Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-02
Gorgeous Color Scheme at
Final New Years Recep-S
tion of President Taft;
Ideal Weather.
THOUSANDS IN LINE
TO SHAKE HANDS
Diplomats and Various De-
partment Officials Take
Part in Procession; Knox
Breakfasts Diplomats.

| i, II
Iaft's fourth and last New Years re.
ception at the white house was greeted
by day beautiful and bright. Thou.
sands early turned their eyes and their
steps in the direction of the executive
mansion. Long before the time at
which the chief executive of the nation
was ready to shake hands with every
citizens who cared to avail himself Of
the privilege line of men, women
and children stood in line from tho
| front door Of the white house to the
distant gate and far beyond towards
the state, war and navy buildings. The
rich and gorgeous uniforms OF the for
eign diplomats. the gold lace of the
long line Of American army and navy
officers and in the background the bril-
liant scarlet coats of the marine band
were features in the moving pictures
| or the days events at the white house
with the thousands Of ordinary citi-.
zens.
The president and Mrs. Taft pre4,
pared at IL o'clock to wish happy
New Year first to members Of the
cabinet and their wives and to the
diplomatic corps. These followed BY
| the members OF the supreme aours and
TO the judges of the other courts here.
then former cabinet officers, anlbas-
sadors 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 mem
bers Of the grand army of the repl,b-
lie and number Of other military So
cieties.
nI hnI IA -
doors Of the white house stood open
to the humblest citizen in the land, and
he, too, was assured of hearty hand
shake and a smile
Jusserand Was Leader.
| One picturesque touch, absent from
1.-THE New Year Kaleidoscope Of color at
the white house for the first time in
ten years was missing. because Baron
Hengelmueller ambassador from
Austria-Hungary dean OF the diplO.
matte corps, was not In the city. His
royalty gorgeous costume Of rich pur-
pie and red always attracted much at
tention. Several other diplomats were
unable to be present because of sick
ness, the Chilean and Colombian min
listers being among the number. The
diplomatic-line was led by Ambassador
Jusserand OF France.
Many New Faces.
For one ambassador, ViscOunt
Chinda of Japan. 1t was a first ap.
pearance at a New Years reception at
the white house while number Of
the ministers bad never attended he
fore, these including the renresenta-
tive from the Dominican republic. Peru
Sweden, SIAM Honduras, Denmark
and Panama The army and navy
contingent made q brilliant spectacle.
Every officer of the two services as
well as IF the marine branch. now In
Washington was under orders TO re-
port at the war and navy department.
The former gathered in the Offices OF
Major General Wood, chief of staff and
headed by that officer and Lieut., Cen
eraI Miles, retired, in double file.
moved slowly through the corridors
ana down the granite staircase on the
eastern approach and across Execu-.
tive avenue to the white house.
Prominent, Army Officers.
Many officers Of high rank held
place in the line, including Major Cen
eral Witherspoon, Major General
AIeshire. Brig. General Andrews, Adjt.
General Of the army. Brig. General
Weaver, chief Of the coast artillery.
Brig General Crozier. president OF the
war college, Brig General Miles. chief
]of the militia division, Brig. General
Bfxzby. chief OF engineers, Brig. Gen.
ficer, Brig. General Crowdre, Brig.
! General Sharpe. Brig General Smith,
Brig. General Allen, chief signal Of
ficer. Brig General Crowder Brig.
General Darlington, Brig. General Nc.
lIntyre and the whole of the staff Of
General Wood Besides General Miles
There were some other distinguished
Iretired off GERS. such as Lieut.. General
Bates, General S. B. M. Young Brig.
General John c. Wilson and many
lothers
i Some Old Sea Dogs Too.
i While the army officers were being
,lpresented the officers Of the navy were
preparing to fall in at Secretary
Meyers office, under the leadership OF
i Rear Admiral Vreeland aide for oper-
lations and Rear Admiral Badger the
! new commander in chief Of the Allan
'Itic fleet. Rear Admiral Andrews, chief
Il