The Brunswick news., 1912-01-02
BBIG NEW NEW fEEhAR EEhAIIS
RECEPTION HELD
At WHITE HOUSE
PRESIDENT AN6aMRs. TAFT RE-
cEIvE AMBASSADORS AND MIN
listers IN THE BLUE ROOM.
Brilliant Uniforms of Diplomatic
Corps and Army and Navy Officers
Give Brilliant Color to Function
Thousands See President.

Washington, Jan. President and
Mrs. Taft presided today for the third
time at the historic New Years re-
ceptlon at the white house. The day
was overcast and threatening, but a
decided improvement over the snow
and rain that prevailed a year ago and
in 1910.
Custom has not changed the New
Years reception in any particular for
a decade and the big function today
was carried out in accordance with
the set program of the years. There
We're new faces in the line and many
old ones missing. But as picture
the reception was a replica of the
many that have gone before.
President and Mrs. Taft stood in the
blue room of the white house sur
rounded by the members and ladies of
the cabinet. 1t was just II O'Clock
when they descended from the upper
floors with the marine band playing
the Star Spangled Banner"
Brilliant Uniforms.
Military and naval aides were scat
tered about the white house in pro
fusion. The diplomatic corps already
had assembled in the state dining
room when the President and Mrs.
Taft took their place. All the foreign
representatives were in court costume
and they inaugurated the reception
with the usual brilliance of coloring.
| Following the diplomats the presi-
dent received the supreme court and
other federal judges, governments off
cials of all ranks, senators and rep
resentatives, officers of the army anu
navy, and various patriotic societies.
Last in the line, according to Gus
tom, came the private citizens. Many
thousands of them passed through the
white house, viewing the interior Of
the presidential home for the first
time. No limit was placed upon the
public. 1t was day of open house
and any citizen who cared to do SC
had the opportunity to shake the hand
of the president.
Three New Ambassadors,
Three new ambassadors were among
the diplomats received today. Both
Baron Hengenmuller, ambassador from
Austria Hungary, dean of the diplo-
matte corps, and the French ambassa-
dor, M. Jusserand, second in rank
were absent, and the first place in
line fell to the British ambassador,
Mr.. Bryce. Japan also was unrepre-
sented, by an ambassador, but with
these exceptions the nations which
maintain embassies here took their &C.
customed places. The three new faces
in The line of ambassadors were those
of George Bakhmeteff of Russia; Sc
nor Crespo y Martinez of Mexico, and
Dominica Dagama of Brazil.
Most of the ministers accredited to
the United States were in town, but
in some instances their countries were
represented by legation stats.
Senor Calvo, minister from Costa
Rica, has long held the place Of honor
as lean of the ministers.
Diplomats Breakfast.
A breakfast to the diplomats given
by Secretary of State and Mrs. Knox
in the building of the American
Union shortly after noon, was a bril-
liant continuance of a custom almost
as old as the presidential reception to
the public. This year marked a de-
parture from precedents in that the
reception took place outside the home
of the secretary of state.
A prominent figure in the navy line
today at the white house was Rob
ert e. Peary, the explorer who ap-
peared for the first time in his rear
admirals uniform.
Admiral Dewey was center
Of interest, as usual, when the naval
contingent reached the white house.
Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles
also attracted attention.
DR.. Mary Walker, in silk khat, frock
coat and trousers, was among the
first of the citizens to greet the prssi-
dent.
Rear Admiral William P. Potter was
injured this morning by fall on the
steps of the navy department build
ing as he started to the white house
reception. It was first reported that
he was seriously injured, but the naval
Idispensary, wrere he was, taken by a
fellow officer, it was found that he had
suffered a broken nose. Admiral Pot
ter tripped at the head Of fight
of stone steps and fell against a rail-
ing.