The National tribune., 1909-01-07
THE NEW TEAR.

| The NEW HEAR.
President Roosevelt In His Last PubIi
Reception-Not So Large as Usual
| Diplomatic Uniforms BrilIiant-Arm,
and Navy Veterans.
| For some inscrutable reason the las
tion at the White House was the small
est ever. The day ushered in by the lit
| tie boy of 1909 was perfect The SUI
shone warm and bright for this season
of the year, and there was not a sus
picion of dampness in the air, but tn,
people did not seem to banker for 6
wait in even such conditions The
members of the Senate and House were
conspicuous by their absence. There
couldn't have been above 200 member.
of the TWO bodies there. Vice Presi.
dent Fairbanks was there, and held q
delightful court of his own in the Eas-
Room. and Speaker Cannon was also
there The greetings between himself
but he did not linger in the Blue Room
He got into the East Room as quick as
he could decentiy. and there he me-
everybody, and he had a jolly old time
in which politics took no part what
ever
The members of the Supreme Cour!
followed the diplomats, as Is the Gus
TOM By the way, those diplomats.
My, but they are screaming lot OF
three-ringed circus performers in looks
You are surprised, to begin with, to see
what a lot Of small men there are
among them. The Orientals look like
dolls. the Japs being particularly small
and the Koreans no better. China was
not represented, because the Legation
is in mourning, but most of the Attaches
are small and since Minister Wu has
quit drinking champagne and given
meat the gO-by he isn't so much as tC
stature. The men of the South Ameri-
can countries are all little. and Em5as-
sador Bryce. of Great Britain, is GER
tainly under five feet four, little dried
up-looking gentleman, with eyebrows sc
bushy that you have to peer under them
to see the color OF his eyes. Yes, In
deedy, they are a disappointing lot to
look at, especially in plain pants and
great coats" but in uniform-weli, now
you know you feel as tho you would
Hike to pick them up and set them
around on the board as you would a lot
of chessmen. Presumably their brains
are all right. and that is the thing thai
counts, of course; but in the way OF
uniform, gold braid, plated buttons
tassels, swords, decorations and silk
sashes there is nothing to wish for
They sure have the millinery bargain
counter rushed to a finish.
The Grand Army.
The Grand Army veterans were MOI
out in the force that they usually are
altho they showed up bravely consider.
ing that it is now nearly A years since
the war Of the rebellion came to ar
end. The Loyal Legion, Union Veteran
Legion, the Old Guard. the Spanish Wal
Veterans all passed the President ia g
few brief moments. They were warmly
greeted.
The common people" were turned II
at 12:45, which is a remarkable record
for them to get in. There were many
hundred more of them than usual. thus
making up for the lack In the number:
of "brass buttoned- and gold-laced" in.
dividuals.
Dear me, I came near forgetting the
Army and Navy contingent, and in bril-
liancy and prodigality of epaulets
aiguilets, serpentine braid, and all tha
kind of frescoeing our Army and Navy
full dress uniforms mighty nearly havt
the rest of the military world beat to 9
finish. The youngsters were all there
every one of 'em. They loomed up like
a sunburst in cavern beside the som
ber, blue-clad veterans, and they car
ried chapeaus at exactly the proper
angle under the left arm, some with rec
horse tails, some with yellow, some witt
white ones streaming over the gold
laced cuffs. representing the infantry
cavalry and artillery arms of the ser
vice. They had beautiful straigh
fronts, every one of the kids did, bu
their belts insisted on sagging on tn.
sword side. and gave each and every
one who wore side arms the aspect o.
being lopsided. The veteran officers In
the line were very few indeed. II is no
a year of joy to them, for the usherint
in of the New Year will see the usher
| ing out of the service of the Army and
Navy every man who enlisted in tht
service of the country from 81 to '65
Their uniforms looked as tho they hat
seen many years of service, and som,
of them must have been "gusseted'
since they were first fashioned, for girtf
has certainly been added to some o.
those veteran Generals, ColoneIs, Ma
jors and Captains since they followed
Sherman to the sea, Sheridan thru tn,
Shenandoah, or charged the Rouni
Tops at Gettysburg. There were amonf
them men who have campaigned agains
old Cholofow. Red Knife, Geronimo ant
the other bloodthirsty Sioux, Cheyennes
Apaches and Arapahoes. And amont
those who have retired are some who
fought at Buena Vista, Monterey ant
the Alamo. 1t makes you think q lot Of
your country and your Flag to Just iool
on those sturdy, strong-mouthed men
You know instantly why It 10 that or
land or on sea the American fghtine
man wins.
! The receiving line was shorter thar