Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-30
President Is Jostled in Holiday
Crowd and Jostles Back
Good Naturally.
VERY FEW RECOGNIZED HIM
Four Inebriated Individuals Rails
I'd Hats and Wished Him a
Merry Chrishmus' to
Which He Responded.

Washington. Dec. 2-President Taft
went shopping afoct This afternoon. He
wandered from shop TO shop. taking a
hearty interest in tho store windows
md good naturedlv returning the to>t-
ling Of the crowds which damned the
sidewalks. Capt. Archibald Butt, his
military aide, walked with him but i'm
nlediately behind trailed two secret ser
vice men. After nearly an hour and a
halls walk. the party returned to the
White House.
A remarkable feature of Mr.. Tafts
trip was the small number who recog-
nized him.. TO such as did he raised his
hat in return to the salutations. but he
was not forced to do this more than
n dozen times during the stroll.
The President left the executive offices
Mt four o'clock and walked down Penn
svlvania avenue to a jewelers. shop.
Here he remained some little time. Sc
lecting a present for Mrs. Taft and his
daughter. Misc Helen. He next walked
over to a leather establishment on F
street. where Capt. Butt halted Mr.. Taft
on the walk before the broad display
window.
That's just the thing" he exclaimed,
pointing to IN elaborate travelling bag
Of Russia leather.
You're right exclaimed the Presi-
dent. Let's get a closer view
There was a commotion in the crowd
Cd store when the President and his
party entered. They remained nearly a
quarter hour, going from there 10 a
book dealers establishment, where Mr..
Taft bought n number Of volumes. One
Of them, which he wanted 10 mail to-
night. he turned over to Captain Butt.
Here, Butt, you take care OF this he
said, I've got all I can do to take care
Of myself"
MAKES BUTT USEFUL
Captain Butt stuck the volume under
his arm. and the party returned to the
jewelers. place. The clerks had evident
~ made record time in packing and pre-
pairing the presidential purchases, for
they were all ready. Secret Service Agent
Wheeler was left behind to see that the
packages reached the White House safe
y. and tn party started up Pennsylvania
rvenue, bound honeward.
AS the President passed a hotel on 18th
street, the p%inwheel door to the bar spun
merrily. -Four bibulous celebrants OF the
holiday season emerged. They gained
the sidewalk. laughing immoderately and
efusively, wishing each other the compli-
ments Of the season, when one spied the
President.
Merry Christmas. Misser Preshident.'
he cried. Merry Christmas
All four managed to raise their hats
The President looked them over and then,
with a broad grin, lifted his own head
gear.
Thank you, gentlemen he said lie,
me wish you the same"
GIFTS FOR WHITE HOUSE FORCE
There will be no especial observ-
ance of the day at the White House
tomorrow. The Taft family will dine
together and. with the children all al
home, the celebration will not be diff.
ferent from that in a million homes
throughout the United States. All the
employees of the White House will re-
ceive a turkey and the clerks Of the
executive Offices will get IS apiece
Mr.. Tafts presents to the personal
force in the White House it is under.
stood. will cost him $500.
Seven members OF the Presidents
official family will spend their Christ
mas here. They are Secretaries Knox
Wilson, MacVeagh. Nagel. Meyer ant
Ballinger and Postmaster-Genera
Hitchcock. Secretary Dickinson 10 or
his way to Porto Rico on a trip Of in
spection, while Attorney-Genera
wickersham will spend the day II
New York with Mrs. Wickersham VIII
Is already there.