The Washington times., 1909-03-02
LATCHSTRING OUT
FOR CUPID PARTY
Taft, at Banquet, Remem.
bers Lovers for Trip to
the Orient.

Through all the days when William
Howard Taft is President OF the United
States no guests will be more welcome
at the White House than members Of
the party that went TO the Orient with
him IN 1905. This announcement is au-
thoritatfve 1t came from the mouth
OF Mr.. Taft himself at the dinner of
HIS Philippine party held last night at
the New Willard.
OF all the members Of the famous
touring party, the heart OF the next
President goes out most warmly, per
haps, to the three couples whose mar
ria ges followed the voyage to the East.
All the world loves a lover. and Mr.
TAFT Is no exception to the rule. Con
ReCuently, he has a peculiarly tender
regard for Representative and Mrs.
NiChoklS LOngWOrth, the latter former
ly~Miss Alice Roosevelt, for Representa-
tive and Mrs Bourke Cochran. the lat
ter formerly Miss Ide, daughter Of
Judge lde, of the Philippine Commits
sion, and for Representative and Mrs.
Swsger Sherley, the latter formerly
Miss MiSnon Crttton.
All Attend Dinner.
All three of these couples became en-
gagged on the journey to the Orient or
as q development Of their meeting on
The trip, and all three were at the din
ner last evening.
The banquet was arranged by Miss
Mabel Boardman and Representative
Mckinley of Illinois, and took place In
the banquet hall Of the hotel which
was beautifully decorated for the &C
caSlon- The decorative scheme was ORR
entail One entering the banquet cham
her was uShered into a land OF the
rising sun, bedecked with palms. ferns.
and cedarS. The walls of the room
We're completely concealed behind ever
green trees The ceiling was invisible
Tor feStoOnS OF Southern SmilaX and
hanging Japanese lanterns. The at
moSphere was Tedolent Of wistarla
Odorous vines, and Eastern flowers
The guests entered through a Jap
anese teahouse. with fiutcd things and
concaVe roof The table at which they
sat was arranged in a strange form
spelling the word Taft The empty
spaces between the letters were filed
with ferns and palms.
Gifts Are Presented.
One of the features Of the dinner was
the presentation of gifts TO Mr.. and
Mrs. Taft. The President-elect was
given a handsome gold watch and a
gold penlInife. and Mrs. Taft was pre-
scented with a lav;liere. made Of a large
turquoise, set in pearls, pendent from
4 heavy gold chain. In addition to
these, Mr. and Mrs. Taft were Jointly
given a handsomely bound book con
tanning a sentiment from each member
Of the party.
A section OF the Marine Band fur
niShed the music during the dinner,
beginning with march by ArOnson.
dedicated TO Mr. Taft. and called. The
Man Of the Hour
Senator Nathan 3. Scott Of West Vir-
F1nia, acted as POSTMASTER. So many
politicians were present. each or whom
desired 70 speak. that the speechmaking
was protracted.
Taft's Happy Reply.
Mr. Taft was in a particularly happy
mood when he arose to respond to the
toast proposed by Senator Scott He
recalled the various places visited by
the party and the lasting memory which
mad been left by the tour His conclu-
sion was cordial declaration that the
members OF the party would always
find welcome at the White House dur
ing his OCCUPANCY