The Washington herald., 1908-06-19
MRS. TAFT HAPPIEST
WOMAN In CAPITAL
Nominees Wife Remains Dig
nified Withal.
GETS NEWS AT FIRST HAND
Spends Day I'm office of the Secre-
tary Reading TeIegrams ns They
Come Over Wire-Declares She Has
Been I'm Suspense, but Has Lost No
SIeep-PIans for Future Not Made.

Mrs. Taft was probably the happiest
woman in Washington. but she was also
the most composed, and one Of the most
democratic.
As she came out Of the War Depart
ment yesterday afternoon after the nom
ination. having been there all day read
ing the kilograms as they came from
Chicago, her eyes glowed, and she was
smiling. but otherwise there was nothing
unusual in the plainly-gowned. substan-
tial-looking woman who will be a center
Of public interest from now until the iirst
week in November.
When greeted by a newspaper woman.
who was enthusiastic. Mrs. Taft stopped.
shook her hand. and said
Thank you. Yes. we feel very grauhed
and very pleased. l have been much in
terested all day. and have had pleasant
time in Mr.. Tafts office.
Mrs Darlington. wife OF Gen. Garling
ton; Gen. Bell. Gen. Aleshire, Gen. Muir
ray. Mai. Noble. my daughter Helen"
waving her hand toward the girlish figure,
gowned in white. standing near. and
Master Charles Taft, were all there most
Of the time.
''NO, have not lost any sleep from ex-
element but, Of course. there was some
suspense
She Wears "CannOn Cloth"
Mrs. Taft accompanied by Maj. Noble,
Miss Helen Taft. and Mr. James Williams,
walked from the War Department TO her
-
partment By the steps on the north end
Of the State. War. and Navy Building
Mrs. Taft was In a white cannon cloth
shirt-waist suit. made severely plain, with
a tucked waist and short walking skirt
Of the flare variety. Her hat was a mod
ish one OF brown straw Of the English
type, with a high crown and a rolling
brim. trimmed with a bunch Of brown
and green ostrich plumes at one side and
falling over the back. She carried her
long whitelsilk gloves.
Miss Taft also wore a white shirt-waist
suit and a small black hat.
They chatted gayly all the way across
the Avenue. through Lafayette Park 10
Sixteenth street and up the west side Of
Sixteenth 10 the Taft home. They laughed
gayly al the inCeSsant calling OF the "ex-
tras,' and 90 II street, just as they left
the park. Mr. Williams ran after a news
boy. saying: Well as we know what's
in that paper, we must have one" And
he handed il Immediately 10 Mrs TAFT
Knows Newspaper Ways.
She stood for a couple Of minutes.
smilingly contemplating a photograph OF
the Secretary on the page in front Of her.
one member Of the party exclaimed at the
Quickness with which the extra was on
the street. and she explained that they
had It all ready and waiting for the final
action"
Secretary Taft and his family. with the
exception Of his elder son. dined at home
as quietly as was possible on so auspi-
cious a day. Master Charles Taft re-
NAMED at the Office, and returned to
their home with his father some little
time after Mrs. Taft and Miss Taft re-
turned
To be mistress OF the executive man
sion, in which she has so often been a
guest and on intimate terms with former
nistresses Of the White House. would be
but a fitting promotion for Mrs Taft. As
a very young girl, she was there many
times, and remained for some time as
the guest OF her fathers former law part
ner and his wife. President and Mrs
Hayes Later on. during the admlnistra-
tions OF Garfield. Arthur. and Mckinley.
all Of whom were personal friends Of her
father. she was also a frequent guest
Related TO Former President.
In the administration Of President Har-
rison, Mr.. and Mrs. Taft were on close
terms with the Chief Executive and his
family. owing to the relationship OF Mrs.
Tafts father with Mrs. Harrison's
father the late DR.. John Witherspoon
Scott They were cousins, and the fami-
lies have kept up their interest and
friendliness. During President Roose-
velts administrations. the Secretary OF
War and his wife have been close friends
OF the President and Mrs. Roosevelt. al
though they have been greatly missed at
the social affairs there during the past
season.
Mrs. Taft went into as deep and sincere
mourning for the mother of the Secre-
tary, who died while they were on their
return trip from around the world as IL
II had been her own mother, who died
many years ago. She neither accepted
nor gave any invitations since they re-
turned 20 Washington until about the
first Of June. when she laid aside her
black and white and gray. which last she
had worn for two months, and is now
again in colors.
VIII Go TO Cincinnati
Mrs Taft said they had made no plans
10 get away from Washington any par
ticular day, and while they had for
some time expected 20 go early in July.
she really did not know just when they
would go. They will go to Cincinnati. the
home Of her father, Judge J. w. Heron.
who lives IN the old-fashioned district OF
Cincinnati, and whose unmarried daugh-
ter keeps house for him. Mrs. Taft ex-
poets 10 spend her summer there. while
her son Robert who is now at the con-
vention, and Helen, who was with her
parents al day at the Office. Will make
visits al Murray Bay. Canada. with the
summer neighbors and old friends OF the
Secretary and Mrs. Taft.