Arizona republican., 1908-01-12
OFFICIAL OPENING
 OF HE NEW YEAR
How 1908 Was Ushered in at the Ma tiopaI CapitoI

Washington. Jan. Especial Corres-
 pondence of The Republican.-Amid blue skies, balmy breezes. budding
 crocuses, the song of temerarious birds , and an occasional thunder storm. the
 old year took graceful leave of Wash
 ington while the new was ushered in with screechinS whistle. changing bell. footing horn. and the resounding report tof firearms and firecrackcrs. and cold. crisp weather. For fifteen minutes following midnight the downtown sec ton of the city was in a joyous uproar | as the populace made merry over the
 arrival of 1908. That no mistake ba made as to the death of the old year
 and the birth of the new hour of mid nlght was announced from the Naval Observatory and flashed broadcast ov- CT the land. As the great gold ball on the observatory fell the news was con- Neyed to even far off Alaska. Porto Rico. and the Pacific fleet that one
 more chapter had been added to the
 history, of the nation and the pages un-
 folded for another year to write it's record
 Numerous were the methods employ
 ed In celebrating the advent of 1908
 The various government departments were closed and few places of business remained open. At the hotels elabo- rate luncheons and dinners were serv- ed and all places of amusements were open in the afternoon and evening.
 The theaters were prettilv decorated and special programs of amusement were presented. At many Of the churches services Were held while the social events of the day and evening were too numerous to be counted.
 By virtue of the customary New
 Year reception held by the president of the United States, Washington be- comes on that day the social center of The nation. Members of the diplomat ic corp. all government officials. and dis tinguished visitors from other cities congregate at the capital to be present at the function and extend to the head of the nation the best wishes of the year
 The reception on Wednesday. while not as large as on other days. was quite as brilliant as the preceding ones held by the present chief executive
 The White House never wore a gayer air, the receiving party were unusual ly cordial. and the American citizen. and those who were not American. (endeavoring always to impress their equality and importance upon their fellow citiZenSD were most interesting. Outside a merry throng waited their their turn tO wish Mir. and Mrs. Roose- velt d happy New Year. Long before
 the hour for the gates to be thrown open, each entrance was besieged by eager sight-Seers who kept their sta
 tons while the magnificent equipages or diplomats. officials and social sweIls rolled past. The handsome carriages of the Austrian ambassador attracted particular attention and the necks Of our republican citizens were nearly craned out of place to catch a glimpse of it's occupant in it's dazzling costume of red velvet, high-topped boots. and
 tall peaked cap surmounted by a gleaming jewel
 Inside. the scene on the main floor
 of the White House was a busy one. Diplomats in uniform. lacking the ceremonious dignity with which thev , later made their bow to the president of the United States. rushed hither and thither. lovely women in gowns from Paris. London. ana Vienna. in gowns from New York. Boston and ] Chicago. trimmed with faces from the
 worlds looms and adorned with furS. for which slaughter had been done in many climes. fitted through the rooms. anxious secretaries were putting the finishing touches to the arrangements. and the members Of the Marine Band stood or sat about the corridor. Sliw- ing scarlet of their uniforms adding brilliant spots of color. A few minutes
 before II o'clock. just as Mir. SanteI-
 mann. the leader of the band lifted his
 baton calling the musicians to order. ana as the four buglers took their sta
 tiOns at the foot of the white marble stairway to issue the presidents call.
 the president himself rushed in from
 the executive offices. where he had
 been at work since the early morning.
 Rowing. laughing and exclaiming.
 "scandalously late s-c-a-n-da- -lous-ly | late!" hurriedly disappeared up the
 staircase. from which he almost i'm 1 mediately re-appeared with Mrs. Roosevelt and the members of the cab | inet and their ladies' The master of | ceremonies, Col. Cromwell. and the presidents military aids added an old World touch as they escorted the
 pretty pageant through to the Blue Room where they all took their sta- tions in the bay window to greet off,
 cial and civil Washington in honor of
 the New Year.
 After the vice president and the l cabinet had paid it's official respects to | the Chief Executive and Mrs Roose- welt and the other women in the re- | ceiving party. the secretary of state stepped to the side of the president l and presented each member of the di- plomatic corps. Twenty minutes later | the Secretary and Mrs. Root left the White House to be at their own home
 in time to receive the foreign repre- sentatives for the time honored break | fast.
 After the passing of the diplomats with their glitter. tinsel. and jingling | of uniforms. the judges of the supreme | court made their appearance. grave. dignited seniors. although-the merry | twinkle in the eye of the chief justice | and the kindly smile on the face of
 Justice Mckenna told of d mellOwness of character one would not expect | from the gravity of their exterior No table interest was shown in the pass
 ing Of the judiciary and there was a