Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-01-01
TRE pREsIDENTs RECEPTION.

AT INC duuuhl AcW Il cat tCSSksASN
at the White House President Roosevelt
shook hands with between eight and
nine thousand Of the common people,
A host Of the capitals foreign and rs
tive digniiaries, and in each case be Was
delighted. He said 80 himself.
When he had shaken hands with the
last urchin in the public line, and had
extended bis good wishes to the sides,
ushers and other attendants who had as
sisted in the reception, he had fioished
his biggest social task Of the year 1908.
he went through those three hours OF
hand shaking, at the rate of sky =
minute, with ease. That's why he has
been off for a week in Pine Knot, Va,
hunting.
At IL o'clock tie White House pre-
scented an inspiring scene. The diPlo-
matte corps, which arrived BY the south
entrance, was gathered in the State
dining room. The Marine Baud, nearby
filed the big vestibule. Upstairs, in
the private rooms, the President, the
Vice. President, the members Of the cab
met and their ladies had assembled.
AS the clock struck, Col. Cromwell
gave the signal. The band struck up
"Star spaDgled Banner" and the Pres
ident and Mrs. Roosevelt, preceded by
the military aides and followed by the
rest of the Presidents party, marched
down the stairs to the blue room. Hardly
mad they taken up their positions just
inside the door before the italian An
bassador aud Baroness Mayor des
Planches, the former the dean OF the
diplomatic corps, we're ushered TO the
President and passed on to Mrs. R1o9e-
welt, Mrs. Fairbanks and the wives oil
The cabinst oficial', composing the re-
ceiving line. Then follo.ed Ambassa
dor Hengelmuller, with Baroness Heng-
lemuller aud the Aus:ro- Hungarian
staff, and in order of seniority the repre-
sentatiyes of the other embassies. Min
lister Brun, of Denmark, headed the line
of ministers Of foreign countries.
The members of the U. 8. Supreme
Court were next received. Justice Har-
Lao, who had just regsined his breath
after his speech before the Kentucky
Club of New York about "the mis-
guided few" who would interpret the
constitution IS they think it ought to
read at a specific time, wished the Pres
ident every Happy New Year." aud
Justice Brewer, whose words about the
President "pIayiug hide-and-seeb with
the third term" goaded Roosevelt to
reterate his posi-,lection statement.
wished the Chief Executive "many re-
turns of the day."
Next in line were representatives OF
the local judiciary, and former cabinet
mem ers, ambassadors and ministers Of
the United States. Members of the SEN
ate aud House OF Representatives we're
there. Senators Tillmsn and Foraker
we're absent. Every man aud woman
who holds a presidential job in Wash
inston crowded 10 about this time.
Special attention was attracted to the
army and navy. All officers 10 the city
are required to be present, aud the sight
Of the retired veterans ard the young
blood in gold lace and with clsnking
swords was thrilling. As the line officers
of the navy passed through the crowd
that was forming by tbnse already re-
ceived, some one was unkind enough 10
soy something quite audible that sounded
like "Doctor." Ia view of the fight
between the line officers and he med
icsl bureau, this was taken by the Off
GERS to apply to them. 1t did not help
them any to hear tbe surgeons called
"Admirals."
Last of all came the general pablic.
For hours the line had been forming
through the White House grouods,
down Pennsylvania avenue, and after
II O clock, around the State, War and
Navy building, far down Seventeenth
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