Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-01
PRESIDENT GREETS
/. GREAT AND LOWLY
!. AT OPEN RECEPTION
Executive and Mrs. Coolidge
Extend Hospitality to All
at White House.
DIPLOMATS GIVE TOUCH
OF OLD WORLD SPLENDOR
ALI Creeds, Races and Levels Re-
ceive Welcome as Custom of
Washington Is Followed.

A custom that was born almost
with the Nation was renewed today
when the White House threw open
its doors to the lofty and lowly of all
the world while the President and
the First Lady of the Land extended
them friendly hand and a word OF
New Year greeting.
Inaugurated during the FIRST admin
istration Of George Washington, the
New Year day reception at the White
House today presented all of the
mingled color and simplicity that have
made 1t legendary with American
idealism-an occasion when the Exec
utive Mansion withholds it's hospital
ity from no citizen.
The pageantry of the old world
passed in review as the diplomatic
corps. most of the members wear
ing the glittering uniforms of their
office, brought the greetings of dis
tant lands. The democracy that is
America. was vividly picturized by the
long line of just plain citizens. Of all
creeds, all races and all planes Of So
ciety, that followed.
Mistletoe Adds Sentiment.
A big spray of mistletoe, suspended
from the main entrance. lent a senti-
! mental touch to the decorations in
the foyer. Splashes of scarlet poin-
settas. scattered among the customary
| banks of friendly palms and ferns
| and boughs of hemlock and holly,
| added new touch to the scene this
/ year. In the quiet atmosphere of the
| old Colonial surrounding the effect
was impressive
! None of the eagerness with which
| the citizenry of America has gather
| ed to greet the President and First
Lady at their New Year receptions
was missing this year. Although it
was O'Clock before the general
| public was received, the crowds be-
! gan gathering at the customary gate
| on Pennsylvania avenue before then.
and from that moment the police had
! their hands full handling constants
| " growing line.
Follow Tradition Closely.
Tradition was followed to the letter
| today On either side OF the plate
glass doors entering the foyer from
the main portico the United States
Marine Band Orchestra was grouped
in two sections. Promptly at IL
o'clock the Marine trumpeters, wear
! ing their distinguishing scarlet and
blue dress uniforms, sounded q -four
ish, announcing that the President
and Mrs. Coolidge, accompanied by
the members of the cabinet, were
about to descend the state stairway
and enter the blue room.
A few minutes earlier the Presi-
dent and Mrs Cnn1iHeyn hnd
ceived the members of the cabinet
and their wives in private in the
library on the second floor OF the
White House. For fully 15 minutes
the diplomatic corps, most of it's rep
resentatives wearing the colorful uni
forms Of their office, had been gath
ering in the big state dining room,
and by the time the President and
Mrs. Coolidge were ready to receive
the room was a buzz of hurriedly
exchanged greetings and Of politely
modulated conversation.
To many of the diplomats the color
full scene was a new one. In the year
since the Executive Mansion greeted
the corps on New Year day many
changes have occurred in its ranks,
and new faces were to be found on
every hand. The passage of the
months, however, had not dimmed
! the sparkling brilliance of the spec
tacle Framed by the dull blue color
scheme of the room, the scene looked
liked a canvas of some gay Napoleonic
court brought suddenly to life.
Japanese Envoy Absent.
There were some striking absentees.
the Ambassador of Japan, Mr.. Mat
sudaira, Nine. Matsudaira and the en-
tire embassy suite being excused from
the reception on account of court
mourning for His Imperial Highness
the Emperor of Japan, which placed
court mourning on all its embassies
and legations for 55 days from the
time of the Emperors death.
The Ambassador of Great Britain,
Sir Esrne Howard, though in mourn
ing for the death recently OF son,
led the embassy staff, while Lady
Isabel Howard was absent.
The white uniform of the Minister
from Persia, heavily braided with gold.
offered sharp contrast to the scarlet
coats of the British attaches. All of
the studied pomp of Smartly tailored
military uniforms and clinking trap
pings was presented in a gay array
Of color. Blending with these We're
the modish gowns, colored in all of
the latest shades of the season, of
L0o IduleS VI lH0 eH1DdSSleS, In0 WIVES
and sisters of the Ambassadors, Min
listers and attaches.
AS the flourish of trumpets ended
in the soft march, Hail to the Chief"
the President came down the main
stairway to the foyer, with Mrs Cool
idge beside him, smiling graciously in
response to the solemn, low bows of
every one as she passed. Immediately
behind them came the members of the
cabinet, in the order of their office,
the Secretary of State being first.
Receive ir Blue Room.
Everything was carried out accord
ing to precedent. When the President
and Mrs. Coolidge took their places in
the blue room, where the executive
couple always receive, the diplomats
began to pass into the room. They
greeted the President and Mrs. Cool
idge in the order of their length of
service in Washington. Baron de
Cartier de Marchienne, the Ambassa-
dor from Belgium, Is the dean of the
Ambassadors now. so he and the
baroness were the first, together with
the embassy staff.
Next came Sir Esme Howard, Am
bassador of Great Britain, and his
staff. Following in order appeared the
staffs of the embassies of Argentina,
Peru, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Japan,
Brazil, Cuba, France, Chile, Spain
Then the Ministers and their staffa