Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-11-04
next MISTRESS
OF White HOUSE
NO WOMAN EVER CALLED UPON
TO FILL THE POSITION WAS
BETTER PREPARED OR EQUIP.
PED THAN MRS. w. H. TAFT.

washington, -. u, WV -
woman ever called upon to NIL the
difficult and exactihg position Oh
mistress of the White House was
better prepared and equipped for her
task than IL Mrs Helen H. Taft, the
wife Of President-elect Taft. She is
a woman of culture and refinement
and of many accomplishments, pos |
sesses unusual tact, social finish and
above all a large measure OF sound
common sense. For number OF
years she has lived in Washington
as one of the most distinguished
women of the official circles and tn"
training which she received during
that time will, undoubtedly, prove
of great value to her as mistress or
the White House.
Personally Mrs. Taft is quite as at
tractive as she is from an in ellec-
tual standpoint. She is fair, slen-
der and girlish looking and no one
would suspect from her appearance
that she has IA son old enough TO be
ircolIege. She is frank and viva
cious. unpretcntious, and yet pcs
sessed of marked dignity of bearing
and the self-poise SO necessary to
woman of her exalted position. she
Is always cordial, a rare accomplish
ment among society women and pos
sesses an excellent memory for per-
sons and names. an invaluable gift
for the wife of political leader.
The new mistress of the White
House was Miss Helen Heron.
daughter of the law partner Of the
late President Hayes, when she mar
ried william H. Taft in Cincinnati
in 1886. She was bright and tai
cnted girl with a perfect passion for
music. i addition to good educa-
ton she received an excellent train
ing in music and through all her fu-
ture life music has ever been her
favorite recreation. She is not only
an accomplished pianist, but possess
ses thorough knowledge of the the
DRY OF music and an extensive &C
Quaintance with the best works Of
musical literature. But, notwith-
standing her great love of music and
her ardent devotion to 1t. she has
never allowed 1t to become an all
absorbing passion. or even fad to
the extent of interfering with her
duties to her husband and her fam
lly.
Although, probably, better equip
ped for a high social position than
women holding important positions
In American society. Mrs. Taft is
by no means q typical society wo-
man. For that she is too intelli-
gent, sensible and we'll balanced.
Ever since her husband entered Of
fetal life in Washington and even
before that, when he was still hold
ing judgeship in Ohio. Mrs. Taft
has made 1t her study and aim to
fll to the best of her ability the po-
sition In society to which she was
entitled by virtue of her husband
official rank. Her natural talent and
the Intellectual training OF her girl
hood days made the task easier for
her and her Unborn tact helped her
to avoid the pitfalls SO disastrous to
inexperienced and but indifferently
equipped women in official society.
Nowhere Is the new mistress of
the White House seen to greater ad-
vantage than in her home circle, the
supreme test for the sterling quail
ties of any woman. no matter what
her osition In society. She is de-
voted to her husband and her chill
dren, takes interest in everything
pertaining to her domestic estab-
lishment and Is considered model
hCusekeeper. She does not consider
II below her dignity to attend to her
household duties and devotes great
personal care to the proper conduct
Of her domestic establishment. Nc
woman in Washington society ever
knew better than Mrs. Taft how tc
add a wholesome and refreshing
domestic charm to her social enter
tainments. No matter how formal
the function may be. Mrs. Taft al
the hostess makes all her guests fee
that they are received at her home
not in hotel parlor or a public
hall. She knows better than most
women the secret Of making heI
guests feel at ease. without vulgar
ising the tone dominant of her hos
pitable board.
Mrs Taft is an accomplished mu
stefan and has great love for her art
but she never obtrudes the subject Of
music in conversation, nor does sh'
ever bore her guests with inane &C
counts of the petty tribulations I,
which every woman at the head o
q large domestic establishment i
more or less exposed OF her famil,
and her own affairs she speaks will
well-bred discretion and sparingly
while she shows remarkable skill ant
tect In drawing out ner visitors b.
nanifesting sympathetic interest II
their affairs. Her home. whereve