The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-02
New Years Reception
at White House Is
Brilliant Affair.
FOREIGN NATIONS
ARE REPRESENTED
Federal Judges, Government Of.
hcials, Senator'S and Represen-
tatives and Private Citizens
Make Up Record-Breaking
Throng-Secretary Knox
Entertains Diplomats.

| Washington, D. C.. January 1.-The
| greatest throns that has passed the
| portals of tho White House at Sny
New Year reception OF recent years
greeted President and Mrs. Taft to-
day at the third public reception given
by them since entering the Executives
mansion When the long line had
assed the ofhcial counter said that
| s,oo! diplomats. officials and citizens
| mad shaken hands with the President
1T last years reception the Official
| count showed that about $500 WIS.,
| itors were received
Mrs. TAFT remained In the receiving
lne Tor an hour and forty minutes
From the moment when the first of
| the diplomatic corps was received
shortly after ! o'clock, the line moved
continuously through the White House
Tor more than three hours. its reserves
| stretching for blocks around tho
White House grounds
The day was overcast and threaten
inS' but a decided Improvement over
the snow and rain that prevailed a
year aso and In 1910.
Receive In Hiuc Room.
President and Mrs. Taft stood n,
| the blue room. surrounded hy the
| members and women of the Cabinet
| 1t was Just after ! o'clock when they
descended from the upper doors, with
the Marine Band playing The Star
| Spangied Banner"
| Military and naval aids wero scat
tered about the White House in nro
fusion. The diplomatic corps alread:-
| mad assembled In the state dining-ro
| wien the President and Mrs. Taft took
| their places. Al! of the foreign rem
iesentativcs were In court costumes.
ana They inaugurated the reception
WIN the usual brill!ancc OF colorins.
Following the diplomats. tho Presi-
dent received the Supreme Court and
other Federal Judges, government Off.
| Gals of all ranks, Senators and Rem
resentativcs. officers of the army and
navy and various patriotic societies.
Last in the line, according TO custom,
came the private citizens
| Three new ambassadors vera among
| the diplomats. Both Baron HenEcl-
muller. ambassador from Austria Hun
gary, dean OF the diplomatic corps,
and the French ambassador, NJ Jus
serand, second In rank, were absent
and the nrst place in limo fell TO the
British amba ssador Mr.. Bryce. Japan
also was unrepresentcd by an ambas-
| sador, but with these exceptions the
ma atoms which maintain cmba ssics hero
took their accustomed places The
three new faces in the line of amhas-
sadoTs were those OF George Bakhme-
ten, OF Russia Senior Crespo y aIarti-
J neg. OF Mexico. and Dominica da Cana,
| OF Brazil.
Most of the ministers accredited 10
the United States were In town, but
In some instances their countries were
represented by the legation stats.
Senor Calvo. minister from Costa Rica.
mas long held the place of honor as
dean of the ministers.
Admiral Dewey was a centre OF in
terest as usual when the naval con-
| tinSent reached the White House.
attracted attention. Both he and Adj
miral Dewey have attended the New
! Year receptions for many years.
Two Noted Citizens.
Two noted citizens fled past the
President in short distance of each
other. One was DR.. Harvey w. Wiley,
of pure food fame, In line with the
the other was DR.. Mary Walker. with
her comrades OF the G. A. r. DR..
Walker wore her best Prince Albert
suit. had her hair cut short and In her
left hand held the shining silk hat that
went with her makeup. The two doc
tors attracted considerable attention,
and were both cordially greeted by the
President.
Tho departments and bureaus were
all represented by large delegations. as
were also the various patriotic organI-
cations OF the city.
BY hurrying events along the White
House attaches were able to dispose OF
the official visitors few minutes be-
fore u o'clock. This made IL possIble
for the limo OF citizens to get started
half an hour ahead OF schedule. Usually
this limo moves forward from one-ha
TO an hour late.
Then. until nearly in tho afternoon,
the people were pressed along. They
entered at the northwest gate. and
double fle. at the main port!co they
were pressed into single file. and as
such passed through the East Room,
then on through the Blue. the Red and
the state dining rooms in order. They
passed out through the eastern en-
trance.
At the door all persons carrying UNI
brellas or bundles OF any kind were
held UP and compelled either to sur
render their packages or else turn
back. Attendants took care of these
bundles and returned them to those
who were willing to part with them
At tho entrance to the Blue Room Sc
cret service men were stationed and
compelled each visitor to remove his
or her hands from pockets or from
muffs. This u.s. Il precaution which Is
| takon every year when public rccep-
| lions are being held.
] Handsome Gowns Worn.
| Receiving In the llns with tho Prest-
| dent and Mrs. Taft were Mrs. Knox,
| Mrs MacVeagh, Mrs. stimspn, Mrs
! Meyer. Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Nagcl
| Mrs. Taft wore one OF tho most ele-
| CANT dresses she has donncd at the
| White House. II was OF American
beauty satin. almost completely yelled
in black Chnntiily lace in n large
-