Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-14

power exclusively upon the attractions of
the performances they offer.
New President No MolIycOddle.
In one respect, however, President Taft
will be fully as potent an attraction for
the tourist and sightseer as was President
Roosevelt. The equestrian exploits of
President Roosevelt frequently got into
the newspapers and were always worth
reading about. But they were usually
performed in the presence of a few eye
witnesses.
But the mere appearance of President
Taft on horseback constitutes in itself a
pageant. 1t is a highly moral and re-
fined entertainment which once seen is
seldom or never forgotten. President Taft
won't have to do any stunts on horseback
in order to interest the populace. His
mere appearance on horseback constitutes
a stunt, especially for the horse. The new
president has recently purchased a power
full horse that weighs over 100 pounds and
stands over seventeen hands high. This
animal carried him over the country around
Hot Springs recently and he thinks very
we'll of the animal. What the horse thinks
one can only guess.
President Taft will be a more common
figure on foot about the streets OF WASH
ington than ever was Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr..
Roosevelt was never especially partial to
footing 1t. Mr.. Taft is and anybody who
has ever tried to keep up with him on a
hike knows that he is some walker. His
step has all the spring and elasticity Of
youth and has the reach OF his great
height. He does not walk in the least like
a fat man.
Changes Made by Mrs. Roosevelt,
Nobody who knows both Mrs. Taft and
Mrs, Roosevelt doubts that with the ad-
vent OF the former to the White House
there will be a great change in the con-
ditlons surrounding the social life of the
foremost residence in the land. Mrs. Roose-
welt has been in fact as well as in name,
from & soElal point of view. the
first lady in the land" Coming from
the social circles OF New York. in which
she had spent so many years, she took up
the task that awaited her in Washington
with ideas and training far different from
those that have equipped 50 many presi-
dents wives for the place.
Until Mrs. Roosevelt entered the White
House the society OF that great dwelling
had been for many years of the most
purely perfunctory and official character.
Mrs. Cleveland cared little for society and
her husband even less. During President
Harrison's incumbency there was no wife
OF the president" Mrs, Mckinley was an
invalid. But with Mrs. Roosevelt in the
White House things took a different turn.
During her regime there has always been
a sharp distinction drawn by her between
functions Of a purely official and obliga-
tory character-receptions and dinners 10
governmental personages made necessary
by custom-and the real social life of her
self and her family which she cultivated
by choice. She has in many ways recon
structed the social life of the White House
and Of official society. For one thing she
has made It far more formal than IL ever
has been before-at any rate, since the days
when the elegant ViTginians were in power
in the early days of the last century.
Train Gowns Brought In.
II soon became known that Mrs. Roose.
Welt preferred hat women should weal
gowns with trains when they attended
state functions. and in a short time gown,
without trains We're so rarely seen on thest
occasions that their weaTeTs were made e
feel uncomfortable The upshot OF this wa,
that the train gown came almost univer
sally into vogue for anything partakng OF
the nature OF a public function.
The semi-private entertainments given by
Mrs. Roosevelt have exceeded in number