Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-01
White House Welcomes All
Who Come to Time-Hon-
ored Celebration.
MEMBERS OF CABINET
FIRST TO SEE HOOVER
Marine Band Plays as Public Calls
on Chief Executive and First
Lady of Land.
BY ]. RUSSELL YOUNG.

Following a New Year day custom
dating back to the earliest days of the
Republic, the President and Mrs. Hoover
today are receiving all who present
themselves within the hospitable portals
Of the White House.
The doors of this historic mansion
have been flung wide for this annual
function, which has become a popular
tradition because Of its truly democratic
and picturesque nature, while Mr.. and
Mrs. Hoover, standing in the famous
blue room, are shaking hands and ex-
changing greetings with men and
women from all walks of life.
In this long line being received by
Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover are the high and
iowly, rich and poor, personages from
foreign lands and others from humble
places, among the latter being some
poorly clad. But with all participating
In this typicaliy American custom, it
was obvious that there was real rever-
ence for the President and First Lady
and a genuine sincerity in their hand
clasps and utteranceS OF Good wishes"
The faces and raiment of these sew
ing the compliments Of the season pre-
sent a splendid croSs-section of Ameri-
can citizenry. This is one occasion
when any one, regardless of race, color
or creed, whether in rags or IN rich
clothes, may walk right into the White
House and up to the President and his
wife and shake hands and wish them
well.
Opened at IL O'Clock.
It was not until IL o'clock that the
reception was formally entered upon,
but for half an hour or so in advance
Of that Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover more in
formally received the members Of the
Cabinet and their ladies and the Vice
President and Mrs. E. E. Gam, his sis
ter. in the library, on the second
floor In the meantime the throng OF
those in the so-called official portion OF
the reception were assembling in the
various rooms on the first floor. The
latter presented a brilliant and gay
scene. This was made especially pic
turesque and colorful by the presence
to the members Of the diplomatic
corps, attired in their striking uni
forms, adorned generously with gold
braid and decorations; high officers OF
the Army, Navy and Marine Corps In
their full-dresS uniforms and wearing
Meanwhile those IN what is described
as the public line were assembling be-
You'd the west gate. on Pennsylvania
avenue, waiting for o'clock, the hour
set for their line to start toward the
receiving line within. Some Of those in
this line had taken their position
hours ahead of the scheduled time, so
as to be among the first to exchange
greetings in the public portion Of the
great reception.
The interior of the White House has
been attractively decorated with palms,
poinsettias and other flowers and green's,
and the scene in the main foyer as Mr..
and Mrs. Hoover descended the long
stairway and took up their positions
near the south windows in the blue
room was a most interesting and pic
tureSque one
Followed by Cabinet.
Appearance of the President and Mrs.
Hoover was heralded by a fanfare Of
trumpets and ruff1es of the drums by
musicians of the United States Marine
Band. AS the distinguished couple, &C
companied by Capt. Russell Train and
Col. Campbell Hodges, naval and mill
tary aides, respectively, walked to the
blue room the band struck up Hail to
the Chief" Closely followed the gen.
titIIleu anu ldO4Co VI bAAC CdbAhSb. AAAS
latter took up their positions in the
blue room, but not in the receiving line.
A moment later, after the President
and Mrs Hoover had taken their posi-
tons, the signal was given, and the re-
ception line started in motion to lively
tune played by the band. The bands
men, with their SNOWY uniforms, add
greatly to the striking scene. The
musicians have been divided into two
* ~ ArWsn-
and half on the other There Is no
let-up in the playing. When one sec
ton stops for breath the other bursts
forth with a gay march air.
The first in the line to be received
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