The Cairo bulletin., 1909-01-02
BIG RECEPTION
At White HOUSE
ANNUAL SOCIAL FUNCTION THIS
YEAR SURPASSED ANY EVER
HELD BEFORE.
CABINET CAME FIRST
And Were Entertained by PRESIDENT
and Wife and Two Daughters
Secret Service Men lowered
in Reception Hall.

!
| Washington, Jan. LIN accordance
with time-honored tradition Presi-
dent Roosevelt held the customary
| New Years receptions at the WI ~
House today Under the present adj
lministration these receptions have al
ways been unusually brilliant and to-
| days event perhaps because II wa-
| President Roosevclt's last function
of that kind surpassed in brillianey
| and large attendance even that OF
mt year, which held the record la
both respects
The grounds surrounding the
White House had been put in per
feet condition during the past ter
days and the White House, especially
the rooms to be used at the reeep-
tion had been decorated with rn-
precedented magnlfcence. Plants
and flowers from the green houses
had been grouped in the d'ffsrc' t
halls, rooms and corridors with ex.
pulsite taste, TO form an artistic
background for the e. rgecus TN
forms and court dresses OF the diplo-
mats and attending representatives,
of the army and navy.
Within certain restrictions the re-
ceptions at the White House on New
Years day are free to all and every
year thousands avail themselves OF
tifis~upFortunity to pay their respegts
to the president and, incidentally. TO
crafty their curiosity Bat. never
had been greater the number CT those
craving admission To the White
House than today. The lines in g
grounds began to form before 2
o'olcck. while the beginning of the
reception had been set, as usual, for
II o'clock
Before the opening of the pubic
reception President and Mrs. Rcose.
welt, assisted by Mrs, Nicholas Len
worth and Miss Eethel Roosevelt
who made her social debut cnly a
few days ago. received the members
of the cabinet aud their ladies'. The
president asired in the regulation
black frock SUIT with turndown col
lar and a dark tie seemed 10 be- in
exec llent humor and chatted gaiy
with the members Of his official fam.
lly. while Mrs Roosevelt, i'm a hand
some reception gown. made the
hCncurs of the occasion to the wives
and daughters Of the cabinet minis
ter. Vice President FairbauSs an;
Mrs. Fairbanks headed the cabinet
party and were followed in order bv
Secretary and Mrs. Root AMI the
other members Of the cabinet and
their ladies'.
few minutes before II O'Clock
trumpet fanfare heraldcd the begin.
ming Of the reception. The Marine
band hidden In the corridor. tehind
4 screen Of ferns and palms. struck
lp an inspiring march and the r..
rei,ing party. headed by President
md Mrs. Roosevelt descended
stairs from the upper floor. crcssel
The corridor and entered tho B'ue
'arlor where the reception was to
,e held.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt took
heir position near the door leading
ron the Red room to the Blue par
or and the othN members Of the
'cceiving party in order of tfcir
,fficial rank. arranged themselves
llongside. forming a semi circle IN
he south end of the room. Around
he doorway through which the vs.
tors were 20 enter secret service
ueu hovered. who kept their eyrs
.non the guests as they passed
hruuEh the door Nobody was per
1.ttel % carry a handkerchi,f tr
luhier in his hand and uobady IVES
ctmitted 20 pass along the the w'ti
ands in his pockets