The Washington herald., 1908-06-24

New Haven. Conn. June 23.-Secretary
Taft led the parade Of Yale alumni around
the baseball field to-day and Joined in the
cheering that helped TO send the Harvard
team down TO defeat
AS a red-hot college rooter. Mr.. Taft
has few equals, and when il comes TO
tramplng through mud on parade he is
almost in a class by himself When many
Of his classmates of IS, dripping perspira-
tlon. were crying for halt he was plod-
ding along cheerfully on the heels Of the
band waving salutes 10 the right and left
Mr.. Taft heard early in the day from
Gov. Herrick. of Ohio. that 1t was prob
able James S. Sherman. his running nate.
would have TO undergo an operation out
in Cleveland. Mr. Taft Immediately sent
this message 20 Mr.. Sherman:
Am greatly distressed to hear Of your illness
Hope Gov. Heuick viii keep me advised Of your
restoration tc health which l earnestly pray may
be rapid wM H. TAFT.
J. p. Morgan arrived in town this after
noon when Mr.. Taft and his classmates
were cheering themselves hoarse out at
the ball field. but he did not meet the
Secretary.
Busy All the Morning.
Secretary TafCs fun for the day began
in a pouring rainstorm. He had been
busy all the morning attending a meet
ing Of the Yale Corporation. OF which he
is a fellow, and delivering one or two
little speeches. He announced. when he
Joined his classmates on the steps of Old
Center Church. on the college green. at
! O'Clock, that he was through work for
the day and that he was goin., to light
right out and have the very best time he
knew how. As a starter, he dlscsrd. q
the sober-looking gown that enveloped
him all the morning. and, slapping the
Rev. Somebody-or-other On the back.
sang out:
SAY, Charlie. If ! looked as old as
you do, wouldn't show myself in this
parade"
But the photographer was ready 20 snap
the class picture. and somebody hollered:
For the love Of Moses, Bill, sit down and
give the picture man a chance"
Yes" chorused two or three others:
eve don't mind having you in the picture
with US providing you only give our faces
a show"
Tucked Into n Hole.
And so they tucked Mr.. Taft in a hole
a good big hole-in the middle Of the
group. just as they all had their pictures
taken as freshmen on the same steps
thirty-three years ago.
Just then. though. the heavens opened
all their stop-cocks and the rain fell in
bucketfuls. The big Secretary didn't
bulge an inch. If anything. the smile on
his face broadened.
cut It out; cut It out; let's wait until
the rain stops" yelled some OF the bald
headed rs men. but their cries were un-
needed. When the photoTaphing was
over. the members of the class Of '7S beat
II away to get on some dry clothes be-
fore going TO the baseball field.
The rain cooled the air. and as the sun
soon blazed forth. Secretary Taft and his
classmates started for the Yale field from
their headquarters at the Old Edwards
House. on Elm street at about O'Clock.
The Secretary had his little son Charlie
with him. Headed by a brass band. they
marched across the college green TO
Chapel street and up for about two
blocks where they boarded special cars.
Everybody was ready to give Yales most
famous alumnus a great reception when
he appeared on the field.
$4,000 Persons There.
All OF the reunion Glasses had assem-
bled at the gate 20 await his arrival. and
inside the inclosure about 1900 persons
were banked up on three sides Of the field.
As a standard-bearer with the Stars and
Stripes, followed by another. with the
white numerals, rs" on a blue back
ground, appeared in the gateway. a cheer
went up from both the Yale and Harvard
supporters.
Just behind the flags walked Big BnI'
Taft with Judge Howard c. Hollister.
OF Cincinnati, on one side and James
Lamberton. Of Harrisburg, secretary of
the class OF rs. on the other. Mr.. Taft
acknowledged the greeting by waving his
hat and then the march around the field
started. As the Secretary and his class
mates passed each stand they were
cheered, and then there was a lot moro
cheering when Mr.. Taft took his place
with his classmates in the front row of
the west stand. Mrs. Taft was waiting
for him there, and she sat with him dur
ing the entire game, sharing in the gen
eral tribute that was paid to the class
Of rs.
The other reunion classes waited until
the Secretary and his fellows had COM
pleted their circuit OF the field before they
marched in. But they raised hob when
they got there. First came the class of
50. about 100 strong. dressed IN white
duck suits. They halted In front of the
Taft stand and sent up an ear-splitting
cheer
'SS Men in Blue Gowns.
The class Of IS, wearing blue academic
gowns with red hoods. followed suit. and
then came the class of 90. All these
were perfectly dignihed graduates But
entered then the class Of 'sS academic.
Continued on Page 3, Column 3.
When ArruuUfuC IN Ieava Tox.r