The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-01-01
Cold Diplomats Thawed Out
Under influence OF lis
Genial Radiance.
Plain Common People Car
ried Away IT'S Warmth
THE NEW YEARS RECEPTION !.

Washington, Jan /. UNITED
Press The expansive Taft smile
overlooked its usual boundaries to-
day and embraced the world.
The occasion was the first annual
New Years reception OF the new adj
ministration. The big broad Taft
personality reached out and gather
ed to its kindly presence thousands
from the courtly members Of the
diplomatic corps to the plainest Of
the plain people.
IL was open house" at the presi-
Dental abode, with Citizen and
Citizeness Taft as host and hostess.
Long before the white house doors
were Unmatched the crowds began
to assemble in the presidents front
yard II was a motley gathering
that had come to wish big Bill'
happy New 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
graybeards, young bloods, timid
maids, and matrons Of poise huddled
together in a Heterogeneous Ameri-
can multitude.
While the great American people
were alignlng themselves IN shaky
column that filled the yard, the ex-
tended for blocks up Pennsylvania
avenue. theft high priced servant
was doing his duty as the head OF
great world power. greeting the rep
resentatives Of the other world
powers with words OF cordially and
regard.
AS the great hall clock in the
white house doomed out eleven aad
four buglers stepped from the band
and sounded the presidential fan
fare, the Executive and Mrs. TAFT
left the family apartments on the
second floor and started down the
great main staircase. With the
Vice-PTesident and Mrs. sherman
and the cabinet members and their
wives, they took up their position at
the southern end of the blue room.
The ladies' stepped to the right ana
formed a part OF the receiving line.
Then began the brilliant. formal re-
ceptlon OF the diplomatic corps, the
"elite" of official life.
Only one thing that has charac-
terized white house New Years re-
ceptions in the past was lacking.
That was the gathering of specially
invited guests who in former admin
istrations crowded the blue room.
The sole permanent occupants OF the
room today we're President Taft and
his official family. Mrs. Taft's health
has forced the cartailment Of social
festivities at the white House. and Il
was thought best to conserve her
strength on this occasion by omittinf/
the personal guests.
A gorgeous procession of dkblo-
mats. clad in brilliant panoplyy6f the
court costumes Of their various ma,
tions. was the spectacle of the nc
casiOn Led by the Italian emRassa-
dor, baron Mayor des PlanSlRes, the
dean of the diplomatic coU3s By vir-
tue OF his length OF servtce here in
washington. and followed by the en-
tire body OF accredited foreign rep
resentatives, ambassadors first, then
ministers, and both arranged accord
ing 10 length of service-the newest
ambassadors and ministers last in
the procession Of their rank-they
entered from the soeth door Of the
mansion, and with great Formally
made their way to the host and hos
tess. With each ambassador wefss
the members of his suite and ther.
wives.
At the rear Of the ambassadorial