The National tribune., 1909-04-22

| famous driveways of London, Paris, Mad
rid, and in Manila, and she has Away
| hankered to have some such drive IL
| Washington. OF course, we have Rocl
| Greek Park, but that beautiful drive is al
hour out of the heart of the city, anf
the halt, or sick, and while Mrs. Taft
often spends hours there, she wanted
something nearer town. The made
ground down along the river, which has
been reclaimed from the mud of the Po-
tomac by the engineers of the District
was inspected by Mrs. Taft and she con-
cluded that that is the place for the drive
only a driveway, but "walkway" as well.
Some place where the whole people can
go and ride in carriages, horseback or in
autos, or Just use "Shanks" horses il they
have not the others.
This reclaimed land skirts the edge of
the river for a mile and half, and has a
river wall of solid rock. OF course, it is
as level as a floor, and as it is now laid
out with fowerbeds, fine driveways, foun-
tains. and greensward, it is certainly a
delightful spot, but there was really moth
ing there to call the people, except those
who desired to speed horses or autos. Mrs.
Taft saw its possibilities, and asked that
a bandstand be erected there and that
some band give a concert there two nights
of the week. Then, she said, the people
will gather down by the river away from
the noise and dust of the town, children
can romp at will on the grass, seats can
be provided for those who walk, and we
can have a real park for the common peo-
pie of Washington, The. rich,. she de-
clared, can find parks any old time. She
was particularly interested in the mothers
with children, whose little ones never get
a glimpse of anything but town, and never
GO fhe. fas. in the river. r-..
Mrs. Taft;s ideas were carried out, and
the park was opened on Saturday Such
a turnout Of Washington people just for
fun never was known before. Fully 10,OOO
people gathered there, and 10000 more
could gather. President and Mrs. TAFT
were there in their auto, and they spoke
to everybody who spoke to them Vice
President and Mrs. Sherman weer there !:
Mrs. Donald Mclean, President-General
Of the Daughters of the American Reyolu-
ton, was there IN the autO with her
brother-in-Iaw, Capt. Walter Mclean,
Commandant of the Nevy Yord, and Mrs.
Mclean, the Diplomatic Corps was out IN
force, and many Senators stole away from
their duties on the hill to visit tho drive
for few moments. Mrs. Taft christened
the beautiful spot Potomac Park"
The Philippine Constabulary Band gave
the musical program in the pretty bend
stand. The closing number was the star
SDangIed Banner. AT the nrSt notes tue
President stood up in his auto ane re-
moved his high hat, and Mrs. Taft also
promptly arose. Every officer, every diplo-
mat stood at salute, and the men present
all removed their hats. as the inspiring
strains of our beautiful National air
spread out over the Potomac. reaching to
the distant shores, where Arlington stands
with its mighty dead asleep under the
oyer-arching trees The dead who died for
the Star Spangled Banner. Over there
the sun was just setting in a sea OF red
and amber, and the flag which floats all
day over the heroes asleep was gently
lowered as the martial strains hoated
about it.