Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-12

FINDER the personal direction OF
Mrs. Taft. the arrangements for
the social season at the White
! ~ House have practically been
| completed, and the program
| shows a number of innovations which
| reflect the great interest and study which
/ she has given to the subject. While Mrs
/ Taft probably will not participate in
1 any of. the larger receptions or state
| functions, the details of these affairs
| will be carried out under her immediate
| supervision. Mrs. Taft expects to ap-
| pear for a time at least during the New
| Year reception. She will continue to re-
| ceive by appointment two or three after
moons each week during the season, but
| ii Is felt that it would be too mucn
/ Of a tax upon her to be present during
| the long hours of all the state functions.
| Mrs. Taft has been a constant visitor
| to the Washington theaters Of late.
| The problem of the larger receptions,
such as the diplomatic, the judicial, the
congressional and the army and navy,
with invitation lists in past years of
1000 and more, presented to Mrs Taft
the greatest difficulty of the social pro-
gram. and she set about to devise some
means of making these receptions more
significant. more distinctive and more of
a personal honor to the guests of the
evening and to those invited to meet
them. To do this it has been found
necessary to materially reduce the invi-
tation lists, not by the elimination of
any one In or out of official life who
should be on the White House lists, but
by limiting the invitations to one or the
other of the receptions, and not inviting
the same guests to all of the rec eptions.
Only few people in official life will
be invited to more than one of the big
1 rsao ayafin n nf, 11;.
1t Is said, will receive succeeding invi-
tations.
One of the principal reasons for limit
ing the numbers at the several recep-
tions is the fact that during this adj
ministration refreshments are to be serv-
ed during the state receptions. This
has not been done since President Hayes
administration. The facilities for serv-
ing refreshments to so large company
at the White House are comparatively
limited. of course. and the guests to be
invited must be reckoned accordingly.
For the larger affairs this will mean a
great undertaking, but Mrs. Taft per-
sonally has gone over the situation, and
it is believed that her efforts in this
way will overcome the difficulties.
The above announcement of social
changes at the White House under the
new administration will be of widespread
interest Thousands of those who accept
ed the hospitality of President and Mrs.
| Roosevelt during the past two terms
have had more or less to say about the
inconvenience of the long wait before
the blue room was reached on the oc-
casions of large receptions Cutting
down the list as the plans indicate will
eliminate nearly all of this trouble, and
will insure the greatest possible comfort
and pleasure to those in attendance. 1t
would seem that all those hitherto honor
ed by an invitation to White House
evening may be reasonably sure of the
same distinction In 1910, and the fact
that the vast majority of persons may
expect but one bid each season ought to
add additional Importance to the much
coveted card when it does arrive Mrs.
Tafts thorough knowledge OF the whole
in the official and social world of the
capital Is a tremendous advantage in
arranging program, and what she or
dains has everything behind Ii to assure
it's reasonab ieness
The matter of refreshments is an in
novation also that cannot but be COM
mended. Breaking bread in the White
House will be a. new sensation for many
who were never invited to the Roose-
Welt musicals. where ices, cakes and
punch, etc. were handed about
The White House social program opens
this week with the first OF the state
dinners, which will be held Thursday
night, and at which the Vice President
and cabinet will be the guests of honor.
Another announced date is the dance to
be given the 10Th for Miss Helen Taft
and Mr.. Robert Taft, who will be home
from college for the holidays.
Vice President and Mrs. Sherman will
spend the holidays in Utica They will
entertain the President and Mrs Taft at
dinner the Goth. The health of Mrs