Omaha daily bee., 1908-01-02
DIPLOMATS HE. ~. he LINE
NicetieS Of Official E, z: z. Are Re-
ligiOusly obser
MEMBERS OF THE CABNA .ssl
Informal Reception to Receiving
Party Preoedes Regular Function.
GOWNS OF WOMEN ELABORATE
Mrs. Roosevelt Wore q Magnificent
Costume OF Ola Blue MOauette
aud Carried Bouquet of
White Roses.

aud Carried Bouquet OF
white Roses.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1-Theodore Roose-
welt today officiated for the seventh time
president Of the United States at the
New Years reception at the White House.
Assisting him in exchanging the saluta-
tions OF the season were Mrs. Roosevelt
and the members and women OF the cabi-
net.
The niceties of diplomatic etiquet were
religiously observed I'm the conduct of that
part of the reception which has grown
during the last hundred years more and
more to partake largely of the nature Of
an official function. without the appear
ance of prearrangement the president
greeted first the vice president and the
members OF his cabinet and then each for
eign 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: senators and repre-
sentatives of congress; officers OF the army,
navy marine corps and militia Of the
District of Columbia: heads of government
bureaus and members of the government
comm ssions, organizations of veterans, in
cluding the Society of Cincinnati, Aztec
Club of 1874 Associated Veterans of the
War of 1851, Military order of the Loyal
Legion, Grand Army OF the Republic,
Medal OF Honor Legion. Union Veteran
Legion, Union Veterans union, Society OF
the Army of Santiago, Spanish War Veter-
ans, Army and Navy union, Minutemen.
sops of the American Revolution and Old
es. Inhabitants Association of the District
Of Columbia.
People stand In Line.
And then the public Gathering in a con-
stantly lengthening line at the west gate
III the White House grounds the people
had stood since O'Clock in the morning.
IT was / O'Clock when the gates were
e. opened 10 admit them. The line. kept intact
by Especial detail Of police, now extended
in double column for two blocks up Penn
sylvania avenue and for two blocks down
Seventeenth street. past the State, War and
Navy department buildings. II was JOY
: GAS holiday fhnonE and left It's impress OF
good feeling on the president, who, after
more than four hours of handshaking ex-
PRESSED exhilaraton rather than exhaus tion
Impressive in its dignity, interesting in
It's personality, animating In its pictur-
esaueness, the reception was a composite
view of twentieth century civilization on
dress parade. To review It in its entirety
president and Mrs. Roosevelt occupied the
hour preceding the stroke of II in receiv-
ing and entertaining the numbers OF the
cabinet and those specially invited to mem
bership In the receiving party, In the
library on the upper floor Diplomats,
Judges. legislators and army officers gath
cred in convei sational groups in the state
dining room. The rcd coated marine band.
banked like the pot,ed foliage on either
side OF the entrance in the lofty lobby,
with it's white marble floor, furnished the
stage setting for the receiving party, The
red, blue and green parlors. forming con-
Meeting links between the state dining room
on the west and the east, were fragrant
with cut flowers effectively placed.
Receiving Party Ready.
II was in the Blue parlor or state room
that the receiving party took position
shortly after IL O'clock Trumpeters her
aided the approach of the president and
Mrs Roosevelt down the gray white mar
Bile stairs and to the bands rendition of
"Hail to the CHER the reception began.
Leisurely and with no semblance of for
malitv those in the state dining room
passed through the Red parlor into the
presence of the president. The receiving
marty formed the arc OF circle filling the
large bow window opening to the south.
They faced a wide door to the corridor
and lobby, thus viewing and in view Of
the scenes and throngs there. Introduc-
tions were made to the president by
Colonel Charles S. Bromwell. superin'
tendent of public buildings and grounds,
and TO Mrs. Roosevelt by Captain Frank
r. Mccoy. military aide to the president.
Leaving the Blue parlor the route OF exit
was through the Green parlor, the East
room, down the stairs to the social an
mex" and east gate.
Gowns of the Women.
The costumes of Mrs. Roosevelt and
the ladies OF the cabinet were strikingly
handsome and the blends of color and
contrasts were particularly impressive,
Mrs Roosevelt was gowned in old blue
Marquette, the skirt fun and a frame of
velvet ribbon of bow knots and garlands
making a trimming which reached half
way up TO the belt. A yoke Of lace and
half sleeves of ruffled lace were the
finishing touches. She wore diamond
necklace and other ornaments and car
ried bouquet OF white roses.
Mrs Fairbanks had on flowered crepe
de chine. very full and fluffy, the design
beinE a pattern OF pink roses over white
Mrs. Root wore a becomingly designed
costume Of pale gray chiffon, with deep
border OF gray lace about the hem
Mrs Cortelyou wore an elegant white
satin with broad folds around the skirt
the bodice nearly all lace.
Mrs Meyer was in black and white
striped lace over white, trimmed with
touches of black velvet.
Mrs Garfield had on handsome gown
Z, Of dark plum velvet effectively trimmed
u In lace.
Mrs Bonaparte wore splendid mauvI
satin, the coat with long skirts Of Irish
crochSt lace.
Mrs. Metcalf had on a most becoming
gown OF Irish crochet and old lace.
Mrs. Straus wore pink liberty sati'
trimmed In lace
Mrs. Loeb was costumed in an orchiC
liberty satin and white lace.
Changes In Diplomatic Corps.
Numerous changes in the diplomatic corp.
have occurred during the year. 80 that fol
quite a number OF the foreign representa-
lives in Washington It was their hrst New
Year experience at the White House
Continued on Second PaseJ