New-York tribune., 1910-12-02
Presented at Brilliant White
House Reception.
NOTABLE ARRAY OF GUESTS
Cabinet Members, Diplomats and
Many Officials Pay Respects
to President Daughter.
IErnr11 The Tribune Bureau.


Washington, Dec For the first time
since he became President Mr.. Taft occu-
pied a secondary place al the White House
to-day, and his only daughter, Miss Helen
Taft standing beside her mother and
formally meeting the representatives Of Al
most every civilized nation, as well as the
cream Of official and resident society of
many cities, was first. Miss Taft was the
third White House debutante in the last
few years, and from the first whif of the
flower laden atmosphere from the hundreds
Of bouquets and baskets sent to her in
honor of her presentation the reception
wore a particularly dainty and joyous air
The formaIity usually attending state en-
tertainuents was laid aside and the most
whole souIed and charming hospitality
reigned.
Mrs. Taft stood at one end of the long
East Room to receive, and between her and
the President stood the young lady OF the
White House. It was here that one caught
the first festive air of the occasion The
concert grand piano standing opposite the
entrance TO the room was laden with flow
ers and the walls of the stately apartment
were almost lined with American Beauty
roses in tall jars. Mrs. Taft wore grace
full gown of pale blue chiffon. draped over
$1,000
a broad band Of sable. the same fur finish
ing the sleeves at the elbow and running
dia gonary down the skirt.
Miss Tafts costume was Of rosebud pink
satin chiffon, made with q pointed tunic,
falling over a skirt of white satin. She
carried pink flowers She looked charming
ard yvonlanIy and typically American as
she stood beside her mother and father.
Pink prevailed in all the decorations, for
while the drawing rooms were filed with
the tributes sent by friends, the state din
ing room was aglow with pink shaded
lights. and great beds Of pink roses adorned
the table. Even in the confections the same
1777a Obtained. InformaIty reigned in the
state dining room AT one end OF the tea
table Miss Margery Cotton and Miss Mary
Southerland poured chocolate, and at the
other Mrs Beekman Winthrop and Miss
Eaardr11an poured coffee. The Marine Band
orchestra was stationed in the marble en-
trance hall and gave a programme espe-
cia1lx arranged for the occasion
7,,.. Vice-President and Mrs. Sherman,
4ha secretary of State and Mrs. Knox. the
Secretary of the Treasury and Mrs Mac
yeagh. the Attorney General and Mrs
yy5clershsr4l the Secretary of Agriculture
and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor
the afternoon
OTHER guests we're the Austrian Ambas-
sador and his suite the French Ambassador
and Nine Jusserand, the French naval
a-+ache and Eiscountess Benoist AZy. Mr..
Tefevre-PontaIis French counsellor; the
French first secretary and Nine de la Roc
"a baroness Rosen, Baroness Elizabeth
Rosen and members of the Russian En-
hessy staff. Alfred Mitchell 1nnes. British
charge d 'afTaires: the British second Secre-
+ary and Mrs. Esmond Ovey the British
second secretary and Mrs. H W. hennard,
Lord Eustice, British attache; the German
Ambassador and Countess Won bernstorn'
Countess Luise-Alexandra Won Bernstorn'
Commander Retzmann, German naval at
tache; Major Herwarth Won Blttenheld,
c.arrnap military attache; the Mexican Am
hoseador and members OF his staff. the
Tansnese Ambassador and Baroness Cchf-
da. r. de Lima Silva, Brazilian charge
Il -affaires. and Nine. de Lima e Silva, the
Italian Ambassador and his daughter, Don
ma Beatrice Cusani Confalonieri and mem
hers of the ambassadors staff, the Danish
Minister and Countess Moltke, the Swiss
Minister and Henri Martin, the Norwegian
Minister and Nine. Bryu, the Speaker and
Miss Cannon, Mrs. William J. Boardman,
the Assistant Secretary OF State and Mrs
Huntington wilson Mrs L. z. Letter Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph Letter, Miss Hammond,
Miss May Hammond Miss AIcMulIin, Mrs
Gardner Williams. Miss Dorothy Gardner
Williams, Major and Mrs. John T. Knight,
Miss Margaret Knight, Mrs. Matthew I.
Scott. many army and navy officers in uni
form and large number Of debutantes OF
this and the last season who have enter
tanned Miss Tart.