The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-09
WHITE HOUSE
Continued from page six)

at the opening Of President Wilson's
term certain senator OF influence
sent to the White House for ten invi.
tatiOns issued In blank, in which he
wished to write the names Of constitu.
ents to whom he wished to show some
favor The story has it that his re.
quest was refused with rebuke.
For some Of the White House AT
fairs, demand for invitations has been
so great that almost unheard of sub.
terfuges are used to obtain them ana
on one occasion watchful door tenders
picked UP admission tickets which
proved to be very clever forgeries.
The cabinet dinner which comes
first this year is comparatively quiet
affair, participated in only by the
President and his wife, the cabinet
members and their wives and possibly
a half dozen invited guests. 1t takes
place in the state dining room and is
elaborate.
The two diplomatic dinners follow
and the neutrality of the White House
Is concerned in having each no less
brilliant, elaborate and attractive than
the other. The neutral diplomats by
the fortune OF war enjoy two dinners
Instead OF mono at all, as they would
If the world were at peace.
The Congressional reception from
point Of numbers is the largest event
Of the year. 1t is always q crush"
Every member OF Congress, any con
stituents who happen in town, his
clerks aud stenOgraphers, any many
others not connected with the govern.
ment at all are sure to be there. The
guests come in street cars and afoOt
as well as in automobiles and car
| riages. 1t is the CommoncrS' recep.
ton from every point UT view but the
White House goes to no less pains
with It,
The Supreme Court dinner is n
quiet, dignified affair. 1t will be noted
that this years program contains no
reception to the judiciary, which from
the social point of view always was Il
rather solemn affair, so much so, that
it was the only event for which the
demand for invitations did not exceed
the supply.
With the diplomatic reception out
Of the way, the army ana navy reCGp
, ton becomes the most ColUrful and
lively of all. Officers OF the Army,
Navy and Marine Corps i'll iull dress
uniforms resplendent with gold braids
and decorations give 1t an air of bril-.
lance that is described as eXhilarat.
ing.
The Speakers dinner, a compare.
lively new institution in White House
Social annals, winds UP the list and
generally is attended by cabinet men,
bers, leaders in Congress and few
with the Speakers of the House Of Rep.
resentatives.
The elimination Of the time.honored
New Years reception marked the
passing Of what actually was physi.
cal endurance test on the part OF the
President. In years gone by as many
as ten thousand persons had passed
through the White House in a few
hours on New Years day to grasp the
Presidents hand for a brief moment.
The Marine Band always played its
liveliest Quicksteps and four four and
five hours the lines would pour in one
door and out the other. Presidents
Roosevelt and Taft set some handshak.
ing records, meeting nine and ten thou
sand people at a reception. 1t Is said
that one President, long since dead,
solved the problem by standing in
front of velvet curtain. through
slit in which relay of aides stretch.
ed their hands under the Presidents
right arm. and. as the visitors crushed
the hands of the aides the President
bowed and smiled appropriately and
kept his own right hand unframed.