The Washington times., 1908-11-04
TAFT'S CHILDREN
ANTICIPATE FUN
Promise to Make the White
House Merry With
Franks.

That the White House walls win ring
with laughter just as merry IN the next
four years as they have in those Of the
Roosevelt Administration is made plain
by glance at the family OF the Pres
ident-elect and Mrs. William Howard
Taft
There will be plenty Of fun for the
younger element, even though Miss Hell
en- TAFT the only daughter of the fam
ily, is at college. there viii be many
holiday times when she and her two
brothers. Robert. the elder. and Charles,
more Familiarity known as Charlie"
viii be home to keep things moving
at as lively a pace as they have set
in the less pretenuous homes they have
SO far known.
Mrs. Tafts most distinctive quality
is that same which has made her hus-
band so generally popular-democracy
She is tactful and diplomatic, but cor
dial and friendly. The atmosphere Of
her home has always been one OF
CordiaHty 10 both friend and stranger.
No one has ever gone TO the Taft home
and been made 10 feel that he or she
is an intruder. At all times Mrs. Taft
has made IT a point 10 see the people
who have called to see her, whether
they have been friends OF persons on
a business mission. The rush Of affairs
has never been great enough to induce
her 10 abuse the long established hos
pitality of her home, and in this way
the wife of Jurge Taft has drawn
about her an equally large circle OF
genuine friends as her distinguished
husband.
A Gifted Musician.
Before she came to Washington-Or
rather before she went out to the Phil
ippines some years ago-NIrs. Taft was
cOuspicuously identified with the mu-
sicaI life at Cincinnati. She was presi-
dent Of the Cincinnati Symphony Or
chestra Association and connected with
many other equally welI-knOwn musical
organizations. She is a gifted musician
and a graduate of the Cincinnati Con-
servatoTy OF Music.
Mrs. Taft gives one the comfort OF
knowing and feeling that she has no
fads. no hobbies. and no senseIess di-
versions which take time and count for
nothing. She is a deep student, fairly
We'll versed in law. a Hnguist and a
woman who has spent her life in dIl-
ing her mind with the things which
would do her. her family, and her
friends the greatest good.
Until the appointment of James R.
Garfield as Secretary OF the Interior,
Mrs. Taft was the youngest Cabinet
hostess in Washington. She had always
been one of the most popular since
taking her place in the little circle
OF all the Cabinet women she was
about the only one in the last years of
her husbands service who maintained
the regular Cabinet reception day, and
callers at the attractive home in X
street on that day never failed to find
the cordial handclasp and the ready
smile waiting.
Domestic in Tastes.
Mrs. Taft always directed the affairs
Of her own household, never deIegat-
ing this duty 20 a servant. When Judge
Taft resigned from the Cabinet and the
family was preparing to leave Wash
ingtOn, Mrs. Taft could be found each
day in the midst of packing boxes and
trunks experimenting every detail of
the work, and doing a great deal Of il
herself
A characteristic glimpse into the per-
sOnality OF the real boy" OF the family.
young Charlie Taft, was afforded one
day during This tedious period of pack
ing up. Charlie was the only younger
member Of the family at home. Miss
Tart being on a visit in Greenwich,
Conn and Robert, the elder son or
the family, being still at Yale Charlie
had been the inseparable companion of
his mother, and spent little time ouf-
doors, preterring to remain inside with
ner.
Charlie bought a pair of roller skates
ana as the entire second floor OF the
IaIt home had been cleared OF its
furniture, Charlie decided he wouId
take turn on his roller skates up
there where It was good and smooth
lie skated arOunI in great fashion and
his mother, who was busy on the draw
ing room floor below, paid no atten-
LOCAL WENTlON