The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-01-05
TAFT'S NEW YEAR
Great Crowds of Citizens
Attend Reception.
SHAKES THE HANDS OF 5625
Rain Failed TO Keep Throngs Away
From White House, Many
Waiting Hours to Greet
the President.
SHAKES THE HANDS OF 5625

Washington. Jan. 3.-The New year
reception at the White House. an oe.
casion when the doors Of that historic
mansion are thrown open to the hum
blest citizen who may care to pay his
respects to the chief magistrate OF the
nation, was held under weather condi
tions expected materially to cut down
the number that usually confronts the
receiving line In the blue room.
But rain failed to keep the thronss
OF citizens away, many OF them IN
Guiding large numbers of women.
standing in the rain for two and three
hours. The president began shaking
hands at HOG a. m. and stopped at
IS D. m He received 5625 persons,
about 100 more than last year.
Il was the second New Years recep
tion OF the present administration.
Mrs. Taft. who has gained much In
strength in the last year. stood with
the president at the head Of the line
during the entire time the reception
was In progress.
Three RooseVelts Present.
The presence Of three members OF
the Roosevelt family in the blue room
attracted unusual attention. Mrs. Mich
olas Longworih. the former presidents
daughter. came early with her hus-
band. and brought with her Miss Ethe.
Roosevelt and Kermit Roosevelt A ,
remained until the last OF the citizens
had been received.
Another family group that attracted
much attention was composed OF the
presidents three brothers. Charles p.
Taft. OF Cincinnati. Henry w. Taft, OF
New York. and Horace ID. Taft, OF Wa
tertOwn. Conn.
The VIII House was made attrac'
tive as usual with a wealth Of floral
decorations and Christmas greens. The
Marine banj. in full dress uniform.
was drawn up in two sections in the
main corridor. and throughout the re
ceiying hours the music was contin-
uous
Tie foreign ambassadors and minis
teis and the members Of their fami'
lies and sriles as usual had precc-
dence Many already had reached the
White House and were forming In line
In the state dining room when four
flourishes OF buglcs announced the de
scent Of tho presidential party from
the upper apartments Of the White
House.
They came down the main stairway,
the president ana Mrs Taft preceded
by six aides. Then came the Vice
President and Mrs. Sherman and the
members Of the cabinet and their
wives
Baron Won Hengelmuller. the Austrc-
HUNGARIAN ambassador. dean OF the
diplomatic corps in Washington. was
first TO pay his respects to the Presi-
dea. and Mrs Taft
A fan half hour was given over TO
the reception OF the diplomats and the
sccen as they passed through tho red
and blue rooms to the east room was
a most brilliant one Practically every
civilized nation was represented
Justices Follow Diplomats.
Following the diplomatic corps came
the supreme court justices, the line
headed by the new chief justice, Mr..
White Senators and representatives
followed the judiciary.
The congressional contingent was
not a large one, however, for congress
will not rcassemble until Thursday
and most Of the national Legislators
are out Of the city.
As for many years past, General Mel
son a. Miles. retired headed the long
lire Of army officers who called in full
dress uniform. With him walked Gen
eral Leonard Wood. the chief Of stan
Of the army. All Of the officers sta
toned In OF about Washington we're
present.
Admiral Dewey was at the head oil
the naval contingent He was followed
by Admirals Wainwright and Potter.
Commander Robert f. Peary was I
line with his fellow naval officers. The
president chatted with him a moment
or two as they shook hands.