New-York tribune., 1909-04-16
PRESIDENTLEAVESCITY
GOES TO " 4SHINGTON
litter BUSY DAY.
ftfcpFs TaIe Corporation Meet
= ing in Nczc HdTcn and Secs
n PLAY Here.

1,-aei5en- Taft left New York shortly after
O O'Clock yesterday morning for New Haven.
s,ere he attended a meeting Of the Yale Cor
.,o-s-ion. He returned 10 this city in the after
noon and in the evening saw Maude Adams in
What Every Woman Knows" at the Empire
Theatre.
,rant in automobiles directly 10 the 80 street
ferrv Of the Pennsylvania Railroad They
,r,ese6 To Jersey City. where they boarded the
,ri,a,e ar Magnet. This was attached the
-er,,1ar midnight express on the Pennsylvania
for Washington
Inst before the Presidents arrival the En-
,ire Theatre the lobby of the theatre
cleared by the police.
President and Mrs. Taft and Mr and Mrs.
Henry ". Taft alishted quickly. crossed the
sidewalk To The handclapPinE Of the crowd. and
immediately occupied Box n. The party was
greeted 10y a light ripple of applause.
The President seated himself in a corner
chair turned toward the stage and well to
the front % the box. with Mrs. Taft to the
front and left of him. Mrs Henry W. Taft at
her left the Iatter's husband back Of the ladies,
and between the two gentlemen the Presidents
niece. Miss Mabel Boardman. OF Washington,
their guest Two American flags draped the
hack Of the box.
After the party entered Box n headquarters
detectives and Secret Service mon stationed
themselves from the box to the doors in q long,
informal hle so that it would have been i'm
possible for any unknown person TO reach
the President.
Just before the curtain rose on the first act
the orchestra struck up The Star SpanEled
Banner" and every one in the theatre. including
the President and his party. rose and remained
Standing until the musicians finished a full
stanza-
During the play Mr. and Mrs. Taft frequently
applauded- They seemed to enjoy the play thor
oughly- There crowd numbering several
thousand persons outside the theatre after the
formance, and when the President appeared
he Was greeted with enthusiastic cheers The
party entered automobiles and, still closely
guarded. left for the ferry
President Taft reached the Grand Central
Station at $40 o'clock. The President and his
train shed inclosure was cleared Of pa assengers
before he left the private car Magnet. in which
he had travelled. All the gates opening into the
train shed were closed and the President walked
inside the iron railing to the gate nearest the
Vanderbilt avenue side.
Three Central Office men, who met the train
At Grand Central. walked ahead Of the party
Captain Archibald W Butt L. s A, personal
aide 10 the President. walked Immediately in
OF both sides by Secret Service agents Other
Secret Service men walked behind him, and
three Central Office detectives followed.
In this formation the party passed through
the gate and to the Vanderbilt avenue entrance.
Ropes were stretched along the way from the
gate Of the train shed u the entrance on Van
derbilt avenue. An immense crowd filled the
station. but the ropes kept them back from the
party, which passed quickly and without delay
the street
The crowd cheered at the first sight they got
Of Mr.. Taft. and continued to do until he had
passed from the station. Three automobiles
waiting at the Vanderbilt avenue entrance
Two mounted policemen preceded the party. and
the automobiles went directly to the home OF
Henry W Taft the Presidents brother. at No.
6G West 18th street The two mounted men
opened the way and the machines did not stop
even al the street crossings
As the Presidential party approached the
home of Henry ". Taft American flag was
run out from a fagpole the window on the
second story of the house. In this respect the
President follows the custom OF an admiral OF
the navy whose flag is raised when he returns
mis- ship. This flag was run out yesterday
morning at sunrise. and taken in when Mr..
Taft left the city for New Haven. and put out
again on his return. and kept flying until sun
set