Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-06


used also as bedroom, Its distin-
gushing feature a great Filipino bed
with four posts and a canopy OF Span
ish design, deliberately carved; a wide
bow window holding a large business
like desk covered with papers and all
the paraphernalia of composition;
row of glass-cased book shelves full
of volumes in bindings that show use;
"a wall above 1t covered with framed
photographs: another wall holding five
large cartoons, Originals presented
by the caricaturists themselves; a
general atmosphere of quiet and studi-
ousness-such is the room in the house
ON K street, Washington. which sees
most of William Howard Taft.
1t is in a three story house with
twelve rooms next door to the house
now occupied by Admiral Dewey. Two
great crimson rambler rose bushes
climb up its front In wild profusion.
To run the house requires four serv-
ants-a cook, maid, a negro butler,
Jackson. and a Filipino boy, Monica.
whom Secretary Taft brought over af-
ter his famous trip to the islands
The two family carriages-a brougham
and a victoria-require a coachman
and a groom.
In the house Mr. Taft is stickler
for the proprieties. He never appears
outside his room except In ordinary
dress. A dressing gown is taboo. But
in his room, when he may be up until
a. M, he may work in his shirt
sleeves and a pair of straw slippers
from the Philippines.
Mr.. Taft's bedroom is all in. red. and
the great central piece of furniture Is
the superb bed which he brought from
the Philippines. It is carved in ivory
cedar, with four great posts, the de-
sign in roses and palm leaves. The
lining of the canopy Is in red brocade,
carrying out the same pattern in the
weave as the bed does in the carving.
II is covered with a fine spread OF
white silk, with his initials en-
broidered in the middle and four pine
trees, one in each corner, the gift OF
some Of Secretary Taft's Filipino
friends.
Near the bed hangs his favorfte
photograph OF Mrs. Taft. 1t was taken
three years ago, and Secretary Taft
declares that nothing taken since then
can approach 1t.
Other photographs are a record Of
years packed full Of incident and
achievement. They show scenes in
Rome and In st. Petersburg. in Cuba
and in the Malacana.n palace at Man
lila, Mr.. Taft's residence when he was
governor-genera of the Philippines. In
the place Of honor hangs his favorite
portrait Of Mrs. Taft. Among the
books are the text books of his law
school days. worn with the coming
of the dead-in- earnest young student
to whom the law was great fetish.
The presence Of the cartoons Is char
acteristic. They stand for a great
man with the saving grace Of humor
who appreciates no joke better than
one aimed at himself, and in whom g
strenuous political life has life no trace
of gall and wormwood.
There are many likenesses between
the career Of William Howard Taft and
that Of his father, Judge Alonzo Taft
Both were graduated from Yale. Both
chose the practice Of law. Both were
judges of the superior court, Cincin-
hereditary inclination, perhaps, but nc
over influence.
The Taft drawing room IS a fine
apartment done in old rose and gold
1t Is crowded with curios which the
secretary has brought from all ove1
the world All it's furniture was USED
in the Malacanan palace, where HI
made his official home lin Manila.
The Taft dining room is elastic. Mr.
Taft is Just as apt as not to telephone
home that he is bringing eight guests tt
luncheon with him. Mrs. Taft is al
ways ready. The luncheon is served
with just as much attention to detail
as III Mrs. Taft knew a week In adj
vance that her husband was to have
his guests that particular day She
runs her house in thes old fashioned
style. She gives 1er orders every day
herself and she knows just what II
going on below stairs as well as above
stairs.
The Tafts are proud to use the Sill
yer they have had since they begar
housekeeping. Mr. Taft has the same
knife and fork he has used since the
day he was married.
Judge Taft, the elder. where child
rem were concerned, was no believer II
policy Of coercion. He hoped his sor
| would choose the law, but he did no
urge 1T. And the son, in his turn. use!
suggestion, not persuasion with hi!
own family. He believes strongly II
developing a chi1d's individuality
teaching him to think for himself
wrongly perhaps, learning the righ
way for himself by trial and failure
This is the daily gospel of the Tai
home. His children's likes and dis
likes wherever possible, are allowed
to rule their actions.
| In the household each member ha.
his or her particular room, furnished
in his or her particular way Robert
the eldest son. is at Yale. His hone
room is hung in Yale blue Helen
the daughter, chose pink Charlie, thu
| 10-year- old, has a penchant for brigh
colors, and his walls are damask red
He keeps his own books = one shell
contains many autographed copies =
his own pet curios and the toys tina
have been put upon the honorably dis
charged list.
Thruout their childhood it had to BE-