The National tribune., 1909-12-02
TURKEY ALL RIGHT.
President Taft at High Mass, Where
Flags Were Displayed.

That great big pie that was to grace
the Presidents table on Thanksgiving
Day was a fake after all, and there
wasn't anyone more glad of it than
President Taft, and it isn't at all likely
that he would have eaten any of it had
it been a real pie. The Taft family had
very enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner
around the White House mahogany. it
being entirely q family party. Miss
Helen Taft came from Bryn Mawr for
a week and Charles came from his I'm
Gle Henry's school and Mrs. Taft had
as her guest her sister, Mrs. Laughlin,
of Pittsburg. The wonderful Rhode
Island turkey from Mr.. Vose, who has
presented the White House Thaaksgiv
| ing turkey for the last 40 years, was
the piece de resistance, and il is said
that a finer bird than this 54-pounder
never rested on the White House table.
| The President attended mass in the
morning at St. PatriCk'S Church. which
was one of the most brilliant of church
| festivals, and was celebrated by Cardi
nal Gibbons, the Rt. Rev. Mgr Thomas
Shahan, rector of the Catholic Univers
| ty of America, and Sr. Mgr. Diomede
Falconio. the Papal Delegate, and chap
| lains and priests and fathers without
end to bring up the train. The canO-
pied thrones occupied by the prelateS,
the rich-toned robes and the cloth OF
gold vestments worn by the officers of
the mass lent striking coloring to the
scene within the sanctuary, which was
| intensified by myriads of taper5, sus-
pended tier upon tier high above the
altar, while an abundance of handsome
palms added to the beauty and solemn
ity of the mass.
/ 1t was a significant day for the Cath
iaIi - la Escf L..
the history of the Nation that the
President of the United States had at
tended services in a Catholic Church on
a holiday which had been set apart by
Presidential proclamation. The civic
and patriotic significance attached to
the ceremony was shown by the decora-
tions of the pew occupied by President
Taft and each pew section reserved for
the representatives of pan-American
countries, which was designated by tiny
flags and shields of the representatives
country. Encircling the tail marble
columns the vari-colored flags of 20
Nations hung side by side with the
Stars and Stripes, while large flags OF
the Red. White and Blue, suspended
across the gallery. were held in place
by the Stars and Stripes This Is prob.
ably the first time in the history of the
Roman Catholic Church that decora.
ton OF this character has been permit
tCu nltIllh IT'S precincts. 1t Is
only few years back when Grand
Army veteran. who was a member OF
the Catholic Church, was refused the
lSolemn functions of the dead within
the sanctuary of the church until the
Flag, which had been wrapped abou
the casket by his Grand Army com.
rades, had been removed, and the fac
that not only the Stars and Stripes and
the flags of the South American Nation!
are now permitted to decorate the in
terror of the Roman Catholic Church
as well as the interior of nearly every
other church, goes far to show thu
spread Of patriotism thruout the land
The President was accompanied by
many Of tho members of his Cabinet
Justices of the Supreme Court, repre-
sentatives of all of the South American
lcountries and many other distinguished
friends.
After the Presidential dinner the Pres
ident and Attorney General Wickershan
took a long walk. He spent the even
ing quietly In the residential portion oil
the White House.