The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-01
lsEV YEARS
 RECEPTION AT
 WHITE HOUSE "Big Bill" Taft Receives Diplomats of Foreign Ma tions, and Plain People, With Outstretched Hand and Most Expansive Smile
Brilliant Scene Presents in Executive Mansion as Distinguished Guests Be- gin to Arrive Glitter of Brilliant Uniforms.
Special to the Farmer )

Special to the Farmer.) Washington, Jan. 1.-The expansive
 Taft smile overfIowed it's usual boun-
 daries today and embraced the world.
 The occasion was the first annual New Years reception of the new ad-
 ministration. The big broad Taft per-
 sonality reached out and gathered to
 it's kindly presence thousands-from
 the courtly members of the diplomatic
 codps to the plainest of the plain peo-
 pie.
 It was "open house" at the Preai-
 dential abode with Citizen and Citi- zeness Taft as host and hostess.
 Long before the White Hopse doors
 were unlatched the crowds began to assemble in the Presidents front yard. It was motley gathering that had
 Year. and shake his hand in greeting.
 Young and old chatted in the line. Fur-lined overcoats rubbed elbows with garments that were shabby and thin. Venerable gray-beards young hloods, timid maids. and natrons of poise huddled together in heterogen- ous American multitude.
 While the great American people were aligning themselves in snaky column that filled the yard. and ex- tended for blocks up Pennsylvania avenue. their high priced servant was doing his duty as the head of great world power. greeting the representa- tives of the other world powers with words of cordiality.and regard.
 As the great hallsclock in the White House boomed out eleven and four bu- glers stepped from the band and sounded the Presidential fanfare the Executive and Mrs. Taft left the fam i1V A rsa n, apfs m tho Soa0n6 fJooa. nd started down the great main staircase. With the Vice President and Mrs sherman and the cabinet members and their wives, they took up their posi- tion at the southern end of the Blue Room: The ladies stepped to the right and formed a part of the receiving line. Then began the brilliant. for mai reception of the diplomatic corps, the "elite' of official life.
 Only one thing that has character ized White House New Years recep- tions in the past was lacking. That was the gathering of specially invited guests who in former administrations crowded the Blue Room The sole permanent occupants of the room to- day were President Taft and his off, ficial family. Mrs. Taft's health has forced the curte iment of social festiv- tiles at the White House. Xand it was thought best to conserve her strength on this occasion by emitting the per- sonal guests.
 A gorgeous procession of diplomats, clad in brilliant panoply of the court costumes of their various nations. was the spectacle of the occasion. Led by the Italian Ambassador, Baron Mayor des Planches. the dean of the d'plo- matfc corps by virtue of his length of service here in Washington, and fol- lowed by the entire body of accredited foreign representatives. ambassadors first, then ministers and both arrang- ed according to length of service-the newest ambassadors and ministers last in the procession of their rank-they entered from the south door of the mansion, and with great formality made their way to the host and host ess. With each ambassador were the members of his suite and their wives.
 At the rear of the ambassadorial pro- 1 cession came the brilliant suite of Bar- on Yasuya Uchida. the new Japanese 1 Ambassador. who arrived in Washing | ton little more than week ago.
 Two of the new ambassadors-Hus- l sein Kiazim Bey. of Turkey. and Senor l They were represented by the charges l d'affaires of their respective Embas- l sies.
 The ministerial parade was led by the representative from Costa Rica, 1 Senor Calvo. Chang Yin Tang. the ] 1 received only about a week ago. and ! he was the last of the diplomats. but the brilliant Oriental appearance of his train more than made up for the rear | end position. The other new dip,o- l mats of ministerial rank attending 1 their first New Years reception were: | MT. sannon. from Haiti: General velez. from Cuba; senor Rojas. from Venezuela; MT. ACoromilas. from ! Greece; the Marquis of VilIalobar, i from Spain: Senor Joubert from the l Dominican Republic and Count de Buisseret. from Belgium-the latter with a bow of crepe instead of gold i sword knot. the official badge of 1 mourning for his late sovereign. King Leopold.
 When the gailv apparelled diplomats had filed past the receiving line. and i had been cordially greeted the vener- i able Chief Justice Fuller led the As sociate Justices of the Supreme Court 1 and other members of the jud ciary. Then came former cabinet members. United States Annhassa dors and Minis ters, and members of Congress. There were but few of the latter, the holiday season having sent most of them to their homes.
 The buglers sounded another call, and representatives of the army and navy filed into the room. Decked out in all the glory of full dress uniforms, the military and naval officers made a brilliant showing. They were the last of the unifor med visitors. The | assemblaee took on more subdued 1 as they departed.
 They were immediately followed by the civilian officials of the government and representa- tives of various organi- i cations. as follows
 Re9entS and secretary of the Smith sonan Institution. Civil Service Com Interstate Commerce Commis- sion Tsthman Canal Commission, Commissioners of the District of Co., lumbia assistant secretaries of the de- rartments the Solicitor General. as- sistant attorneys general assistant rostnasters general. Treasurer of the United States. Librarian of Congress. Public Printer, heads Of bureaus pres i6ent of Columbia Institution Society of the Cincinnati, and a score of other minor org aniZations.
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