The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-01-06
$500 BAND-SHAkES
FOR HARDING JAN. |
Throng Visits Mansion AS
Doors Open First Time
In 9 Years.

and Mrs Harding threw the White
House doors open o the public today
for the first New Years reception
held there for nine years. The num-
Der responding to the general invita-
tion was officially estimated at $500
many OF whom stood for hours in a
biting wind and in a slowly moving
column Of tours which extended for
blocks from the Pennsylvania avenue
porticos.
The President and Mrs. Harding
met aad shook hands with all, a
physical feat of no mean magnitude
and one from which they showed more
than few signs OF strain at 4 o'clock
when the last person in the line had
passed.
The official section was received
from IL to 1 o'clock and there were
approximately 1000 participating in
1t, headed by the Cabinet, the diplo-
matte corps, members Of Congress,
army and navy officers. and the high
err Officials OF the government estab-
lishments. The brilliant uniforms
and gala dress kept the big state
rooms of the White House full of
color while the curving driveways
were jammed with automobiles. The
numbers were swelled by the dele
gates and attendants upon the arms
conference, all respondent In orders
and decorations.
Two Motives For Moving.
The gates of the White House
incloaure were swung back at 2
O'Clock for the public to enter, and
led by the inevitable small boy the
/, head OF a long column which had
dared the January breeze swept for
ward to the pillared entrance. A
relocated marine orchestra, divided
In two sections, so that by alternat-
ing continuous music could be main
tanned. began its program as the pro-
cession moved up. The big doors
were propped back and for two hours
the moving mass moved thru the mas
sive entrance, its individual units
jlgging under the combined stimu-
lus of the music and the cold.
Secret service men, ushers and
goid-corded military aides cut the
quadruple line down to single file
once it was within the entrance.
Under their insistent instructions OF
keep your hands in sight" many de-
veloped tendency to put both hands
out in front above the waistline and
hold them there. Uniformed police
meanwhile eombed the column out
side for cameras, relentlessly reliev-
Ing their bearers or taking the boxes
away for deposit,
The presidential party stood in the
oval Blue room lust out of hearing
Of the orchestra and the visitors pass
ed at the rate of thirty or forty a
minute. This speed was attained
thru the insistent pressure OF aides
sad attaches, and the President and
Mrs. Harding rose to the occasion,
meeting the physical test without
tagging. The crowd was thoroughly
cosmopolitan, representative Of many
races and nationalities. The chill
dren of whom there were many were
given special attention.
Hello, dearie,' the President
said to one tot who was passing on
a paternal shoulder.
The next moment the flickering
line disclosed four small negroes
marshalled ahead of their mother.
why, look who's here" the Pres
ident exclaimed as he bent over and
smiled into the flashing teeth and
rolling eyeballs that were sweeping
by How are you youngsters?"
Mrs. Harding smiled and added a
pleasant word here and there while
she quickly developed an efficient
swing to her right arm and shoulder,
which stood the strain as we'll as the
Presidents gold-developed muscles.
The people passed quickly and in
perfect order thru the east room and
thence to the street. there being
never an interruption or a moment
of confusion.
Only occasionally did the President
discover a personal acquaintance in
the throng, one being Urban Ledoux.
whose activities in connection with
unemployment and other activities
have been noted. frequently. To him
the President gave CHEEKY greeting.
As the line ran out to extinction
Mrs. Harding beckoned forward the
newspaper correspondents. greeting