The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04
First AT Home" to Diplomats
Gives Air of MidSeaSOn
Gayety to Lent
Comparisons Between Preced-
ing Regime and Smart Func-
tiOn mot Loud but Deep"
BY Roberta V. Bradshaw
sISpseial Disp0ich 10 The Cali

at home TO the diplomats the other
cay she precipitated the liveliest sort
of = little season. "FolIow my leader
IS the game most favored in the soc,at,-
circles OF the capital, and in conse-
lquence OF the White House function
lenten days Notwithstanding things
took on midseason air Of gayetv. Mrs.
arts at home 10 the diplomats marked
Aer very first appearance as the first
'5adF OF the land and all eyes were wide
open and comparison between the re-
.&ime preceding and that which had it's
inception with the smart little func-
'iion were mot loud but deep
Mrs. Taft. who is fond of the army
s1u navy over whose destinies Presi-
cent Taft as governor general of the
philippines and later as secretary of
War had control second only to thai
OF the chief magistrate of the nation.
always pays marked attention TO the
men Of epaulettes and gold braid.
CHANGES IN WHITE HOUSE
a fun quota Of officers surrounded
the first lady on the occasion Of her
diplomatic at home and associated with
Eer in the gentle art Of being agree
able 10 the nations guests were dainty
mite Mrs Knox. vile Of the secretary
OF state. and stunning Mrs Huntington
Wilson. wife of the assistant secretary
- or state.
From the red room. which cozv
apartment OF ali the state suite is Mrs
Iefts faVorite, the guests passed into
1he. state dining room, where from a
handsomely arranged table laden with
flowers very good things to eat were
served. Mrs. Taft wore a stunning
gown Of mauve with silver and pearl
embroideries. Mrs. Knox wore a fetch
tng frOck Of dull blue and Mrs. Hunt
ington Wilson had white with a tunic
over drapery Of jetted tulle.
AS for the arrangement OF the White
House. ii has been changed here and
touched off q little there and anybody
familiar with the aspect the state suite
has worn these last seven years is i'm
.mediately impressed with the differ
ence OF q new mistress may effect in
surprisingly short time.
s7TORIFICATION OF PIANO
Within the sacred inclosure OF the
ceremouious blue room. where from the
snception Of the White House life the
uots bles of the foreign world have
- been received. has been placed a mag
nihcent grand piano. Mrs. Taft, as
everybody knows. is an artist OF no
mean worth and a patron OF music. so
nobody wondered much at the "glori
dtstion Of the piano" The familiar
cabinet in the red room, which Mrs.
Roosevelt had filled with the quaint
Chinese dolls depicting in their attire
the modes and manners Of the Manchu
Tlandsrins and the ladies OF their
households. has been filed with a col
- lection or quaint netsUkes and loving
cups and silver curios picked up on
the many and worldwide excursions
Mrs Taft has taken since her appear
-ance in public life.
Ia the state dining room there is lit
lie change, although everybody misses
.she magnificent tapestry which in the
" Roosevelt days overhuDg the great
7nantelpiece. The entrance is pre-
sided over by negro attendants, who
have 2 livery OF dull blue marked with
cuffs and vest Of black and white
stripes and large buttons Of silver
FIRST STATE DINNER
At the first state dinner, given this
week. the table was set in Killarny
roses and white fresias, and the mis-
treSs Of the White House was splen-
dj6lv arusyed in 8 gown OF soft blue
satin trimmed with embroideries Of
crvstals and silver. Following up her
hOspitable intents Mrs Taft was at
home 70 the wives OF the senators and
representatives. and hsnking the bril-
liant asselnblage. as usual, were
s-roup of officers in fun dress uniform.
CAPTAIN Archibald Butt on all these
state occasions rslade the presentations.
position with the receiving line st the
beginning or the fete or early in the
sffe-noon. entered heartily into the
endowment OF the occasion
In addition, Mrs. Taft has instituted
3 series of daily five o'cloclSs, fn
formal affairs. where the guests have
an opportunity for q pleasant little
Char with the presidents wife No
.bodv presents herself at a White House
Eve O'Clock without first receiving an
f,tfmsffon that she is expected and the
charming teas have made decided
fft u-ffh women not only in Official life.
br+ those who had enjoyed an ac-
oualntance with &rs. Taft during the
period she occupied a less conspicuous
place
WIVES OF CABINET OFFICIALS
Ably supplementing Mrs Taffs ac-
ffvities as White House chatelaine are
group OF women whose experience
ITS them for the notable roles they
are 10 carry Mrs Knox, as wife OF
cabinet official in the Mckinley and
early Roosevelt administration; Mrs.
KVfckersham, as 2 leader in the smart
set Of New YORK; Mrs. MacNeagh. as
Chicago's most prominent leader in
Social and club circles, Mrs. Ballinger.
g college woman whose life in New
England was supplemented by resi-
dence on the coast. a prolonged period
~ European travel. and finally by an
experience as the wife OF a prominent
national official IN Washington. add
materially 10 the possibilities of the
social side OF the new administration
Mrs. Never, wife OF the secretary of
the navy, whose life at two European
c5N.s 5 and whose experience ia her own
laHd has left little for her TO learn,
and Mrs. Dickinson. A typical daughter
, OF the south, complete a coterie of In
tenseiy interesting women
YOUNGER SOCIETY WOMEN
Mrs. Nickersham has a very beauti-
ful young daughter who is bride,
and an attractive young daughter in
she schoolroom. Mrs. Knox has a