The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-02
PRESIDENTS
NEW YEAR
Usual Reception Held at the
White House
THREE NEW MEN APPEAR
Among the Diplomatists-Peary Present
in Rear Admirars Uniform--Dr.
Mary Walker in the Line of
Prominent Citizens.
THREE NEW MEN APPEAR

Washington, JAN president and
Mrs. Taft presided yesterday for the
third time at the historic New Years
reception at the White House. The day
was overcast and threatening, but a de-
| cided improvement over the snow and
rain that prevailed year ago and in
1910.
Custom has not changed the New
Years reception in any particular for q
decade, and yesterday the big function
was carried out in accordance with the
set program of years.
President and Mrs. Taft stood in the
blue room of the White House, surround
ed by the members and ladies Of the
cabinet.
1t was just II o'clock when they de-
scended from the upper floors with the
Marine band playing "The Star Spangled
Banner" Military and naval aides We're
scattered about the White House in pro
fusion.
The diplomatic corps already had as
sembled in the state dining room when
the president and Mrs. Taft took their
places. All the foreign representatives
were in court costume, and they inau
gurated the reception with the usual bril-.
lance of coloring.
Following the diplomats, the president
received the supreme court and other
federal judges, government officials OF all
ranks, senators and representatives, Off
GERS of the army and navy and various
patriotic societies.
Last in line, according to custom, came
the private citizens.
Many thousands of them passed
through the White House No limit was
placed upon the public.
Three new ambassadors were among
the diplomats received yesterday. Ruth
Baron Hengelmuller, ambassador from
Austria Hungary, dean of the diplomatic
corps, and the French ambassador, NJ
Jusserand. second in rank, were absent,
and the first place in line fell to the
British ambassador. Mr.. Bryce. The
three new faces in the line OF ambaS
sailors were those of George Bakhmetie1
of Russia; Senior Crespo MARTINEZ
of Mexico and Dominica Da Cana Of
Brazil.
A breakfast to the diplomats, given by
Secretary of State and Mrs Knox in
the building OF the Pan American union
tinuance Of custom almost as old as
The presidential reception to the public.
This year marked a departure from prec-
edents, in that the reception took place
outside the home of the secretary.
Mr.. and Mrs. Knox were aided in re-
eeiying the members of the diplomatic
corps by the assistant secretaries of
state and members OF the foreign affairs
committees of the Senate and House.
with their wives and daughters.
A prominent figure in the navy line
Yesterday at the White House was Rob
ert L. Peary, the arctic explorer, who APP
peared for the first time in his rear ad
mirals uniform.
DR. Mary Walker, in silk hat, frock
coat and trousers. was among the first
of the citizens to greet the president
Rear Admiral William II. Potter
tripped on the steps of the navy depart
ment building as he started to the White
House reception. 1t was at first re-
ported that he was seriously injured, but
at one of the navy department offices to
which he was taken by a brother officer,
it was found he had suffered a broken
nose. Admiral Potter tripped at the
head of flight of stone steps and fell
against a railing.
1t turned out to be the greatest rc-
ception President Taft has held in the
White House, and one of the greatest
ever held by a president. An estimate
placed the number of citizens who shook
hands with the president at 5000. Last
years reception brought only a little
more than $500