The Washington herald., 1909-03-05
SONS OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

There are two boys. the sons OF Presi-
dent Taft, who VIII figure IN the White
House during the next four years. At
Yale IS Robert Taft. a sturdy nineteen
year-cld lad. replica Of the Pres
ident, who seems 70 have inherited from
his distinguished father a faculty for
study, for he took two prizes there last
year.
Robert seems also 10 have inherited his
fathers love Of outdoor life and athletics.
for in his freshman year he rowed In the
victorious crew. and during the same
year that he won honors in the barge he
equaled the record Of the leading aspirant
Tor the Woolsey scholarship. which IS
the highest Of freshman honors AT Yale.
The winner had 10 be decided by lot.
This feat served 20 call attention TO the
fact that the Taft family has an un-
equaled record for scholarships at Yale.
a record that has hardly been duplicated
al any other American university. The
Taft scholarships have been among the
highest in the university's history. so it
IS only following the family tradition
when We learn that Robert Taft leads bis
class and that. aside from his race for
the Woolsey prize. he has taken several
prizes in Greek. mathematics. and Latin.
White House Boy.
But however much Robert Taft may
figure during the coming administration.
il is pretty safe TO predict that il is
Charlie Taft, aged ten, who viii be the
boy Of the White House"
II is this lad who has inherited his
mothers eyes and sparkling wit. who
has been his fathers playfenow and
travelling companion.
Charlie pays much attention TO his
books, but he is not al ali precocious in
the matter of study and IS much more a
healthy, rollicking, fun-loving boy than
he is a student.
He has a taste FOR literature that has
carried him pretty deep into the Juvenile
department Of the Congressional Library
"a taste so catholic that Il runs all the
way from the Henty books to the ancient
classics. And not only can he discuss
the standard modern novel. but he has
brains enough 70 tell why he prefers one
author TO another
Yet with all his book learning he Is a
genuine boy. and those who know him
best say that no one could doubt his
boyish enthusiasm after hearing him tell
Of the adventures that were experienced
one famous Saturday afternoon in the
White House garnet. where he met the
members Of the big attic centipedes"
under the leadership Of Quentin Roose-
velt
One day Charlie came skating in from
~
his cap in the hall The roller skates
left a few scratches on the beautiful
hardwood floor, but mother could get
another floor, and the b0y.sh smile was
worth II His Jacket was buIging in sus-
picious fashion.
Why, Charlie. what have you in your
coat?" his mother asked.
The boy laughed.
Anne Of Gierstein is in there" he
said. tapping his pocket. she and I
took recess together to-day"
And then, flushed with health and eager
with enthusiasm. he curled up in the
fork OF his favorite librsry-a sugar
reading The Sword Of Wayne" which
he had chosen because, as he said, 1t
had a fight in it."
D4tN N0t NAAAAE AE hdc III me LTOnE
yard a sightseeing automobile went by
carrying a load Of tourists. and the
chauffeur called out through his mega
phone: That big red house is the resi-
dence Of William Howard Taft. Secretary
Of War"
Charlie remarked. Il wonder how
many in that rubber-neck wagon are
wondering whether we'n be living here
next year.
Charlie Is the Wit.
The lad inherits from both his father
and his mother a fine tendency toward
wit. Buffalo Bills coming to town he
one morning. He used to send
us tickets. I hope we've been enough
IN the public eve for him not TO forget"
Wouldn't it turn your head. Charlie
one of his schoolmates asked him. III
you were to become the son Of a Presi- /
1ent7"
"Oh. 7 don't know" he replied. IF |
didn't turn Quentin's. I guess could
stand it.
Charlie is a favorite playmate of his
distinguished father Never mind /
Charlie; III play tennis with you" Mr. /
Taft was heard to say one day: and
thereafter might have been seen a big
yiTthed heavy man. clad in a cbeap nan-