The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-18
WOndH'S PAGE
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White House Receptions.

lie receptions. There is but one, held on New
Years day. to which the public irrespective of creed,
color or race, welcome
The other White House receptions are held during
the early months of the year, January and February,
and are four in number, viz: The Army and Navy,
DIPLOMATIC Supreme Court, Congressional These
functions are primarily under the management OF
the private or social secretary to the wife OF the
President This coveted position to all the socially
inclined is now held by the amlabe and socially
superior Miss Belle Hagner. Correspondence IN re-
lation to the invitations is conducted by the private
secretary to the President Mr. Loeb at this time;
and each of these various classes the Diplomats the
Army and Navy people, the Supreme Court Judges,
and the members of both branches of Congress, are
specially favored at times when these receptions are
given in their honor.
For instance Congressman or Senator is asked
at the beginning of session of Congress to deslg
nate the names and addresses in Washington of those
that constitute his official family Thereafter, each
one on the list receives an invitation to the Con-
gressional reception at the White House.
The most coveted of all the things connected with
these receptions probably is the invitation This IS
large square card of the finest stock, upon which
is delicatey engraved all the words of the invitation
including the name of the invited. This is encased
in a beautiful clear white envelope and accompany
ing the invitation card is small admission card con-
tanning the engraved name of the invited, and on
the back in bold type, is printed the words mot
transferable" This envelope, with these two cards,
is enclosed in a larger envelope unsealed, and with
a slight rubber band around it, with the words
"White House" engraved in the corner OF the en-
velope is directed and sent through the mails The
receiver of it at once knows without opening it. that
he has received an invitation to White House
a111r trea NV he
recipients as highly priced memenoes of their social
life
The Diplomatic reception is regarded as the most
select function of the four but the Army and Navy
is the most brilliant The Supreme Court reception
is surrounded with dignity, perhaps, than any
of the Others and there are probably twice as many
invitations sent out to the Congressional reception
than to any other of these White House receptions.
Extending from the basement of the White House
proper diagonal1y toward the Treasury building,
is long, narrow addition to the White House, one
story high In the center of this and leading from
the east side of the White House. is wide hall, and
on either side cloak stalls which are filled with
attendants waiting to take of the wraps of the
guests About nine o'clock IN the evening OF the
function carriages begin arrive, and the guests
aght at the end of this extension to the building.
They deposit their coats with the servants and form
in two lines at the entrance door to the main build
ing in this long hall. At the hour for the beginning
of the reception the marine band which is located in
front of the center of the building the second
floor begins playing and the procession starts slowly
through the lower hail. on either side of which are
the cabinets containing old china used by the pre-
vious matrons of the memorable building. In the
center of the White House they approach broad
stairway and the procession lines to the LETT side
of this entrance, the second story, and turning
70 the left passes the marine band back of which