The Washington herald., 1909-01-03

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cious opening on New Years
Day with the mammoth and very
beautiful reception Of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt in the White
House. Except for New Years Day. the
week was given over to the debUJantes-
And the debutantes made the most OF IT,
Even the elements combined 10 aid in the
festivities. and the weather was an inspi-
ration TO every one. both young and DID,
70 be happy and Join in the merTiment OF
youth and health Even the man or
woman with the long tale OF woe forsot
It on New Years Day in the atmosphere
Of the White House
The mansion, which had been the scene
Of the gay dancing party Of Mss Roose-
velt on Monday night. was more stately
and more simple at the Friday function
It was most interesting TO see the grown
upness of the young children who came
to the White House in the Roosevelt fam
Ily nearly seven years ago Quentin was
almost a baby then; Archibald was little
more, the Miss Roosevelt OF to-day was
a roguish little girI, with little thought
other than having a good tine and keep
ing up with her several brothers Kermit
was a close second 10 the Oldest son,
Theodore. jr, who had not then entered
college. and the adored princess Alice
was Just entering the mystic portals OF
Washington society. very young and very
unsophisticated. and more charming than
& would be possible 20 describe
Nothing showed the fight OF time more
eonsp:cuously than these young people
did on Friday, wneR the adored young
lady Of the house entered the Blue Room.
q natron. even more beautiful than she
was as q girl, owing 10 a little more
roundness 10 her face and figure, but
graceful and anabIe, just the same The
roguish girl OF seven years ago is the
debutaute Of to-day; handsome, vigorous,
and attractive. Theodore is Mr. Theo-
dorz. r.. q business man Of Hartford;
Kermit. a tail. slender young college
man: Archibald. a young chap IN long
trousers, and Quentin. growing manly
and tall. and wise.
They are all interesting children, each
n a different way. They have grown up
IN the White House devoid Of airs. man
ne-.sms. and Ioftiness, and are just whole
some American boys and girls The
children OF the family added greatly 70
the interest In this last Nov Years re-
cepti0a OF the Roosevelts II the White
House.
The C0rteIyou children and the New
berry boys were equally interesting 70
the callers Their interest IN the sur
rOundinEs and proceedings was most
amusing. The public line, TOO, was half
full OF children. and no child passed
through the line without a special smile
and q hand-shake from the Chief EXecu-
tive and from each woman IN the line.
The children were Of all ages. from IN
fauts fl arms 10 half grown young men
and women
Tie Official affairs are now on IN very
earnest. This week VIII see the first o.
the regular receptions OF the women o.
the Cabinet. Senatorial and Congressional
circles; Wednesdays for the first named
Thursdays for the next and Tuesdays
for the last Mrs Fairbanks. wife OF
the Vice President, is also Al home 70
callers on Wednesday afternoons from
now or. as IS Mss Cannon. daughter Of,
and hostess for, the Speaker OF The House
Of Representatives.
These Two h0sJesses always have par
ticularIy large and brilliant weekly re-
ceptions. There VIII be Two new Cabinet
homes this season % interest the public,
those Of the Secretary Of War and Mrs.
Wright and the Secretary Of the Navy
and Mrs NeWbsrry, although. IS a mat
ter OF fact. the actual home Of the former
is familiar 10 al the official world as a
Cabinet home, as former Secretary Of the
Navy and Mrs NstCaI- lived there
throughout their regime IN the Cabinet
The Newberrys are not strange, by any
means, as Mrs. Newberry was g consid-
cradle factor II official society as the
wife OF the Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy. before Mr.. Newberry entered the
Cabinet
The Cabinet receptions are not what
they used 70 be. and where there IS one
sigh for the old method, there are many
reioicings for the new. Whereas We'd
nesday afternoons meant TO the Cabinet
hostess Of the last century a heavily
loaded table, @ long string Of assistants
e mob OF people, and exhaustion al tie
end OF the day, with losses Of nobody
knows what. now L is @ pleasant Occa-
sion Of meeting other men and women n
the official world. and reunions with old
friends. personal and Official. and 10
bother with a supper or banquet as some
table, or punch bowl. as one pleases, with
q preference among the leaders Of the
set for no table al all
Washington society Is fun Of echoes OF
the past Whichever way one turns, the
old iEhabitanrs-ard in this connection
ten years IS OId-reminders OF past ad-
ministratiOns and former officials cror
out. Some Of the visitors Of the past
week were pleasant reminders Of the
official circles Of other days. There was
pretty Mrs Payne Whitney the belle OF
the early days Of her fathers regime as
Secretary Of State, when she. as Miss
Helen Hay. was busy with her literary
work and ambitions, fitting about IN the
Blue Room OF the White House on Fri
day. And Pauline Morton. the Cabinet
bud Of but few years ago, now Mrs. J.
Hopkinson Smith, was there, too. The
White House children OF the Harrison
Observation-Disclosures Harrison Nc
Kee. Miss Mary Lodge Mckee. and Miss
MaTthena Harrison. children Of President
IIarTisOn's childTen-were here for the
debut ball OF Miss Roosevelt on Monday
night. And Secretary Garfield himself
son OF the martyred President was I'm
the distinguished line Of the Cabinet in
the old mansion where his mother was
mistress years ago. although for q dis
tressiRgly short time.
It is but a short step. after ali. from
one administration 10 another Some
twenty years ago the daughters OF Sena-
tor Saunders, OF Nebraska, and Senator
- = 49,
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