The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-01-16

Elect to Deliver Address.
Atlanta. Ga. Jan. 15.-Never in the
history OF Atlanta. net even in the
halcyou times before the war has
the city seen a day like TO-DAY From
the aristoCratic precincts OF Pcachtrce
street to the back districts. where the
negroes huddle together in their little
shanties. the city is astir with excite
ment over the coming her today of
President Elect William II. TAFT. Who
will be the citys guest for twenty-four
hours. The fact that he is a Repub-
lican and as such at variance With thc
majority OF Atlanta's citizens is lost
sight of in the universal feeling that
today Atlanta has an opportunity ot
showing that the famous southern hos
pitality has not been Overratcl
Gathered at the railroad station 90
greet Mr.. TAFT on his arrival from Al
gusta were the retiring governor of
Georgia HOke Smith. and the governor
elect Joseph NJ. Brown: the mayor os
the city. Robert r. Maddox; President
Gambler. OF the chamber OF commerce.
which body will dine Mr. TAFT ton ght.
and a host Of other diStinsl shed
southerncrs- This afternoon vii see a
continuous series of receptions for the
guest OF honor Only one thinc mars
the occasion ia the opinion OF Allan.
tans That is the absence OF Mrs TAFT.
for whom the ladies OF Atlanta had
planned a warm reception until 30 was
announced with regret by the pres.-
nf. hot
with their son AT Yale would prevent
her coming here
~Possun and Taters" on the Menu.
The climax Of Atlanta's attentions
10 Mr. Taft will come tonight az the
chamber OF commerce banquet SiN
hundred and nifty others viii sit down
to dine with the president elect co o.
menu composed mainly Of famous
southern deiicacies The piece de r.
sistance will be baked opossum. aith
baked sweet potatoes on the right OF
him. on the left OF him under him and
heaped over him. The possum was Boz.
cluded in the bill OF fare at Mr. Tar's
request
Mr.. Taft is bs vepute a good trcnah.
erman and has cinec on most OF the
good things that the various sections
OF the earth have TO orsr. But he has
never tasted. say the famous Atlanta
gourmets. anything to equal the tvfn.
ty-fosr pound possum a record breaf-
er for weight. by the way-that VIII
face him tonight Hundreds Of other
possums will feed the other guest
Leading up TO the "possRm and "a
ters." there viii De the renown-d
Brunswick stew. and 10 wash the
dishes down there VIII Be gallons aud
gallons Of ~simmon beer" stricti'
Temperance drink. brewed from TIE
famous but slightly acid persimmon.
Splendid Dining Hail.
The banquet wilt be held In the new
Armory auditorium. The dining ha q
has been turned into = grand syn
phony OF color. Behind the speaker
table which Is 10 be about seven,s
feet long and which win be- place.
against the wall there will be les.
tooned a gigantic United States nae
made up OF ferns flowers and electri
lights The stars in the nag will b.
made OF white electric lights and tn
I 1Giti NNtblr Jul AArAfu III AAt sam
wav. while the whole will be artist
oally blended with the choicest OF ho,
house flowers. The lights will so rise
and fail a. TO give the appearance thar
the flag IS waving.
At a given signal what appears 10
be a pari of this waving flag will drop,
and there will be exposed 10 the din
Srs facing the speakers table a pic
;ure OF MT Taft done In lights and
| flowers. This will be the background.
The same idea OF the flag will be car
ried out in the speakers table and
the guest table