The Washington herald., 1909-03-05
THE LADY OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND HER CHILDREN
MRS. TAFT'S HOME LIFE.

date, well-informed, thoroughly self-pos-
sessed society woman Of the best class.
She is always thoroughly well-dressed.
becOmingly. never extravagantly, attired-
Her favOrite color is blue. She is fond
Of society, the theater, and the opera
Yet, after all. Mrs. Taft's paramount
pleasure has always been in her home.
It Is filed with almost priceless treas
ures gathered from abroad. The gobeIin
tapestry that hangs on the walls of her
Eausic room is a gift from the Empress
Of Japan, and in the same room a con-
spicuOUs O0jucJ is a s3id lacquer bcx
with pearl lilies carved upon il which
was a parting souvenir presented 10 her
by the Emperor OF Japan himself
Throughout the house viii be found
Chinese carvings Of teakwOcl and ivory,
silver bowls Of unique workmanship,
fans. screens. and many other valuable
objects. gifts from Chinese and japanese
friends. Her drawing-room IS paneied
in rose brocade and painted in ivory. The
furniture is rose and gold. Her own bed
room and boudoir are painted in blue.
her favorite color. And so dainty and
hOmelike Is her house that one can well
imagine the attention the White House
viii receive a. her hands
The big Red House,
The big red house in X street. where
they lived here. had many h0melike
touches Over the parlor and the library
windows climb crimson roses. There was
10 pompous British liveried footman 10
guard the door Jackson, the coIo7ed
butler. was from Virginia and had the
low voice and the polite manners OF the
Southern majOr-domo.
one Of the other servants was Filipino
named Monaco, who Is endeared 10 Nj
and Mrs. TAFT through long service when
President Taft was governor Of the Phil
ipDiEes.
Mrs. Tafts housekeeping qualities are
evidenced also by the fact laa- she has
always made it a rIe 10 breakfast with
her husband and always knows what is
coming 10 the breakfast table. and IN
spite Of the fact that she has many social
duties and belongs 10 many clubs. she
never leaves him at home in the evening
unless he has work 10 do which her
presence would hinder rather than help.
1t may be guessed that the man who
inspires these attentions is not the sort
who buries a gloomy breakfast counte-
nance IN a newspaper. He is one 10
whom the little courtesies Of courtsbip
days have not become obsolete. who has
an eye for the hlmy silk morning gown
that his wife has chosen. knows whether
il is pink or mauve. and notes tie tulip
AT her belt. caught with the old cameo
pin he saw her wear with the first dress
he ever bought her
Gives TO Charity.
Consideration OF others, high and low.
has always marked the Taft home. Il is.
a part Of the family creed. No matter
how late he has worked the night before.
no matter how dogged has been the
Office grind. Mr.. Taft dresses in the
morning with his face toward the sun
and meets the day smiling. Almsgiving
is a habis with him
In Moscow and St. Petersburg on his
recent trip around the world each morn
ing ne filed his pockets with silver pieces
to give 10 the poor. whose misery and
want met him al every turn. In such
practical charity Mrs. Taft. too. is apace
with him. Indeed. her kind-heartedness
in this direction inspires some OF his IA
vorite 5Okes at her expense
He was once heard 10 declare that the
only way he could be sure Of keeping two
suits in the house was 20 wear his second
best under his new one. IN Murray Bay.
the Lowell. spot in the Arcadian countrv
whittier they 90 each season 10 relax
from official cares and 70 rest for the
work o. winter. their thoughtfulness OF
others is proverbial
In this small, congeniaI colony-for the
spot has so far been discovered By q
mere handful Of families who go there
for refreshment not for fashion-the War
secretary can play golf with his sons and
come near 70 forgetting that problems Of
state exist Many a summer morning
has seen him swinging off down the
laurel and wild honeysuckle paths with