Evening star., 1925-01-01
White House Reception Is
ColorfuI Rival of Pre-
War Events.
SCENE ATTRACTS GREAT
CROWD OF SPECTATORS
High Officials of All Countries,
Various Groups and Private
Citizens in Line.


dent and Mrs. Coolidge are receiving
the people, high and low. at the
White House today.
With its picturesque setting mad.
more beautiful by new fallen snow,
the doors of the White House were
thrown open to all who wished to
pass through it's portals to grasp
the Presidents hand and to receive
from him a wish for a happy new
year"
Despite the cold and the snow-cov-
cred ground, a crowd which trails it's
way through the blue room, where the
President stands, until midafternoon.
had gathered early. Many came to
seek points of vantage from which
to watch the cars bearing the distin-
guiShed gueSts-memberS of the cabi-
net, high officers Of the Army and
Navy and the diplomats from the ma
tions of the world. Their automobiles
began streaming into the White House
grounds shortly before IL O'Clock. the
hour set for the beginning of the re-
ception.
Scene Is Brilliant.
Alighting from their automobiles
the guests were Immediately ushered
into the White House through the
south entrance, the members of the
cabinet joining the President and
Mrs. Coolidge in a room above, while
the diplomats and others took their
stations to await their reception in
the blue room later by the President.
Those watching outside caught
glimpses of brilliant uniforms, fash
ing swords and jewels as the guests
left their cars and hurried inside.
Observers said the reception this year
was the most brilliant of any since
the pre-war days The diplomats, for
instance, wore their court uniforms
instead of their army uniforms, re
verting to a custom dropped during
the war. and the effect was colorful
and impressive.
Opening Is Impressive.
The opening of the reception was
particularly imposing, carrying out
the best traditions of American af-
fairs OF state and following a preee-
dent of many years standing. The
President and Mrs. Coolidge, who
were joined a few moments earlier
by members of the cabinet and their
ladies. who greeted them and ex-
tended Fluctuations in the private
drawing room on the second floor of
the mansion. helped form the prone
made of state down the broad stair
way into the red corridor and then
into the blue room, the parlor of
state, where diplomats and .poten-
tates always are received.
The fanfare of trumpets sounded
for the appearance of the President
and Mrs. Coolidge on the stairway,
and led by group of aides and
followed by the Secretary of State
and Mrs. Hughes and other members
of the Cabinet and their ladies they
proceeded into the drawing room to
the strains of Hail to the Chief" To
greet them there were q number of
guests invited to assist and entertain
other guests who later entered. John
Coolidge, the son of the house, and
Mr. and Mrs. Frank w. StearnS of
Boston were of this number, the Cabi
net members and their ladies ming
ling with the guests until time to
leave for the diplomatic breakfast
with the Secretary of State and Mrs.
Hughes as hosts.
Scene Is CoIorfuI.
The scene was a colorful one, gay
Christmas decorations of poinsettia in
the red corridor and the splendid uni
forms of the Marine Band greeting
the sight of visitors they arrived.
The diplomats made up an inter
esting company that almost filled the
state dining room, where they met
and formed according to rank ready
to be presented. The French Am
bassador and Nine. Jusserand, and the
Ambassador of Italy, Don Gelasio
Caetani. and the German Ambassador,
DR.. Wiedfeldt, all soon to leave Wash
ington, held little receptions of their
own, while they awaited the opening
of the New Year day reception. The
hospitable custom of receiving on the
first day of the year is an old one,
and started a century and more ago
for the purpose of giving foreigners
an opportunity to present the COM
pliments of their rulers to the Presi-
dent of the United States, and grew
to its present proportions, until it
now embraces bodies military, official
and civic.
Greeted by COolidges.
Mrs. Coolidge stood with the Presi-
dent as the guests were received,
their station being just inside the
blue room door, where Col. Sheriff.
and Capt. Adolphus Andrews, military
and naval aides, respectively, made
introductions, while the other aides
were stationed at various convenient
points about the state suite, meeting
distinguished strangers and other
wise being useful and highly orna-
mental, wearing, as they did, their
full dress uniforms with sword
The old custom of all of the cabi-
net women standing in line with the
President and the first lady of the
land has become obsolete, these ladies
and their husbands mixing generally
among the guests.
Mrs. Coolidge looked almost girlish
as she smileo through the second
New Year day RECEPTION with the
President, who looked equally salts
fed.
She wore a simple costume of rus
set color satin faced crepe, the long
tunic of the crepe with band of satin
at the bottom, a moderately high
round neck and long sleeves to the
wrists.
For the first time the Director of
the Budget, Brig. Gen. Herbert M.
Lord, and Mrs. Lord occupied their
new position, giving them rank Just
below the cabinet, ahead of the Dip
lomatic corps, and Immediately fol-
lowed by the head of the Pan-Ameri-
can Union-in this instance the act.
ing director, DIR. E. Gil Borges. How
ever, like the members of the cabinet,
the director had been received in the
same informal manner that the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge received tho
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