The Washington herald., 1908-01-02

Commanded 10 Attend Function.
0utpOuring of People.
The New Years reception, an annual
event at the White House. time-honOred
by yearly observance since the early days
of the republic. was held as usual yes
terday.
Onicial Washington paid its respects 10
the President and his wife, and besides
the government officers and foreign repre-
.sentatives, a large number Of persons
called TO shake hands with the President
and wish him a Happy New Year
This New Years reception came nearer
being a royal event than any other state
function held at the White House, and
lit is at the same time a conspicuously
democratic institution.
Courts of Europe.
Its slight resemblance TO the court re-
ceptlons of Europe is found in the fact
that every officer of the government in
or near Washington Is commanded to bee
there. The heads of all the executive de-
partments direct the several division and
bureau chiefs 10 marshal the subordinate
official staff, and to be at the White
House at certain hour The women
folk are not expected as the New Years
reception is supposed to represent heads
of families paying their respects to the
President and his wife. Officers Of the
army navy and Marine Corps are ordered
to be present, the kind of uniform 20 be
worn is strictly prescribed, and there are
always a number OF officers who. having
no taste for social doings. attend the
White House reception because they have
to, and are bored by the process. In the
civil as well as the military sections,
strict order cf official precedence is OBJ
served.
Day DRwRed Cloudy.
The reception yesterday was ike those
which have preceded 1t. The daw dawned
cloudy. and there was bite Of cold IN
the air as if in anticipation Of snow.
This made il uncomfortable for the large
number Of plain citizens. men and women.
who. not being connected with the gov
eminent in any way, We're obliged tswait
In line outside the White House grounds
until the iron gates should sy&ag open
at ! o'clock There was a long line. as
usual, OF the plain citizens. but the watt
ing crowd was not as large as on New
Years days earlier I'm the administration
Of NJ Roosevelt
After all. the New Year receptions AZ
the White House are not what they used
to be-that is as TO details Before the
reconstruction of the interior of the man
sion in 1902 it was customary to decorate
the state parlors and every available
space on the first floor with a beautiful
profusion Of cut flowers and growing
plants. Every room was a bower Of
bloom For the last six years there has
been no special decoration on state occa-
sions.
Began at II O'Clock.
The reception yesterday began at II
o'clock, when four buglers from the
United States Marine Band. which was
seated in the main entrance hall of the
mansion stepped forward TO the stairs
leading 10 the family apartments on tie /
second floor and sounded the caH. "The |
President"
In moment, the President and Mrs. I
Roosevelt slowly descended the stairway. /
followed by the members Of the Cabinet 4
and their wives Then the band struck /
up the Star Spangled Banner" and the |
President and his wife proceeded to the 1
Blue Room. There they took a position /
on the south side Of the room. and the |
members Of the Cabinet with much laugh I
ing and joking shook hands with Mr..
and AIRS. Roosevelt. The wives of the 1
Cabinet ministers stood in line at the
right of the President and his wife, and |
became part of the receiving party.
Special Entry.
In the meantime. carriages had been
driven up rapidly to the south entrance /
of the White House which forms a |
special entry for the representatives. OF
foreign governments on state occasions.
and the house began to fiji with bril-
liantly attired men and women. The
men were the various ambassadors and
ministers and members OF their STATS
The women in the party, being the wives
or relatives of diplomats, form nearly
the whole of the feminine contingent Mt
the New Years reception. The wives of
American government officials do not. as
a rule, attend the White House recep-
tons on the first of January.
After the members Of the Cabinet had
paid their respects the members of the
diplomatic corps and their ladies' were
received.
The procession of diplomats was headed Il
by Baron Edmondo Mayor des Planches.
The Italian Ambassador. since he has been
accredited to this Capital since Novem-
ber 1901 shortly after Mr. RooseveIfs
election TO the Presidency. is dean Of the
corps. With the Italian Am
bassador were the several members of /,
the embassy staff. After they had been
greeted by the President, Baron Hengel- 4,
muller, the Ambassador Of Austria-Hun-
gary, and the secretaries and other at
taches Of his staff paid their respects
Then came NJ. Jusserand, the French Am
oassador, who was greeted with great
by the President.
II. JusseraId is a frequent companion
Of the President, especially on the tennis
court. Like all the other members of
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