The National tribune., 1907-12-12


1 would accept it,
From Cleveland comes the report that
Mayor Tom L. Johnson, who has de-
clared in favor of w. j. Bryan, as the
Democratic candidate for President
has raised a fund of 100000 to induce
the National Committee to hold the
convention here.
The trip home of the Secretary of
War will be a sad one, for he was in
formed by wireless telegraph just as
he was starting on the homeward trip
that his mother, Mrs. Louisa NJ. Taft,
had passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, at
her home in Milbury, Mass.
Mrs. Taft was tak.n i'll of acute in
digestion early last July, and tho she
rallied to some degree, was never well
after that attack, and has gradually
lost strength. She was taken violently
ill again a few weeks ago, and for a
week previous to ner death had been
in an unconscious state. and passed
away without reviving so as to know
anyone. Interment will be in Cincin-
natl, where her husband, Judge AL
phonso Taft, is buried.
Secretary Taft was devoted TO his
mother, and during her last illness
spent as much time with her as his
state duties would permit. 1t was with
great reluctance that he parted with
her for his Worldwide trip, but it had
been long planned, and duty impera-
lively called him away. He visited his
mother for day previous to starting.
Mrs. Taft was the daughter of Sam
uel d. Torrey, of Milbury, Mass She
was born in Boston so years ago last
September, but spent the early part of
her life in Milibury. When she was
about % years old she became the
second wife of Alphonso Taft, of Gin
cinnati, o., who later was Secretary of
War under Grant.
Mrs. Taft had five children, one of
whom, Samuel, died in infancy. The
others are william H. Taft, Secretary
of War; Henry w. Taft, Horace d.
Taft, and Mrs. William A. Edwards, of
Los Angeles, who was Miss Francis l..
Taft.
Mrs. Taft's family, the Torreys, took
a prominent part in the early history
of Massachusetts. Her great-grand-
father, Col. Holman, commanded a reg
iment in the battle of Saratoga.
There's a story being told about the
Count Sneezezanzee, or some name to
that effect, who is to marry the not a
bit pretty Miss Gladys Vanderbilt.
There is in New York a very swell
Hungarian society which has money
enough to relieve the financial strin-
gency of the country and then some,
and has also blue blood to the limit
Well, down here in Washington Austro-
Hungary is represented by a Baron
Baron Hengelmuller Hengovar, so to
speak-and his wife is called a Baron
ess, and they boss things some socially,
for they are really very nice people
and entertain handsomely, not to say
extravagantly. The Baron is very well
liked everywhere. But the Baron and
Mrs. Baron Hengelmuller are very ex-
elusive, oh, very. The Vanderbilt Count
is exclusive, too, oh, very, and the how
TO get the two exclusives together was
the aim of the Vanderbilts, who have
never broken into the Diplomatic Corps
here to any great extent. The Hun
garian Society," That was the card to
play! How much the play may have
cost the Vanderbilts is not known, but
it came off according to schedule. The
principals in the play, however. didn't
know anything about each other until
they met on the mat at the dinner
given by the Hungarian Society. Baron
Hengelmuller Hengovar was invited to
be the guest of the society to meet some
of its friends, and accepted. Count
SneezeZanzee was invited that his coun-
trymen might do honor to him, and
bOlH lle Baron ana the count came.
There was curiosity to know how the
two notables would greet each other,
and curiosity was satisfied. They met
as two gentlemen who know their world
would naturally meet. Then the Count
was invited to Washington to dine with
the Hengelmullers, so it may be said
that the Vanderbilts have arrived in
diplomatic circles, tho, come to think
the bride-elect was not of the chosen
at the dinner or any of her kim But
her future husband will establish her
status in society, of course.
Tom Watson, eX-Congressman, ex-
Presidential candidate, eX-newspaper
man, at present editor of his own mag
azine, was the guest of the President
at dinner the other day. He came by
special invitation, as the President had
heard from him that he had a cure for
the. financial troubles of the country.
Watson got the dinner. but whether the
President got the financial recipe for
relief is not known. Watson is a very
congenial sort of a man when he isn't
riding his hobby.
Bear-Stenk Dinner.