The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-02
Official Function Is Observed
With Great Ceremony
VAST CROWD IN ATTENDANCE
President Roosevelt Shakes Hands
5645 Times and Is Not Wearied In
the Least-Many New Faces
Among Diplomats.

Washington, January president
Roosevelt received at the White House to-
day new years throng of well-wishers
which was three hours in passing his
hand. Mrs Roosevelt and the members
and ladies of the cabinet We're his assist
ants
Though curtaied in number, 5645 by
more than thousand over the preced-
ing new year day. the reception was re-
splendant in all the incidents of trad-
tion which have accumulated to its in
terest for more than a hundred years.
The gorgeousness of the diplomatic and
militant features the cordiality of many
personal friends of the Pre- dent who
made him their seventh annual greeting
as such and the intensely human and
patriotic characteristic of the Americon
people, typified by the thousands who
represented them today, all combined to
make happy conclusion to the historic
event.
From greeting in stately dignity and ap-
propriate surround ings, the ambassadors
and ministers of nations of the world, to
reaching far down to grasp the hand of
dolly that it's toddling parent of a year
and a half might be ratified, were the
extremes required of the President, and
both the infant and the diplomat realized
an anticipation pleasure. And the Presi-
dent enjoyed it all.
The setting, the historic White House
and the picturesque and entertaining ac-
cessores were amply sufficient to en-
thuse the holiday exhiliration. There were
other interesting phases beside the seen-
c beauty and presidential cordiality,
which constituted the feast to the public.
| The presence of men whose names are
| daily in the public press as presidential
as parents the more subtle observations.
| The vice-presdent, the speaker of the
house of representative, Secretary Cor
telyou, Senator LaFollette, all of whom
had pleasing things said to them in the
big east room where the distinguished
guests gathered to chat after passing
through the historic blue parlor and max
ing their bow to the receiving party. Then
there was Admiral BroWnson, whose con-
ferenees with the President, led to his
resignation chief of bureau of navi-
cation. He came late but hurried
through the lobby and corridor and
reached the President near the head of
the gorgeously uniformed naval line. The
admiral ELECTED many hearty handclasps
from brother officers of the line of the
navy. Admiral Rixey also was in the
naval contingent
The arrangement of the programme
based on previous years gave two hours
for the official part of the reception. Ow-
ing to the lesser number from congress,
from the corps of army officers and gov
ernment officials, the public was admit
ted a half hour before / o'clock and step
,ft,p to cia hV ba ban
the line crowded through the receiving
rooms for eighty-fiye minutes.
Baron Edmond Mayor Des Planches.
the Italian ambassador, as dean of the
diplomatic corps, had the honor of lead
ing that corps. Brigadier General j.
Franklin, bell chief of staff, led the army
and Admiral Dewey the navy.
Secretary and Mrs. Root left the re-
ception shortly after the diplomats passed
along the line so as to be at their own
home in time to eye them. Only twenty
minutes was on the official programme
for the reception of the diplomats but it
was all that was necessary.
Etiquette Observed.
The niceties of diplomatic etiquette were
religiousy observed in the conduct of
that part of the reception that has grown
during the past hundred years and more
to partake largely of the nature of an
official function. In this way, but with
out appearance of pre-arrangement, the
president greeted first the vice president
and then the members of his cabinet,
then each foreign nation represented in
the person of ambassador or minister the
Judiciary, through the personnel of the
supreme court bench and the judges of
the local federal and district courts; SEN
ators and representatives in congress, Of
ficers of the army, navy, marine corps
and militia of the District of Columbia,
Heads of the bureaus and members of
committees, organizations of veterans, in
Guiding the society of the Cincinnati. Az
tee club 1874, associated veterans of the
war of 1S46-47, military order of the Lloyd
Legion of the United States, Grand Army
of the Republic, Medal of Honor Legion,
Union Veteran Legion. Society of the
Army of Santiago; Spanish war veterans;
Army and Navy union; minute men; Sons
of the American Revolution and other
inhabitant associations of the District of
Columbia and then the public.
In Line for Hours.
Gathering in a constantly lengthening
line at the west gate to the White House
grounds, the people had stood since 3
o'clock in the morning. 1t was l clock
when the gate was opened The line kept
intact by a special detail of police, now
extended in double column for two
blocks up Pennsylvania avenue and for
two blocks down Seventeenth street past
the state war and navy building. 1t was
a joyous holiday throng and left its inn
preston of good feling on the president,
who, after more than four hours of hand
shaking, expressed exhiliration rather
than exhaustion.
Impressive in its dignity, interesting
in its personality, animating in Its pic
turesqueness, the reception was a COM
posite view of the twentieth century civ
ilization on dress parade. To review it in
its entirety requires a look at the pre-
limnarles. The President and Mrs.
Roosevelt occupied the hour preceding
the stroke of eleven in receiving and
entertaining the members of the cabinet
and those specially invited to member
ship in the receiving party in the library on
the upper floor. Diplomats, judges, leg
islators and many officers gathered in
conversational groups in the state dining
room. The relocated marine band,
banked like the potted foliage, on either
side the entrance in the lofty lobby with
its white marble floor, furnished the
stage setting for the receiving party. The