University Missourian., 1909-05-17

stare and hardest Jolt of his honorable
career. Don't be formal nOw"-or
words to that effect-eXclaimed the
President using his most winning
smile. Il want you to feel at home.
Enjoy yourselves, and when you get
tired of the affair. or have business
that calls You elsewhere, just 60 ahead,
Whatever you do don't be formal
oh, no, we won't be formal" re-
piled Social Washington with a sweet
smile and a low bow; how perfectly
lovely of you, Mr.. President
And thereupOn SOciety's back stiff
fened, the air grew chill in the vicinity
of the East Room, and the hearty
laugh of the President was the only
one that could be heard. The President
and Mrs. Taft wandered about among
the thrOng and did their best to put
everyone at his or her ease, but the
moment they appeared within two yards
of any of their guests, the latter
Strengthened up, looked scared, tried
to hide their hands. and began to OOze
cold perspiration.
The Weather to the Rescue.
The President and his wife were ap-
preaching and they did not know just
what to do. Their tongues refused to
work, their brains suddenly became
vacuums. and all they could do was to
utter the cOmmOnest cOmmOnplaces
about the weather. As soon as the
aweinspiring presence of the First
Lady and Gentleman of the Land left,
the guests became themselves again
and the atmosphere in that part of
the room became appreciably warmer.
1t was the same sort of story at the
conclusion of the functions. Instead of
Just picking up their hats and cloaks
and leaving. the society folk insisted
upon paying their respects and say
ing good bye. They had been doing
this ever since their first visit to the
White House, and the habit was so
ingrained that they felt that unless
they carried out the time -hOnOred Gus
tom one of the stone pillars of the
front porch would drop before they got
safely away.
They could not convince themselves
that the President meant what he said
about dropping formalitics. The stiff
necked social conventions of latter
days had come to mean as much to
them as three meals a day, and how
they We're at loss to know So they
just hung on TO them for dear life and
Mr.. and Mrs. Taft to 90
through the whole stited program of
compliment and tiresome
farewell.
As Il result of the failure to install
the good old manners of our Daddies. |
the visions Of gold lace personiticd by
he Presidents military and naval aids
are still seen at the White House and |
will continue to gladden. the eyes OF
Society all through the Taft admins
tratiOn.
He Would Travel Simply.
The aids are needed TO keep the So
ia crowd moving. for the crowd does
not know how to handle itself. 1t has
become SO accustomed to opening and
shutting its composite mouth with the
assistance of the gentlemen in gold
ace that it cannot Use its laws with
,ut them.
I'm the matter of travel. President
Taft is also trying to get back to
Democratic Simplicity. Instead of hir-
ng special train. as President ROOse-
-clt usually did when visiting other
titles. President Taft merely charters
private car which is hitched to the
egular passenger trains of the lines
hat reach the points he wishes to
isit
As consequence he is usually half
'rd ot.r shrdlu ctaOin
II three quarters of an hour late i'm
making his destination. but he proba-
'ly feels recompensed in the knowledge
hat he is not making a show of .
im>elf in any way and is travelling
cry much like any other American
entlcman.
His mOdesty in this respect also
narr> him many of the crowds at the
tation> that would be there to greet
i'm were he coming i'm on a special.
'r a> he travels now. upon the regular ,
rains. scarcely any of the railroad
ien are aware that he is upOn their
visions or sections until after he has
one
'EAM WORK WINS REMNANTS
uccess of Champion Clubs Due to