The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Social Life in Nations Capital
Who viii Be Next "FnSt
Lady of the Land" Inter
eStS Local Smart Set.

seems 10 have passed for this
June. but there are a number
yet TO keep many people in town
and 10 arouse much interest in army and
navy and smart social circles.
Washington, socially, will be somewhat
deserted for a while, however, as scores
OF both men and women left last week
for the convention, and the remaining
ones who will seek summer quarters viii
depart In the next fortnight. Then things
social I'm the National Capital will settle
down 10 the regular summer lethargy.
This will be in contrast 10 the excitement
IN all other localities In the country over
the campaign.
Before another Sunday rolls around
the country will know who is TO be the
Republican candidate for the Presidency
and his running-mate. Should II be the
Secretary Of War then Washington Will
get a wee taste OF campaign excitement,
for the Secretary and his family VIII re-
main IN their Washington home until
after the 1st OF July. and all nominees
have 10 be formally notified OF their selec-
ton. This is usually r great political
function, in which the family of the can
dldate figures almost as cOnspicuOusly.
for the time being, as does the candidate
himself
II VIII be like an oasis in the desert
should the politicians have to come 10
Washington TO notify their candidate, and
should their heads be turned toward the
White House. or should they turn 10 X
street. close 10 Sixteenth street. there
VIII be much Of interest TO hear and see
In Washington about that time.
Most people are sure we have the fu-
ture arst lady Of the land in our midst
either the wife Of the President or the
wife Of the Secretary Of War. Mrs.
Roosevelt is now the experienced hostess
IN this. the most difficult position for an
American woman. Mrs. Taft Is well ft-
ted FOR the duties should they fail 20 her
lot She has been an official hostess in
Washington. Cincinnati, and In the Phil
.pines, a gradual climb up the ladder OF
society. speaking from the standpoint OF
precedence Sine is conservative wom-
an. without any fads and without aus
terity. She has hosts Of friends all over
the world. and a personal acquaintance
with the leading people IN many countries.
Whichever Of these interesting women
Is called upon to discharge the duties OF
hostess OF the White House for the next
four years there will be a debutante 10
be presented. for should the President
succeed himself. Miss Ethel Roosevelt
viii be the White House debutante next
season; or, should Il be the Secretary
of War. Miss Helen Taft. the only
daughter Of the Secretary and Mrs. Taft,
will be introduced to Washington society
in another TWO years.
Miss Taft has but just graduated from
a preparatory school. and has prepared
70 enter college next winter. II is proba-
ble that If she should prove TO be the
daughter Of "a President. she will be salts
fed with only two more years at school
She is now in her seventeenth year. and
most attractive young woman. She is
not rs much a musician as her mother.
for Mrs. Taft was. in her girlhood, a
brilliant pianist. who had spent almost
all her life pursuing the study Of music.
along with her school work She was one
Of the most promising graduates Of the
Cincinnati College of Music. and also the
first president and one Of the organizers
Of the Cincinnati Orchestra Association.
which maintained the Cincinnati Orches-
ira for fourteen years She has always
been factor IN the musical life OF Gin
cinnau, and has but recently returned
from the spring music festival there.
which is said TO have been one of the
best and most successful Cincinnati has
ever had.
Mrs. Taft will remain IN Washington
until after the first of July. and then.
with her children. will go to Cincinnati
and spend the summer with her father,
Judge !. W. Heron. They will not open
their Murray Bay cottage this year. but
Robert Taft, who IS now a sophomore at
Yale, and Miss Helen Taft will probably
go up to Murray Bay TO pay some visits
among their many friends.
Miss Nora Langhorne, OF the Langhorne
family famous for the beauty of IT'S
daughters, who has recently returned TO
her Virginia home from a visit 90 her
sister Mrs. William Waldorf Astor. in
London. is greatly amused at the many
published accounts Of her engagement TO
the Prince OF Teck She laughingly de-
clares that she has never even seen the
prince. Miss Langhorne has many friends
and relatives here who have visited her
since her return, and there has been
much merriment over the rumor of her
forthcoming marriage 70 so distinguished
parsonage
The Marine Band concerts In the White
House grounds have drawn a number of
the smart people there the past two sat
urday afternoons. Mrs. Roosevelt and
her children have been on the south por-
tico, and have enjoyed the music. having
had a few friends with them each time.
Time was when the Saturday after
moons In the White House grounds were
the great panorama Of social splendor.
but society grew tired Of II. and the
crowds increased with the growth of the
population, SO that now society finds
other amusements for Saturday after
moons In the summer. except the few
who have the much-coveted invitation to
sit on the verandah with the Presidents
family. The band concert in the grounds
is one Of the time-hOnored customs in
Washington, but the audiences are COM
posed not OF the smart set, but rather Of
music-lovers among the people who are
not In the leisure class.