The Washington herald., 1912-01-02
HANDSHAKES
COME TAFT'S WAY


C0ntinued from Page One.
exchange of the seasons compliments
took place between the representatives
OF these two lwarring powers. The
Turkish Ambassador had precedence In
the line because he had been In wash
ington a few weeks longer than the
Italian Ambassador.
The Right Hon. James Bryce, the
British Ambassador. had the place OF
honor in the diplomatic corps, he being
the dean Of the corps In the absence
OF Baron Hengelmuller, OF Austria, and
Ambassador Jusserand, of France. This
Is the first time in many years that a
British Ambassador has appeared as
dean of the Washington diplomatic
corps.
Thanks Lieut.. santeImann.
The reception was rushed of in rec
-ord time, thanks TO the Marine Band.
There are Just two occasions. say folks
who know. when music Is indispsnsa-'
bic. One is when a naval vessel is
being coaled and the other when the
President is receiving the populace.
Yesterday the Marine Band was split
into two sections, one stationed at each
side of the main entrance hall. and the
din was deafening and continuous Also
nothing but marches were on the pro-
g7amme, and they were ground out In
double or triple time. Consequently
the line of callers was doing a quick
step and a double-shuffie most of the
time, and about the first thing almost
everybody did on emerging from the
White House into the open air. was to
pause on the steps long enough to mop
and draw a couple Of long breaths.
Lieut.. Santelmann, the band leader.
was a wilted wreck when the excite
ment was over, and the performers on
the brasses weren't in much better
shape. The man~who blows the bass
horn declared he had never played
''um-pah" so fast in his life.
BY way OF concession to the assembled
diplomats, the President and Mrs. Taft,
as has been the custom OF late years.
made their entrance in formal court
style. few moments before II o'clock
the military and naval aids stationed at
the White House went UP to the head
OF the main stairway to be In readiness
to escort the President and Mrs. Taft
and the receiving party to the Blue
Room. Promptly on the stroke of II
buglers stationed at the foot of the stair
case played a fanfare with the Presi-
Dental flourish at the end Of II and the
band struck up Hail TO the Chief"
AAlC Gil WIN dEIlNdA VI EAESA-
dents, governors, county commissioners,
aldermen, and other dignitaries are in
variably greeted in these United States.
Take Their stations.
Descending the stairs. the Presidential
party went to their stations and the re-
ception began. Vice President and Mrs.
Sherman were absent from the receiving
line, being in mourning. Secretary Of
War and Mrs. Stimson, who are in semi
mourning. remained only for the official
portion of the reception. All OF the men,
bers of the Cabinet were behind the re-
ceiving line, with the exception Of At
torney General wIckershsm. who is in
Panama Secretary OF Agriculture Will
son, wha.js a widower. and Postmaster
General Hitchcock. who is a bachelor,
were the only members Of the Presi- |
dents official family who were unac-
by members Of their families.
DR.. Mary Walker. in masculine after |
noon garb. but wearing a fur stole over
her shoulders, attracted considerable at |
tention In the line OF callers, as did a
foreigner who appeared I'm full evening |
dress. He was made Thoroughly uncom- !
Portable by the attention he attracted, |
and explained volubly that abroad, where |
he was accustomed to appear before |
kings and dukes and other things every |
SO OIlens IL was quite ue IlkeutE 70 wear I
fun evening attire, even IL the hour was
something like . in the morning.
Work for sIeuths.
The Secret Service men are always ex- |
tremely unhappy on New Years Day. OF
course, when the diplomats. the judges.
the army and navy officers and other
known qualities are passing before the
President, they have an easy time of it.
But later when the public begins to file
through they get on edge and don't draw
a long breath until the last hand-shaker
has departed and the gates are closed.
Yesterday there were Secret Service men
at the front door Of the White House.
to scan every caller in all that long line.
No one was permitted to have his or
her hands concealed for a moment and
some perfectly peaceful citizens were
rudely shocked by having their hands
yanked out Of their pockets by the Wig
liant guard.
One man explained Indignantly that he
had a cold and being inside the White
House he just naturally had to find his
He was permitted to dig
Il out OF his hip pocket and trumpeted
loudly as he resumed his place In the
line.
ErmIne I'm Evidence.
Twenty minutes were given the diplo- |
mats to pay their respects to the Presi- |
dent, after which the members Of the
United States Supreme Court were re-
ceived. The diplomats, in the mean
time. assembled in the Blue Room end |
in the state dining-room.
Chief Justice White headed the ju- !
dietary. Following him were the asso- !
ciate justices of the Supreme Court, and |
with them were the judges OF the Court |
Ct Commerce, the judges of the Court |
Of Customs Appeals. Judges Of the Court |
Of Appeals of the District of Columbia, |
Judges OF the United States Court of |
Claims, judges OF the Supreme Court OF !
the District and judges of the Juvenile |
and Police courts of the District
The President then received all former |
members of the Cabinet, all former Am |
bassadors of the United States. and all |
former Ministers Of this conntry.
Strike Up the Band.
At 1I:ao another fanfare OF bugles an
nounced the beginning Of the reception
Of members Of both houses Of Congress
and Delegates from the several Terri |
tories.
A half hour later the army, navy, and
Marine Corps officers. attired in their I
brilliant uniforms, filed through the
White House grounds and into the man
sion. Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood, Chief OF
stan of the Army, headed the army
,orps Line officers were first to be pre-
,.,toa ,f;o- ,arbtch cau1e the stan Off