Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-01
RECEPTION AT
THE WHITE HOUSE

The President and Mrs. Taft prepared
at IL o'clock to wish Happy New Year
first to members of the cabinet and their
wives and to the diplomatic corps: those
were followed by the members of the Su-
other courts here; then former cabinet
officers. ambassadors and ministers: next
members of Congress: then the army.
navy and Marine Corps officers: after
which came a long line of government
officials. members of commissions, then
members OF the c. A r. and a number
of other military societies.
Afte. all these had been greeted the
doors OF the White House stood open 10
the humblest citizen in the land: and he
too, was assured Of hearty handshak.
and a smile.
President Taft will be the richer 10y tic
good wishes Of thousands and thousands
OF his fellow-citizens for the year in
which he and all the world have entered
and which will witness his return to pur-
suits of his own choosing. lie
greeted, besides, by the representative
of many foreign countries. to whom tn.
annual function is accorded the greatest
admiration because OF its extreme sim
plicity, and whose New Year greetings
were couched in the complimentary
phrases of the courts of the old world.
A New Year day reception at the
White House differs but little from the
one which preceded it. unless it has the
thrill Of the first which "A new President
holds or is prefaced by the word last"
That brief adjective today set lot of
people thinking and saying how pleas
ant the White House has been 10 those
who frequented II the past four years.
anniversary OF the President and tn.
social debut of his only daughter were
fetes of worldwide note. Today he
and Mrs. Taft began the last of their
official receptions. the concluding fea-
ture of which will be the evening OF
February 4. when the officers of the
army and navy will he the honore'l
guests. Today's reception was sur
rounded by all the pomp and ceremon|
our democratic tendencies permit. The
Marine Band played in the corridor and
each of the state parlors had tasteful
decoration of flowers on the mantels
and tables.
Early Preparations.
Thing were astir early this morning
within and without the Presidents home.
Mounted and other policemen were at
the appointed stations along the walks
adjacent to the various gates before I"
o'clock. INSIDE the mouse AT that time
these guardians of peace and order
seemed to stand on the very same spots
where attendants at last winters recep-
tions left them. Members OF the Marine
Band hurried into the building from many
directions. Carriages and motor cars ap-
preached by the north door, with cabine:
members and their wives personal
friends of the Presidents family who
were to assist I'm the days function. white
a similar hustle was noticeable In tn.
diplomatic reception and cloak rooms
where the foreigners began
arriving shortly after 1870 o'clock. FROM
whatever direction they came the point o.
meeting for all was the main corridor up
stairs.
The diplomats passed through II over 10
the state dining room. where, forming
three sides OF hollow square. they made
a line, the head Of which stepped over
the south threshold into the bedroom,
there to await the signal 10 the presence
of the chief executive In the blue room.
Those invited to assist in the reception
a assembled in the blue room. and the cab-
net members and their wives took the
elevator for the family apartments uf'.
stairs. 1t Is an historical fact that the
Presidents exchange of greetings with Asa
cabinet in his apartments Is much less