Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-20

of woman suffrage, for the politician
of the family" is not opposed to woman
suffrage at all.
Mrs. Taft. indeed can see no reason
why unmarried women should not vote.
though she beileves that to place women
in office is subversive of the natural or
der
OF these things. however, she would not
speak for publication. So she went on
talking of novels and poetry and music.
Music is Mrs. Tafts passion.
Il am fond of grand OPERA she said.
During the winter l frequently run over
to New York TO hear my favorite operas.
My brOther-in-law has season seats. He
is kind enough to let me have them.
Il organized the Cincinnati Symphony
Orchestra" she added. and was Its pres
ident for a long time
Mrs. Taft was born in Cincinnati and
attended the university there for one year.
Then she married Mr.. Taft
You must have been very young" said
the reporter.
No replied Mrs. Taft. matter-of-
| factly. Il was twenty-five"
Not Sensitive Regarding Age.
So it will be seen that the usual femi-
nine vanity concerning age is entirely
foreign to the woman who in all prOba-
biity will rule over the White House next
year.
When she enters that historic mansion.
which is within few blocks of her pres
ent home on 10th street. Mrs. Taft will
become the mistress of home with
whose entry room she was familiar long
before she had ever thought of being Mrs.
Taft. For her father was the law partner
of President Hayes. and as young girl
she was made a member OF the hayes
home circle.
Though too young to be launched in
society. little Miss Helen Heron, as she
was then, saw much of White House life,
and still recalls with reminiscent delight
the midnight suppers. which were one OF
the diversions of the Hayes family after
the departure of official guests.
a bibulouS senator once said, in descr1b-
ing the Hayes parties. which were strict
ly "teetotal' affairs. that water flowed
like champagne" at them.
1 don't know what Mrs. Tafts views
on the prohibition question are, but I am
sure she would never allow her personal
prejudices, if she has any, to make the
United States ridiculous.
If the prohibitioniStS in the republican
party had only known it, Secretary Cor
telyou was the man for them to nominate.
For Mrs. COrtelyOu never serves wine at
her dinners. and has never been seen in
low-cut gown. even at state functions.
Trophies of Foreign Travel.
Mrs. Taft's home speaks Of her travels
In many lands. To sit in the terra Gotta
drawing room in which she received me Is
like making the Taft tour of the world
over again.
A magnificent cabinet Of hand-carved
wood presented by the Filipinos tells of
the Secretarys governorship of the is
lands. Chinese vases and hangings recall
their sojorn in the FlOwery kingdom. A
Fcrnis Martin table of unusual beauty
represents France. But the mantelpiece
gives Mrs. Taft's own touch to the room,
for on it there are photographs OF many
children.
There is no luxury in the Taft home.
There are no airs about Mrs Taft She
talked as. naturally and simply as If she
were the wife of a War Department clerk.
and she followed me to the door of her
home and said goodbye with a cordiality
that most women of supposed Importance
in New York reserve for persons tAey
consider more important than themselves.
l left her feeling that the intelligence.
simplicity and strength of the American
woman could not be more worthily rem.
resented.