The Alaska daily empire., 1916-01-29

last the door of the blue room. in which stood the receiving party, was in sight. The secret service men, one on each side of the door. reduced the line to single Tile. The crush was redoubled. Sharp elbows and obtrud- ing bodies in a party of Pan.American delegates to the correspondence rear, together with the character of their conversation on mismanagement Of public functions in America. caused him to thing there is more pan than America in their composition.
 It was ten minutes before midnight when the correspondent reached the door. Here a handsome figure of a man in military uniform, tiny, waxed grap moustache adorning the fine old face of Col. Harts. bent down to get the name. Then with ceremony undi- unfinished after hours at the job, the colonel presented the correspondents 8 wife and the correspondent to the President. at the very instant that the correspondent passed the door.
 Wan, PaIlid Face
 And here was shock. This pallid, wan face that of the Pres dent? TO one accustomed to seeing the active figure on the golf links or dlscours- ing to groups in the White House offices. it was indeed a shock Rigid. with shoulders sagging, eyes fixed al- most in a trance, he stood and lifted lishtlessly a nervous hand in machine fashion, repeating the name in low voice. A glance at his eyes discover ed physical pain there.
 Have you ever visited a friend just recovering from serious Illness and marked the strained look that spells exhaustion? It was here in that drawn face A wave of pity surged up in ones breast. and murmuriag MT. President" the correspondent barely touched the hand, bowed and moved on.
 But what a charming figure came next The new Mrs Wilson. Sweet of face and eyes, radiant. possessing perfect poise showing no signs of stra n. less plump that her pictures -how her, she was cheerful and friendly figure.
 Mrs. Lansing Absent
 Mrs. Lansing. whose place was next in line. was gone, on old injury 10 her shoulder-result of too much golf-having caused her to abandon the line early. In her place stood the girlish daughter of the President, wife If the secretary of the treasury. Her husbands dark. lean face peered over her shoulder
 Then all the cabinet ladies were in line. a graceful, gracious company with their husbands 4 select few stood "behind the line" The men all looked tired, but, oddly enough. the women all looked fresh and happy none more so than Mrs Daniels. a woman who looks far more disting. uished than her husband and who pos sesses an air of breeding and refine. ment that would set her apart any. where.
 Somehow she managed to give an individual touch to her greeting. al. though the correspondent knew she had already greeted thousands.
 Swiftly the correspondent went on down the line, swiftly as compared with the hours of approach, and sud- denly emerged into Q larger and less crowded apartment and got a breath of welcome air.
 That was the blue room. wasn't it?" the correspondent was asked.
 "Er. ah, yes, my dear; that was the blue room"
 But why the blue room7 I didn't see anything blue there, except the gowns Of the women"
 Confused As to Color Of Room
 And then the correspondent rcaliz- ed that he had not seen much of any thing in the room except the line and that if he were put on oath he could not have tcld whether the room was blue or salmon p'nk.
 Following the course of the crowd he was swept into the great. state dining room. across the length of it being a buffet which had been erect. ed, with half a score of walters be. hind it. But by the time Inc had man. aged to progress through the crush naught was left Of the supper save a few pastries.