The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-02
BRILLIANT
GATHERING
Of ENJOYS
At CRUSH
President and Wife Receive Vast
Throng Of Taxpayers in
Early Afternoon.
BY JEAN ELIOT.


The President and Mrs. Harding
kept open house at the White House
today and "all Washington" an.
parently turned out to wish then.
Happy New Year."
1t was the first time in nearly
ten years that the historic New
Year reception at the White House
has been held. and it had to be
divided into two sections-so great
was the number of people who
turned out to do honor to the CHIEF
Executive.
Officials in Morning.
In the morning the official world
was received, in the afternoon the
general public, the President and Mrs.
Harding retiring between one and
two o'clock to their private apart
ments for a rest and luncheon.
Coming from the North and South,
the East and West, the citizens Of
America flocked to the White House.
standing in line for hours before they
could gain entrance. Those who con
troll the destinies of the Republic were
present and those who pay the ex,
penses.
Every country of the world with
which the United States maintains
diplomatic relations was represented
by the entire embassy or legation
staff, and for the first time since the
great war set the world on fire, diplo-
mats from Germany and Austria
rubbed elbows with the representa-.
tives Of the nations who had been their
enemies.
Court dress, long packed away in
camphor, was brought out for the oc.
casion and the gold lace Of diplomatic
uniforms We'd in splendor with the
gold lace Of the full dress uniforms Of
the army, navy, and marine corps.
Promptly at II o'clock the front
doors Of the mansion Of the Chief
Executive were swung open. Visitors
Day was announced. A minute later
an army Of men, women, and children
wedged their way toward the entrance
Another minute and Americas big.
gest reception was under way.
With outstretched hands, the Pres
ident and Mrs. Harding welcomed the
first line of visitors.
Cabinet Received.
The President and Mrs. Harding had
first extended a greeting to the Vice
President and Mrs, Coolidge, the mem.
bers Of the Cabinet and their wives,
who were received in their private
apartments. They came down the
state stairway together, the Vice Presi.
dent and Mrs. Coolidge following the
President and Mrs. Harding, and Cabi.
net behind them two and two.
The Secretary of State and Mrs
Fughes were followed closely by Mr..
Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury,
who had his tall young daughter. Miss
Eilsa Mellon, on his arm. The Secre.
tary of War and Mrs. Weeks, the
Secretary Of the Navy and Mrs. Den.
by, the Secretary of Commerce and
Mrs. Hoover, and the Secretary Of
Labor and Mrs. Davis were others In
this group.
The strains Of Hail to the Chief"
greeted the appearance Of the Chief
Executive, played by the Marine Band
under the direction of Lieutenant
Santelman. The band was stationed
in the main hallway, their scarlet
coats contributing a brilliant note Of
color. The Stars and Stripes, held
by soldiers in uniform, thanked the
doorway through which the Presi.
Dental party entered and gave a fur
ther touch of military pomp.
Once in the Blue Room, the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Harding took their
stand before the door leading into
the state Dining Room, with two
uniformed aides stationed behind
them The cabinet members were
not in line, but held an impromptu
reception behinds the ropes. members
of the diplomatic corps and men and
women prominent in the official world