The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-16
PRESIDENT TAFT
 AS MATCHMAKER instrumental In Placing Mr.. Nicholas Longworth LOOKS FOR ANOTHER JOB Jolly Executive Is Thought to Be Plan hing to Assist in the Duke of the
 Abruzzi and Miss EII<ins
 Love Affair.
BY CONSTANCE cARRuTHERs.

Washington, January 15.-(Special)- Pardon me, but is MT. William Howard Taft playing the match-maker again. Ever since he united his tremendous di- plomacy and energy to link the hearts of Nicholas Longworth and Alice Roosevelt there have been whisperings that our jolly executive can always take time to assist Cupid when the little deity gets stumped by particularly difficult case. A fortnight ago I learned that MT. Taft desired to extend through Ambassador Leishman at Rome a special invitation to the Duke of the Abruzzi to come to Wash ington and deliver a scientific lecture privately before a chosen few. Of course the Duke would be entertained here by the Baron des Ranches, by President Taft, by Secretary Knox and many oth- CTS. In fact, his stay would mark the social epoch of the season. But would there be another result from the visit of the intrepid young Italian explorer? Would he, could he. find tina to call at the residence of the Steven Elk inses, where Miss Katherine Ellsins reigns supreme in beauty and riches, un- hampered by nuptial rumors and free to SOW her affection wherever she wills? I cannot help but believe that MT. Taft would play first aid to outwitted Cupid in this case albeit he may do 1t unwit- tingly
 T have been tempted to wonder how the beautiful and sprlghtly Miss Christine | Roosevelt niece of the former President, will like army life. especially army life on the Staked Plains of Texas As Mrs. James Fl. Shelley she is now an army ofri- cers wife. Lieutenant Shelley Is con- nected with the Eleventh cavalry, which is kept moving about Fort Sam Houston. Mir. and Mrs. Shelley have already joined the company.
 Quite number of affairs are being given in honor of Miss Ruth Wellman, daughter of Walter Wellman, the Arctic explorer. Miss Wellman joined her par ents here after year spent in California, where she lived with relatives. Mrs. wellman came to Washington in Decem- Der from Europe, where she joined her husband.
 With Miss Helen Taft back at school her presence Is sorely missed in the younger circle. But while Miss Taft Is fond of society and while she could re- main at home If she desired, 1t Is her own will that her formal debut be postponed for at least a year yet.
 Some recent visitors in Washington were Mir. and Mrs. Clarence H. Pratt of Knoxville, Tenn, visiting MT. and Mrs. George w. Pratt; Mrs. Mollie Eubank Sempel and Miss Elizabeth Eubank of Texas, visiting Representative and Mrs. Jack Beall; Mrs. Henry Cabaniss of At lanta, Ga, visiting her sister, Mrs. M. s. White; Mrs. Thomas D. Merrell of Du- luth, visiting Frau Krause; Mrs. Agnes Gray of Minneapolis, visiting Mrs Charles l. Curtiss Miss Mildred Prewitt of West Point Ky, visiting Mrs. William H. Saunders.
 Mrs. M. Mulholand and her daughter. Miss Margaret, who have been visiting relatives in Mississippi, are expected home next week.
 Miss Jeannette Davis of Shreveport, La., who is attending school in this city, spent the holidays with Mrs. Picard.
 For at least dozen years back there has been diplomatic breakfast in tho home of the Secretary of State but that part of the social regime has been changed. Those breakfasts in the past amounted to receptions and were held just after the White House reception. They were rltes or nlSn ofder, 1 may say. When the late MT. John Hay and MT. Elihu Root held the office of secreta- ry of state their wives received the for eign delegations with assistants. Now there is a grouping of cabinet members wives and the diplomatic breakfast has been relegated to the abiding place of some of the Roosevelt policies. Senator Chauncey Depew of New York, who used to hold the palm as the pre- mier afternoon speaker, has relinquished that honor, and while he occasionally speaks few words now, his utterances are not marked by the flow of wit which used to sparkle therefrom. MT. and Mrs. Dspew are entertaining in a quiet way, but the senator is gradually withdrawing from society as well as after-dinner speaking.
 Mrs. William F. Dennis, who was re- gently elected president of the Southern Relief society, received the unanimous vote of the trustees of that organization and therefore has entered upon the duties of her position with an unusual personal distinction.
 Mrs. Dennis is Kentuckian, a very handsome woman, with great charm of |AlaneJeTniSOn