Show oo I es Greet Envoys Public At Reception WASHINGTON Jan 2 AP AP-A AP A tradition handed down from the he tim time of J John hn Adams was acknowledged acknowledged edged ged once more at the White WhiteHouse WhiteHouse WhiteHouse House today when President and Mrs Coolidge invited official and diplomatic Washington and the pul public lic to exchange New Years Year's greetings Selecting el places in the blue room where John and and Abigail ali Adams first stood years ago to extend a a. Happy New Year to the h handful f officials and foreign envoys en who made up the citizenry of the young capita Mr 1 and Mrs 1 Coolidge had before them many hours of handshaking hand hand- shaking The rhe weatherman who forecast a t Continuance of low temperatures goVe gae little tittle encouragement encouragement to the hundreds who desired delred to wait walt m n line line- outside for the privilege of It tossing down the time red reU carpeted h halls Hs of or the White House Into the thc blue room for fOI a greeting from itom the president nt The largest number numb r Over ever v r received was m In 1922 wI when 1 l resident president and Mrs 1 shook hands with CABINET FIRST The Tito morning hours were allotted to to to- foreign diplomats diplomat and government govern govern- meat ment officials Fiat First t to be received recel were members of Mr Coolidge's cabinet then the diplomatic corps members of the supreme court COUlt f and ld other lher Judicial officials followed by d of congress and assistants to lo heads of ot various departments and members member of commissions ns Boards ards and other governmental bu bu- bu After Iter Jun luncheon heon the president was prepared to tale take his place once more more- to wish a a Happy New Year to as many mant citizens who cared to lo come The positions in the blue blu room ch en by Air Mr and Mrs 1 Coolidge for Cor the reception presented an unusual un unusual unusual un- un usual contrast to what must have been the picture on January 1 I 1301 1801 when President Adams welcomed at the first New Years Year's reception at atthe atthe atthe the White House Then the historic building stood alone in the wilderness wilderness wilder wilder- ness ness out of which tho national capital cap cap- capital ap- ap ital had arisen arIsen arIsen-an an unfinished poorly r heated lily illy lighted structure PLACE CHANGED The rhe now sumptuously decorated east room was then merely a place for Mrs Irs Adams to hang the family washing the stairway down h Mr and Mrs Airs Co Coolidge now descend in state at public functions fu W was s a n rickety flight of or steps of doubtful safety Although forced retirement from Cron office after a single term con con- fronted President Adams and his wife vile Abigail had made the tho journey to Washington for tho the New ew Years reception at the risk of or her health and the loss of some of oC her possessions possessions possessions posses posses- the same New Years Year's cheer prevailed then as has been the case at each succeeding observance of the tradition Mrs Adams' Adams biographer bios bios- ra pher tells the story On January 1 1 1801 1501 was hell held tie tle first New Years Year's reception at ute tile White House Mrs Adams recel received the guests with her own calm and dignity No one would have guessed that the White House was half finished finished finished fin fin- the tho principal stairs still lacking lack lack- Ing her china stolen and her husband husband hus hus- band defeated she was mistress not only of the White House but butof butof of tilt the situation |