Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-02-18
Wants More Informality.

President TAFT, the most genial and
democratic President that has ever
occupied the White House has com.
planned about the formality of the en-
tertainment that his position makes
necessary and has furnished copy for
the professional humorists by his
plaintive remark that he wished his
friends might ''just drop in" at the
White House Mr.. Taft notwith-
standing his vigorous mind, his per.
sonal dignity and wide experience
among men is above all things a
"good fellow" in the better sense of
that expression and the restraints
of his official position wear on him.
He has always detested formality.
The essence of his intercourse with
men has been the unconvential and
easy humor of man who Is "one of
the boys" The deadly dullness Of
official entertaining, the Cabinet din
ners, the prearranged Interviews, the
regular and prescribed Cabinet meet
ings, and all penalties which he pays
for his Office. Cabinet Ministers and
Diplomats are known to have cooled
their heels while the President closet
ed with some unofficial friend has
been exchanging stories and roaring
over some recent joke The French
say. &C, est rive" il is to laugh,
all the time with the President. No
mischievous school boy of ten finds
greater need of laughter than this
big, good liumored boy who has new.
er quite grown up. Everything that
is not humorous or that cannot be
given a humorous turn is a bore to
the President and the funeral atmo.
Ihere OF the White House has al.
ready chilled him. Mrs Taft OH
the other hand is one of the most
formal and convential of women.
Official entertaining and high posi-
tion with its formal prescription s
are her delight and during her resi-.
dence in Washington and the Philli.
pines she has always been the grande
dame. Her semi invalidism since
! Ist Spring has not compelled her to
relax in the least and her appearance
at the reception this Winter, how
ever brief has always been marked
by full consciousness that she is the
first lady in the land. This is not to
be construed as criticism of her
manner whic is and las been be-
yond reproach but merely to mark
a difference in this much observed
couple which is apparent to every
one who meets them. The Presi
dent is probably Mrs. Taft's most en-
thusiastic admirer. Her social am.
bition and skill excite a wondering
admiration and approval in him. He
sees in her an inspiration and capac-
/ y which he does not share aud he
a paIently takes it for a manisfesta-
tion of genius. He quotes her con.
tinuously. His collected speeches
would show a small percentage thf
did not make some reference to her.
He has always asserted that with.
out her he would never have been
President and he eagerly agrees to
her oft quoted remark, "It was 1 who
made Bill" In his bis hearty,
laughing fashion no pays her every
tribute of admiration and respect
and their very differences of disposI-
ton and manner seem to have ee-
mented a deep and tender affection,
They may be held as the typical and
ideal American couple, so largely de.
rided and denounced by cur japanese
visitors in which the husband with.
out any suspicion of gallsntry or sci
effacement on his own part delight.
to assume an attitude of inferiority
aud submission to his wise.
FOR PRINT