wings embroidered in silver on the bodice
Miss Shaw wore white embroidered chif-
fon cloth, with touches of pink velvet on
the bodice Miss Erma Shaw wore white
lace and chiffon.
When the President, Mrs Roosevelt
and the Cabinet ladies had taken their
places in line. the real p0mp and circum-
stance of the state reception began.
Italian Ambassador First.
Baron EdmondO Mayor des PIanches
Ambassador of Italy, and dean of the
Diplomatic Corps at this capital. appear
ed at the head of the corps. attired in the
particularly brilliant uniform of his rank
in the Kings service. He was accompanied
by the whole embassy staff and their Ia