The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-11-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

dents first reception, Jan. |. Both
seasons continue until the beginning
of Lent. ard lifelong program Of Off
ciaI social events concludes with those
/ of a more or less unofficial character,
which are sandwiched in between,
making time Of extraordinary activ-
| ity for all concerned.
The New Years Reception.
| All Washington. outside of the Off
cial set more particularly. looks for
ward with keen delight to the New
| Years reception. 1t is the most in
| formal affair of the entire official so
ciaI calendar Of the president. ara
this is evidenced by the fact that be
| fore his laborious New Years day is
| completed he is always required to
shake hands with from 5000 to 10,
900 callers in all walks Of life. who
come to wish him Il happy New Year.
This reception begins ut II a. m. and
Is ended. so far It's official Washington
| is concerned. at 12:15 D. M. after
which the general public is admitted,
| and several hours are consumed in
disposing of these callers.
| One of the Sights of the Year.
The New Years reception is really
one of the sights of Washington. Not
| only are the diplomats out in COM
pIete regalia. but all the officers Of
the army and navy stationed In
| Washington are expected to report on
that day at their respective depart
ments in full regimentals. prepared to
call upon the president, who is their
| commander in chief. In the. meantime
the Washington-pubIic has also begun
to assemble on the side streets east of
| the White House. where it is formed
in line. AS soon as the officials are
out of the way string of humanity.
| old and young. black and white. files
through the White House.
The City Spruced Up.
The entire Washington landscape
has been having its face washed and
| it's nails manicured in readiness for
the opening of the busy season. upon
whose threshold we are standing with
reluctant feet. The White House has
been furnished inside and out. The
alterations and additions to the execu-
tive offices have met with Mrs. Taft's
| entire approval.
Even the capitol has been sent to the
laundry for its great annual ablution.
or, rather. the laundry has been sent
to it in the shape of the fire depart,
ment, with a long distance hose
Mrs. Taft's Costumes.
Mrs. Taft has been in New York for
| d few days past selecting some charm
| ing costumes for the winter season.
| For street wear Mrs Taft formerly
adopted strictly tailor made garments.
but this fall has shown tendency to
less severe styles. wearing u long vel
vet coat of quite dressy construction
and less severe styles in hats. In col
ors she runs to pinks and cream colors
While never deliberately costumed.
Mrs. Taft will probably gain for her
self reputation as one of the best
dressed mistresses the White House,
has ever had. +
A Fan American Pageant.
John Barrett. director of the bureau
Of American republics, has given the
weight of his hearty approval to the
project for d great pan-American pag-
cant to be, held in this city on July
of next year in connection with the
District celebration of independence
day.
ITO my way of thinking Mr.. Bar
rett said. "such il pageant would not
only be spectacular and interesting,
but historical as well. The people Of
the Capital City of the United States
are much interested in the develop
ment and Industrial progress of our
sisters to the south. and pageant
with floats and other features repre-,
senting the life of those mighty and
Independent republics Of South Amer
lea would teach us something worth
knowing.
Valuable Object Lesson.
by decorating the floats with flags
and dressing the participants in the
costumes of their country" Mr. Bar
rett continued. I'VE of the north
would be better informed as to their
personality and appearance. and real
II those persons who never have an
opportunity of seeing first hand just
how attractive our southern neigh
bors are cannot appreciate them as
fully as they deserve
ION the other hand. displays on the
same floats of industrial and CONNER
cial exhibits. characteristic of the
vital centers of industry. would fur
nish good idea of just what life in
South America means.
Appropriate Anniversary
The year 1910 viii be especially
appropriate in which to have the pag-
cant. because 1t is the anniversary
of the one hundredth year of indie
pendence from Spain of many OF the
republics. At Buenos Aires a demon
stration will be held in honor Of the
century of independence, and with the
exception of a few of the smaller
states the day is almost national in