Middletown transcript., 1909-01-09
WASHINGTON LETTER

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| WASHINGTON, D. c., January I'd, 1909.
i NEW Years Day at The National Capita
Is this year was marked by the usua
festivities and tine. bracing temperature
| with sunshine contributed to the making
OF the gayest Of all the days Of the year
The President to whom it means aboul
fifteen hours Of hard work held bis usual
public reception and as this will be The
last opportunity for the ordinary citizen
to shake hands with Mr.. Roosevelt in the
White House the number who stood in
line TO be received this year was IN.
usually large. Even two hours before
time the line bad begun to form at the
White House gates and by one o'clock
when the public reception began it ex.
tended for several blocks. Il was the
average good hnniored crowd that
gathered through and during the weary
cold hours which it waited patiently TO be
admitted and showed by the Chief Exeeu-
hive there was no sign of disturbance or
discomfort. The President seemed in
high spirits and though it requires remark
able unfailing good humor and tact TO
deal with this yearly throng be seemed on
this occasion to be supplied with an
added amount OF enthusiasm and the
heartiness with which be grasped the
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hand of each visitor made il impossible to
believe that he was not as he said ''de-
lighted" to greet each and everyone of
them. There were many excursionists
from other cities and towns who had come
for the purpose OF taking this, their last
opportunity, to shake his hand. At
eleven o'clock the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt and their debutante daughter
joined the receiving party in the Blue
Room and the Cabinet officials and For
eign Diplomats, Army and Navy officers
and sprinkling of Senators and Repre-
sentatives we're welcomed. There were
several interesting figures among the Dip
lomatic corps and when Baron Mayer des
Planches Che italian Ambassador came
forward the President retained his hand
while he expressed his heartfelt sympathy
for the King and Queen, of Italy, in the
terrible disaster in their country. The
Baron in reply Thanked The President for
the generous action of the Government in
sending supply to the stricken district.
At last years reception Baron Van Stern
berg, the German Ambassador was dean
OF the corps and led the brilliant process.
zion of diplomats. His place was taken
this year by his successor, Count Bern
storff, who as the latest addition to the
corps was the last to greet the President
and his wife, who is an attractive Ameri-
can woman, made her first entrance in
the White House. Another Interesting
figure was that of the Chinese envoy,
Prince Tang Shao vi who came here a
few weeks ago with large suite to present
the thanks of the Chinese Government
for the return OF thesurplus Boxer indem-
nifty fund and incidentally it is said to
make an effort to effect treaty between
the two countries. He is big handsome
Chinaman OF distinguished manners and
most gorgeous costumes. Atone O'Clock
tlhe ladies of the Cabinet, and the wives
OF the prominent officials with Mrs. Fair
banks and Miss Cannon, the daughter of
the Speaker hurried away to their homes
to prepare for their own receptions which
began at two o'clock and continued
throughout the afternoon. Then the
public was admitted to the White House
and until three o'clock without rest or in
termission the President greeted those
who bad waited since early morning for
admittance. When at lat the doors were
closed the line OF disappointed ones who
were turned away was still more than q
block in length. This concluded the
largest and the last of the Presidents New
Years receptions during seven years ad-
ministraiion. He entertained large
number at luncheon and again in the
evening welcomed number Of his per-
sonal friends and officials at dinner, man.
aging sometime in tbe interim between
luncheon and dinner to get in sharp
ride on horse back through the park.
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The aarthnnaka horror in Ikalv which
has stirred the sympathy Of the civilized
world is being discussed everywhere at the
Capital and already substantial aid is be-
ing extended to the sufferers in that
stricken region. The Navy Department
has assumed authority for sending out the