Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-01

| pubic observation, but had score of
household servants to meet and wait upon
| them
The main corridor held today most of
| the interest which always attaches itself
| to the prelimina ries There were usbers
| 10 meet the company as il assembled
| there. to direct it to the blue room if
IL was to assist or to the state dining
room, where the diplomats were shown.
FOR the average loOker-on, the foreigners
make the best and the only show in a
White House program
The gorgeousness of their uniforms
whether court. military or naval; the
flashing of their jeWeled decorations and
orders, the oriental costumes of others
and the very latest cry in the fashions
SHOWN by the ladies accompanying them
are each reminiscent of world courts
ana constitute undeniable splendor to the
american eye. AS the foreigners entered
the state dining ROOM each embassy or
legation group soon fell into place. ac-
cord1ng to seniority in service here and
When the reception was about to begin
the Italian ambassador. accompanied by
MS Wife and the members of his staff,
were nearest the blue room door the
procession behind them extending across
the red room as well as along the south
and west sides of the state dining room.
Col. Charles s. RromWell and the OF her
military aids to the President were early
on the scene also A few minutes s-before
II. as the four buglers took up their posi-
tions at the foot of the staircase. the offi-
GERS went upst IRIS TO escort the President
and Mrs Roosevelt and their receiving
party to the blue room. Their presence
in the corridor was heralded by the fan
fare of trumpets and the deafening, even
II melodious. opening bars of the Marine
Band S New Year morning concert.
After the receiving party had passed
back of the rope in the blue room the
Vice President and the members of the
abinet exchanged formal greetings with
the President and then with Mrs. Roose-
welt. and down the line. The Secretary of
State then stepped to the left of the
President and presented each member of
the diplomatic corps. All the rest of the
presentations through the reception were
made by Col. Bromwel
Secretary and Mrs. Root left the recep-
ton shortly after the diplomats passed
along the line. so as to be at their own
home in time to receive them. Only
twenty minutes was on the official pro-
gram for the reception of the diplomats,
but it was all that was necessary.
The Procession Downstairs.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt were
followed downstairs by the Vice Presi-
dent and Mrs. Fairbanks, Secretary and
Mrs. Root. Secretary Cortelyou, making
his first outing after his recent illness,
with Mrs. Cortelyou, Secretary and Mrs.
Metcalf, the Postmaster General and Mrs.
Meyer. the Attorney General and Mrs.
| Bonaparte. Secretary and Mrs Straus
and Secretary Wilson. escorting Mrs.
Loeb. All of this party stood in line
with the President and Mrs. Roosevelt eX-
cepting Mrs. Loeb who joined the rest of
the assisting party in the blue room. A
most interesting visitor in the blue room
was Mrs. NJ. \. Fairbanks. mother of the
Vice President. She was handsomely
gowned in black satin, with point lace
fichu.
Others in the Blue Room.
The others invited to the blue room
We're Mrs. w. C. Fairbanks Mrs. John
W. Timmons, Mrs. Y. s. Grant Sd. Mrs.
Elihu Root, jr, Miss Kinds, .iss Ada
Kinds. Miss Alice Meyer. Miss Julia
Meyer, Mrs. Stanley-Brown. Mrs. Edwa d