The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-01-11
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famous United States Marine Band fur
nishes the music for the White HOUSE
New Years celebration. This is one q
the FIRST duties of the musical organise.
tion. and all Of the flowers are especially
raised for the occasion In the White
House Conservatives.
This furnishing Of the flowers for the
White House. aside from the various -
tertainmeats. is no small matter.
bouquet must be furnished both the prssk
dent and his wife each morning.: nowsso
must be placed in the various automo-
bdies Of the presidents establishmsat
weddings and funerals call for special
designs, and all of these are arranged
for In the White House greenhouses
Trained men have charge Of the hot
houses and attempt to break all records
with their products The ssvsfsst tar.
AFTER all, on the conssrvatoriss comes
with the necessity Of providing decor
ations for the state dinners and great
evening receptions which characterize The
official social season
The government greenhouse employees
always pride themselves on the 0oSal
setting provided for the New Years
levee. Every vantage point that offers
repository for flowers is seised upon. but
In planning the decorative campaign II -
always remembered that q throng of from
six to ten thousand people surge through
the rooms In the brief interval of two
hours, and that there must be nothing
In the floral decorations to impede the
progress of the crowd. Palms are banked
at various points. and especially in tho
Blue Room, where the president, his
wife and ladies OF the cabinet greet
the callers
In Washington the New Years lores
ut the White House is one OF the big
events. Men. women and children throng
the executive mansion and pay their re-
spccts to the first man Of the land anA
his wife. Many armed guards are sta
toned here and there in the large rooms,
watching all of the visitors who look
at all suspicious, Long lines Of people
await their turns at shaking hands with
the president, forming often as early a.
daybreak In order to be sure and enter
the White House AS the reception lasts
for only two hours In the afternoon,
many are refused admittance on account
OF their late arrival.
All the diplomats, ENJOYS from other
countries and officials In the government
service are on hand to grasp the hand OF
the president, as well as the Army and
Navy officers who shine in their full
dress uniforms. All officials who have
uniforms wear them on this occasion II
on no other. medals throw out bright
rays In the sunlight. and scabbards
dange from the waists of the Army Of
.ncers 1t Is one of the big events of tho
year at the White House, us well as the
first.
great many of the visitors officials
ana nonofilcials, who call ut the White
House on New Years Day to pay their
respects to the president, never give
thought under present conditions, to
the floral fountain head whence comes
this flood of beauty, or the other minor
things that make up the reception The
White House florists aim to keep their
orchids and all other flowers keyed up az
much as possible to the blooming point,
for they desire to be in position Mt all
times to meet any requests from the
White House for flowers.
IL the presidents wife should ever de-
eide to extend the scope OF the New
Years reception and serve refreshments.
the White House conservatories might
be called upon for some unique features
for the BUFFET menu. The florists raise
dollhouse vegetables for the presidential
table, As well ~ flowers, and something
of the magnitude Of their truck garden
Ing may be imagined from the fact that
they have had thousands of straw berries
In thriving condition during the pres
ent winter. The present mistress of the
White House has not manifested her
predecessor strong preference for the
orchid, but there Is In the presidential
Institution a notable collection of these
rare flowers that are used for the New
Years levee.