Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-01
PRESIDENT TAFT'5
LAST RECEPTION
Doors of Executive Mansion
Thrown Open to All
Races and Creeds.
A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.
Last New Years Ovation TO Repub-
iican President of United States
For at Least Four Years. :.

Washington, Jan. 1.-The President
and Mrs. Taft held their last New
Years reception in the White House
| today. The doors Of the executive
J mansion were thrown open to all, no
matter what their race. creed, or color
was
The reception, the last of Repuhli-
can President, fo" al least four yea1s.
followed a custom az old as the White
House itself and "aried in no respect
from the time-worn procedure, EXCEPT
that it was more brilliant. The diplo-
matte corps, army, navy. the Judiciary.
departmental executives, and "Nr.
Common People'-as cosmopolitan an
aszemblage as was ever gathered in
any cne cvent-were represented And,
to ell, the President and Mrs. Taft eN-
tended the same felicitations--"A
Happy and Prosperous New Year"
The diplomats and officials Of the
government were received on schedule,
but the plain public took their places
in line,some standing for hours before
the massive gates awaiting "thcir
turn"
AS early as 70 o'clock this morning
the people massed themselves before
the mansion to watch the diploEiati"
corps, the army and navy, the Su-
oreme Court Justices, and Others en-
| ter.
Promptly at eleven o'clock the fal-
fare of trumrhets sounding through
the lower hall Of the White House
announced the approach Of the Presl-
dent and Mrs. Taft. Then the bani
struck up "Hal to the Chief" as the
executive and his wife came into view
down the steps from their apartments
They were escorted by naval and mill
tarv aides and behind them care the
cabinet and the wives of cabinent Off
GERS. Last year Vice-Presidenr and
Mrs. Sherman followed closely on the
Presidents heels. but "Sunny jim )"
death left this place in the line va
cant today. Secretary of the State
Knox, premier of the cabinet, ana Mrs
Knox headed the second division Of The
partv, and behind them ranged thc
rest of the cabinet members, the mar
;.ied ones with their wives,all in place
strictly according to precedence.
The line turned from the hallway tc
the red room, and there the President
took his station just inside the door
from the east room.
Members Of the cabinet and tlieir
wives took positions next along TIE
line IN President and Mrs. Tae5 Still
in strict order of their rank. The
party had hardly reached the red room
before the diplomatic corps appeared
the venerable British Ambassador
lanes Bryce, heading the go!d-he-
decksd contingent. Ambassador Bryce
acted as the dean of the corps in the
absence Of the Austrian ambassador.
Baron Hengmuller, who has seen long
est service of any of the diplomats al
Washington. Behind Bryce came the
other ambassadors, in strict order OF
the length of their services here-the
old ones first, the new ones last. Al
te,. the ambassadors came the ln!nis-
tors and their suites--the same pre-
cedence being observed. They form
ed a medley af flashing gold lace,
swords and cooked hats.
There was breif pause after this
elittcring array had passed, and then
came the members of the Supreme
Court. garbed in sombre frocked coats,
Chief Justice White at their head,
and the other members ranged be-
hind him in the order of their senior
ity. Other members of the judiciary
the Commerce Court, Court OF Gus
toms Appeals, district courts, etc.
passed after them. Next came form
er cabinet officials, former American
Diplomatic officials and ex-officers of
the government.
When this array was over the bug
lars sounded call. Out in the great
East Room Senators and Representa-
tives had been gathering. As the
sound of the bugle they advanced
Congressman and their wives-and
gradually passed through the room.