West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-02-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Evacuation OF White House Now In
Progress.
QUICK GETAWAY FOR ROOSEVELT
Innovations at Observation-Disclosures
biles to BE Usea-press oe-
pies Minds OF Ladies.
From Our Regular Correspondent,

From Our Regular Corrcspondsnt.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.--Thc president.
elect and Mrs. Taft have arrived in Wash.
ington and are staying at the home OF
Miss Mabel Boardman, whose connection
with the Red Cross Society, of which Mr..
Taft is president. makes her name known
throughout the country. The president.
elect Is welcome visitor at the White
iiouse ana has spent a large portion of
his time there since his arrival. He has
presented his report on conditions In
Panama to the president, who appears 20
be highly gratiiied by IL, and he has had
several conferences with Senator Knox
who will bc his minister of state. Tho
question OF Mr.. Knox's eligibility for
that position has been settled by congress,
both houses concurring in the passage of
the bill repeating the salary of the secre-
tary of state and reducing il 10 the sum
paid before the salary increase was made.
Mr. Taft has not doubted the willingness
oil congress 10 make this concession. but
he has feared that Mr.. Knox might feel
called upon TO withdraw 10 avoid un-
pleasant criticism.
Mr.. Taft accompanied to the White
House the engineers when they presented
their report on the Panama canal. The
canal report indorses i'm every particular
the lock type plan of construction and
approves the progress and management
oil the work there. II was sent 90 con.
gress by President Roosevelt with a spe-
ciai message concerning the canal, in
which the president says that change
now to the sea-level plan would be mex.
cusable folly.
These are busy days at the White House.
The presidents family after Il seven years'
residence there are collecting their Larcs |
and Pcnates preparatory 10 their removal
to the home at Oyster Bay, and the con. |
fusion that prevails in the upper and
private rooms OF the house can only be |
Imagined by those who find il nbaa,sa- .,
Tile establishment, and To separate these
from the personal belongings, the gifts
and acquisitions Of a seven years resi-
dence, makes the task more difficult and
Preparations are under way |
also for the reception OF the incoming |
and az the social season il at |
its height and there are receptions and
dinners and dances TO bc given or at
tended every day and every night, there
is probably not a buster or more dis
tracted family in the country than that
OF the Roosevelts.
As there is also much 20 be done in |
getting ready for the long trip which the |
president and Mrs. Roosevelt will take |
Immediately after the Inauguration every |
moment is filed with work. The presi-
dent and his wife will sail for Naples |
March l3, and the precision with which |
their plans are made is evidenced by the
fact that they will not return TO the
White House after the inaugural cere-
monies at the capitol, but will leave inn
mediately on a special train for Oyster
Bay. II has long been the custom for
the president and the president-elect 10
ride 10 the capitol on Inauguration day
and 10 return along the route OF the pa
rade with the new president occupying
the right hand seat with the retiring ex-
ecutiye at his left, the reverse Of the rcla-
tive positions in which they made the
trip 10 the capitol. Two innovations will
bc introduced this year, inasmuch as Mr..
Taft will return 10 the White House alone
and instead Of using a carriage will use
new automobiles provided for the occasion.
FFF
Mr. Taft is busy writing his inaugural
address, but a not less important matter
in the Taft family is the selection OF the
gown that Mrs. Taft will wear at the i'm
augural ceremonies. II is 10 be made in
New York and Mrs. Taft will 20 there
this week for the absorbing work Of hRv-
ing il fitted and 30 plan also her costume
for the inaugural ball. Mrs. Taft Is not
unlike Mrs. Roosevelt in her lack Of that
subtle instinct called style, and both are
rather condemned by the smart set for
their want Of chic and fashion. Mrs.
Roosevelt has apparently never failed 10
select the most unbecoming clothes OBJ
tainable, and while she patronizes skiIliul
dressmakcrs and tailors and buys always
the most elegant stufFs, she very seldom
achieves consummate sartOrial effects.
Mrs. Taft, whose allowance for dress
has always been limited and who is con-
sequendy accused Of believing that econ
omy is the root Of all virtue, leans TO the
selection Of clothes that will wear vel
aud bear being made over and she wear
them with indifference ~ 10 their effect
Both, however, never err on the side o
the hashy or obtrusive, and II they fai
to make the most Of their charms they
are always simply and appropriately
gowned,
intent Daughter Dead.