The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-02

The man who guards the count
ing machine said there were just
5,575 persons who shook hands
with William II. Taft, President OF
the United States, at his first New
Years reception yesterday,
The person with the counting
machine was away off inside the
sacred precincts Of the Blue Room,
and he may have missed the inter-
esting things going on outside.
GLASS MUG USED.
Just for instance; He probably failed
TO notice that of the goo or more women,
ranging in size from three feet to six.
and in degree from sealskin coats TO
none at all, not one in all the line
forgot to make ready for the ordeal of
shaking hands with President.
There was a cheval glass at least ten
feet high right on the south side of the
Red Room, within eight feet Of the Pres
ident. just where the line turned to
pass directly by him.
Hardly one Of the eco could pass that
mirror. and, in fact, didn't, without
CHANGING at it. adjusting here a hat
there a rat now patting an obstreperous
skirt or Hiplng a bit of powder FROM an
otherwise perfectly saod nose
President Happy.
The President looked about as happy as
he did the day the news came bursting
over the wires from Chicago that ne hsa
been nominated for the Presidency by
the Republican national convention.
Promptly at Il o'clock the President
ana Mrs Taft. preceded by Col Spencer
Cosby, Capt. A " Butt, and the other
military and naval aids of the President,
swept down the staircase and entered
the Blue Room, while the Marine Band,
divided into two sections by the main
entrance to the Executive Mansion,
struck up a bugle call. and then launch
cd in to the strains of the Star Span
sled Banner"
Mrs. Taft, from her long indispositioH,
looked rather girlish in her dress OF
Liberty satin and tunic OF gOId-beaded
net and gold lace. A string Of diamonds
and a diamond comb were her only orna-
ments. She carried cluster of lilies Of
the valley.
In Receiving Line.
Following the President aud Mrs. Taft
came Vice President and Mrs. Sherman.
Secretary and Mrs MacVeagh. Mrs.
Dickinson. wife OF the Secretary Of War;
who is in Porto Rico with Postmaster
General Hitchcock; Attorney General and
Mrs Wickersham, the Secretary of the
Interior and Mrs. Baliinger. and the Sec
rotary of Commerce and Labor and Mrs
Nagel.
Miss Helen Taft, Miss Eleanor Rool-
ker, of New York; Miss Elizabeth Par
sons, of Columbus; Robert and Charlie
Taft also formed a group near the re-
ceiving line.
Diplomats I'm Order.
Detectives on Hand.
Within few minutes after the receiving
line had formed in the Blue Room the
long procession, guarded every ten feet
by ushers or Secret Service men or plain
clothes men, started in from the state
dining-room through the Red Room. with
cheval glass. past the President. out
through the Green Room into the big
East Room.
The diplomatic corps came first. For
a half hour Ambassadors and their wives.
Ministers, ENJOYS, and charge d'affaires.
counts and barons. and lesser persons.
covered with gold braid and surrounded
with pomp and heraldry, walked BY Mr..
Taft who, In frock coat. smilingly re-
celved them all.
Diplomats in OFdSr.
The Italian Ambassador. Baron Mayo
des Planches, with the baroness and the
members Of the embassy staff. came first.
an honor that Baron des Planches has
long held as dean OF the corps.
After him came the Baron IIengelmuller
Won Hengervar. Ambassador from Aus
tria; the Baroness and Commander Baron
F. Preuschen Won ind zu Liebenstein,
llemHteT
Hye. Of the embassy staff
After Italy and Austria's representa-
tives came the French Ambassador and
Nine. Jusserand. Lieut. Commander Be
moist day. Capt. de Chambrun and the
Countess de Chambrun and other at
taches OF the embassy.
In rapid succession followed the Bra
lillian Ambassador and Nine Nabuco and
other representatives from that South
American republic; Baron and Baroness
Rosen and their official family; the Brit
ISL Ambassador and Mrs. James Bryce
and attaches; Count Won Bernstorff, the
German Ambassador, the countess. and
their daughter; Senior Don Francisco
Leon de IL Barra, the Mexican Ambas-
sador, and many OF his attaches.
Last of those of the highest diplomatic
rank was the japanese Ambassador.