The Washington herald., 1913-11-22
WILSON GIVES UP
new YEAR FETE
Reception, Custom for More
Than Century, VIII
Be Omitted.
PRESIDENT TO BE AWAY
Abandonment of Annual Event Ex-
pected to Have Effect on OBJ
servance of Day.

The intention OF President Wilson, an
nounced yesterday, to take fortnights
holiday during the Christmas recess OF
Congress, and that, as an incident there
TO, there would be no New Years re-
ception at the White House, is generally
accepted in Washington as marking the
termination of the New Years Day
handshakings, which custom has for
more than 100 years forced upon the
Chief Executive.
The abandonment of the New Years
reception affects social customs obtain
ing in the National Capital closely. on
that day of good cheer the homes oil
the Cabinet officers always have been
Hospitality opened from 5 o'clock in the
afternoon until I. With President Will
sons example before them it is ques-
ton as to whether the women of the
Cabinet will receive callers on New
Years Day.
Mrs. William Jennings Bryan, when the
subject was brought to her attention
yesterday afternoon, declared that Secre-
tary Bryan would carry out the ofnclal
observance of New Years Day In the
same manner as previous Secretaries OF
State had done. So it is likely that the
breakfast to the Diplomatic Corps, which
heretofore has been given yearly by the
Secretary of State, will take place.
No bFcukS IN NhaAH'
At the first New Years ever spent in
the White House by President Thomas
Jefferson there was a general public re-
ception. History records no breaks IN
the chain from that day TO this. During
the last twenty or thirty years the White
House receptions at New Years time
have been growing more and more formal
and, in so far as the public was con-
Cerned, less and less interesting The
expansion of Congress and OF the army
the navy, the marine corps and the
diplomatic group have taken the time
previously devoted to the general pub
lie in a large measure, and from year 10
year there have been fewer and fewer
Of the citizens who have had a chance
TO shake the Presidents hand.
One of the chief objections to the New
Years reception has been this indis-
criminate handshaking. The secret serv-
ice men have advised against it. They
think that the chances Of possible as
sassination OF the President, or at least
of injury to him, are greater at the pub
lie receptions than any other time.
Army and Navy Men Glad.
The members of the Diplomatic
Corps and the army and navy, who
on New Years Day are compelled to
put on the bravery Of their war uni
forms, hail with joy the discontinu-
ance OF the custom. 1t has often been
remarked in Washington that the more
right a man has to wear a uniform
the less he likes TO don it. And this
is undoubtedly as true Of the military
and naval men as it is OF the diplo-
mats.
The Presidents plans for his Christ
mas holiday season are in an inchoate
state Secretary of War Garrison is
anxious that the President make an
informal visit TO the Panama Canal.
He expressed this desire to callers as
late as last week.
On the other hand. President Wilson
may decide to accept an invitation
from one OF his numerous Southern
friends to occupy a country house in
the Gulf region or in Florida. What
the President wants is a change and
rest Whether or not Mr.. Wilson will
eat Christmas dinner in the White
House depends entirely upon the work
ing out of his vacation plans. II they
should include his going upon jour-
ney on which Mrs. Wilson can accom-
pany him. there will be no White
House Christmas dinner. In the event
that Mrs. Wilson cannot accompany
him. his start from Washington will
be deferred until December 26.
The elimination of the White House
reception on New Years Day will dis
turb not only the custom as it surrounds
the home of the President, but will be
felt in all strata Of Washington society.
Washington is about the only city in the
United States where formal receiving
on New Years Day has been within
the last thirty or forty years a habit.
Great changes have been wrought here
within the last decade. But in the sos
or '9Os it was customary for all the
women Of the Cabinet. most OF the Sen
ators and Representatives and the
wives of the higher officers Of the army
and navy to keep open house. Full dress
as early as noon was the rule until
about twenty years ago, but since
Spanish war days the reception outside
those at the White House have dwin-
died in size and importance.