Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-04
IN THE WORLD OF SOCIETY
ANOTHER WORD OF THE NEXT
MISTRESS OF WHITE HOUSE.
Elkins Home Is Being Made Ready
for Family-Weddings.
Personal Notes.

Mrs. Taft has lived here so long that
she is no stranger to any one acquainted
with the official set. She has had a wide
experience with all of our local customs.
surprising in this respect the present
mistress of the White House, whose
young family was her chief care, when
her husband was here as an official prior
to his national offices. Mrs. Taft has
had the publicity which attends the wife
of a cabinet officer, as well as all its
honors, throughout her Washington resi-
dence. Flattering as it had been, 1t was
nothing to the Difference paid her in the
Philippines as the wife of the civil gov
'ernor. Later globe-trotting experiences
and their aid in equalizing values make
Mrs. Taft the most widely and best in
formed mistress the White House has
ever had
Everybody knows that Mrs. Taft is we'll
educated, has decided opinions on all the
leading questions of the day, and that
she has desired first of all for her chill
dren the best education they could Sc
cure, and has given them every incentive
not to waste minute in their school or
college life. She is blessed with good
health, and is as fond of the regular
feminine occupations of the period as
anybody with whom she is intimate. or
the three children of the famous couple
Robert Alphonso Taft is junior at Yale;
Miss Helen Taft, senior at Bryn MaWr,
and Charles Taft, the youngest of the
trio, is an especially lively boy of eleven,
who has done" the Philippines with his
parents and otherwise familiarized him.
self with the good times of other boys
who do not live on K street, where he
has spent nearly four happy years.
Mrs. Taft, who has the center of the
social stage today, as has her husband
the center of the political arena, is des-
| tined to play parts graceful and impor-
| tant, said one of her local admirers to
Star writer today. Mrs. Taft has legion
of loyal friends, who can scarcely wait
| for the 4th of March to see her in the
White House.
1T can be truly said that Mrs. Taft is
womanly woman in its broadcast accepta-
| ton. She has large-souled qualities and
calm, gentle, judicious presence She
| has not lived without ambition. Her hus-
bands brilliant successes are the fruits
of her ambition
Few homes revealed more comfort and
artistic taste than that of the Tafts last
winter on X street. Her varied family and
social interests did not interfere with her
| keeping in close touch with the i'm
portant progress of the times. These,
combined with her love of music, litera-
ture and French, make her valuable
aid to her husband, who Is SO richly en-
dowed with all the qualities that place
him far in advance of men of affairs
| today.
Mrs. Taft is we'll poised and dignified,
but, at the same time, friendly and easy.
Statesmen and diplomats have alike paid
homage to her. She does not aim at
lavish display in entertaining or in dress. -
Preparations are being made in Senator
Elkins' house on K street for the return
of the family. The boards have been
Il ,fv,lD
and corps Of servants is making the
mansion ready for occupancy. The white
light which has Illuminated the mountain
home of the family for the past month,
since Mrs and Miss Elkins returned there
from their summer travels, will be short
ly transferred to the X street house, to
which the Duke of the Abruzzi is no
stranger, and where society and other
folks confidently expect to see him again,
and very shortly.
The marriage of Miss Ethel Cryder,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Cryder
of New York, and Cecil Higgins, a son of
Henry V. Higgins of London, and former
ly a secretary of the British embassy here
will take place at the residence of Mr. and
Mrs. Cryder, New York city, December l..
Mr. Higgins. accompanied by his brother,
Hubert Higgins, who will be his best man,
will sail this week, and is expected here
November Ii. Miss Cryder will have no
maid of honor and her bridesmaids have
not yet been decided upon. The wedding
will be witnessed by the immediate family
of the bride and bridegroom only. There
will be small reception. The couple will
| live in England.
Hiss Irene Moore. who has been here on
| a visit to her aunt, is now in New York
| for a short stay.
At Epiphany Church this evening, the
marriage will occur OF Miss Marie Boyd
| Mcknight, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Henry Mcknight, to Mr.. Ralph Bald
win Pratt. who is private secretary to
Commissioner West. Miss Nellie Boyd
will be maid of honor. and Miss Edith
Finch. Miss Helene Oyster. Miss Lois
| Irwin and Miss Louise Garner, brides
maids. Mr.. Walter G. Pratt. jr., will be
best man, and Messrs. Thomas E. Brad
| ley, Keith Paris, Carlisle Sell and Charles
| White jr.. will be ushers. The couple will
live at I514 u street upon their return
| from their honeymoon jaunt.
| Miss Edna Donaldson and Mr.. J. Forney
Donaldson will be married at the home of
| the brides parents, Mr.. and Mrs. William
A. Donaldson, this evening. Only a
family party will witness the ceremony,
| but a large reception will follow. Mrs.
Nellie Law johnson and Miss Alene North
will attend the bride. and Mr. Neville Nor
| ton will be best man.
Mrs Nanette B. Paul returned Sunday