New-York tribune., 1909-05-26
ARMY GARDEN FETE
Taco Thousand attend Relief So
cietH,s 'PmtHY at GorernOrs Island.

The ugly couutenance Of war was hidden behind
a veil of beauty and Of charity at Governors
Island yesterday afternoon when the New York
branch of the Army Relief Society gave its annual
garden party for the benefit of the widows and
orphans Of soldiers. The always beautiful lawns
and terraces and trees seemed to have taken on
an added touch of greenness in honor Of the day.
and against this background the gayly colored tents
with their military trappings. cleaned Ike Jewels,
joining with the beautiful dresses of the women
and the fun dress uniforms Of the officers TO make
a scene of veritable enchantment Those who re-
member previous garden parties said that this was
the most brilliant Of them ALL and the attendance
must have been double what it has ever been be
fore about two thousand
Part Of the eclat Of the occasion was due to the
presence Of the 18th Regiment seven hundred and
fifty strong. under the command of Colonel Daniel
Appleton. In their fun dress uniforms, with white
duck trousers they added greatly to the pict-
uresqueness Of the occasion and their mounts
which We're sent over before them. made an unusual
showing Of horses for Governors Island.
The German cruiser Bremen. which is now in
port. sent a contingent Of officers. in dark blue
uniforms with silver shoulder straps. The party,
which included Captain A. Hofmann Captain Lieu
tenant g BIokhuis, Lieutenant Baron Won Matzalen
and Lieutenant Gorges. was escorted by Lieutenant
E. g s. Parker aid TO Captain J. b Murdock' com
rrandant OF the Brooklyn navy yard
Among others present. were Henry ". Taft,
brother Of the President. with Mrs. Taft: Miss l.
Taft. the Presidents niece; Admiral Seton
Schroeder. Rear Admiral G. g Relter, NeneTal
Daniel Sickels. who wheeled about in chair;
General and Mrs. Charles F Roe. Mrs. Daniel
Appleton Mr.. and Mrs. William Cumming Story
and Mrs. Donald Mclean Mrs. Story and Mrs
Mclean. who rivals in the late election Of
the Daughters Of :he American Revolution, came
over in the same boat hut did not speak as they
passed by
General and Mrs Leonard Wood received the
guests al their home assisted by Nj. and Mrs.
Taft. General ana Mrs. Roe, Captain and Mrs J. B.
Murdock and the officers Of the society-Mrs- Guy
Howard president: Mrs. Henry Bischoff. first
vice-president: Mrs Francis B. Jones, treasurer;
Mrs Francis Jarvis Patten secretary, and Mrs.
Francis NJ. Gibson and Mrs Fabius NJ Clarke,
chairmen Of committees. Previous TO the reception
General and Mrs. Wood entertained the officers OF
the society al luncheon
The usual programme Of military tactics was
carried out by the island garrison. the l2th In
fantry. which is 10 leave for the Philippines next
month. and in addition there was a review Of the
7th Regiment in accordance with General Wood s
i6es OF closer relations between the militia and
the regular army As usual the storming Of the
fort was the centre Of interest Old Fort Jay was
selected as the bone Of contention. Castle William
being fun Of prisoners, and il was attacked and
defended in q desperate encounter in which half
the invading force slain-theoreticaly-and all
the garrison persisted. After the guns had been 81
Ienced The invaders svarmed up the walls in a
most markable way, quite j1stifying their rep
utation as the crack wall scalers Of the army The
invaders used the oldtime Springfield rifles to save
The new 1885 models from the hard usage OF wall
scaling The defenders had small field pieces,
which made an astonishing amount Of noise for
their size
The ceremonies closed with evening parade Of
the 7th Regiment which then boarded the trans
port boats johnson and Candy and left amid a
round Of cheers
The officers wives dispensed ice cream. cake and
tea IN the Eayy coored tents during the afternoon.
and the children added about $40 the relief funds
hv careering down a helter-skelter five cents a
ride. Ia the evening there was dancing in the Of
.fcers- rinhhnuse.