The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-13
HIS DAILY LIFE.
How President of the o. S.
Keeps Bachelors Hall.
He Doesn't Seem Greatly to
Mind the Hot Weather.
HE HAS MANY GUESTS
His. Daily Routine of Official
Duties Tnterspersed
With Exercise, Driving in the
Parks and Golf.
HE HAS MANY GUESTS

Washington, July 18.-President
| Iatt, the summer bachelor of the
| White House, is sharing the fate of
many other government officials and
| Washington residents whose families
nave gone away to mountains or sea
shore. The president is taking the
situation philosophicaIIy, doesn' t
| seem greatly to mind the hot wealth
err and is reading daily letters from
Beverly which tell of the rapid i'm
provement in Mrs. Tafts health.
Living bachelor fashion at the
White House is not fraught with the
same discomforts that beset the mere
man who has his home CLOSED up on
him when his wife goes away and
is compelled to seek food and Iodg-
lngs as best he may. The president
and Mrs. Taft divided the White
House help" when the occupancy of
the Beverly cottage was begun, so
the president is well taken care of
and domestic affairs at the White
House run on much the same.
The president, however, allowed
Mrs. Taft to. take 1.-The first cook to
Beverly while he makes himself con-
tent with the second cook" The
second cook is a legacy from the
girl named Mary, who halls from
Virginia. and whose sway over the
White House kitchens now is COM
plete.
Mary has few peers as a cook in
any matter gaStronomic, but, as is to
be supposed, she is at her best when
frying chickens and making hoe
cakes. The president is entertaining
many luncheon and dinner guests
during his bachelor days and the sec
ond cook is providing menus which
few imported chefs could hope to
equal.
The president has happily solved
the problem of disposing OF the long
evenings by taking automobile rides
about the city and suburbs. He US
ually starts out on these trips about
$3.50. o clock returning to the White
House at eleven or later Captain
Archibald Butt, the presidents aide,
is always his companion on these
telephones an invitation to some cab
met officer, senator or representative,
and stops at the latter,s house or
club to pick him up. The evening
rides often extend out into the beau
tifu! Rock creek park, Which
stretches for miles along the little
waterway whose name it bears. At
other times Mr.. Taft has his chauf-
Potomac park driEeways which skirt
the river back OF the White House,
and the monument grounds.
Arising at about O'Clock the
president devoteS~ nearly an hour to
dumb bells, pulley weights and other
forms of exercise prescribed for him.
He breakfasts slowly and usually
alone. although for the last day or
two he has had a guest from among
the tariff conferees. During the
morning meal and for half an hour
or so afterward the president reads
the newspapers, between $50 and 10
0 clock he begins his busy day in the
executive offices. At 1870 comes
luncheon at the White House, always
with some invited guest for company.
The afternoon is devoted to golf. for |
the president hopes to play every af- |
ternoon that he remains in WASH |
ington, dinner always finds guests as |
sem bled and usually it is an infor- |
NAL and delightful meal which begins |
a little after O'Clock and continues
for an hour and a half.