The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-08
IS GAY
PRECEDING lent
CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION uN.
DER MIS-. TAFT's MANAGE
MENT IS TRUELY REPRE-.
SENTATIVE.

Washington, Feb. s.--Events on the
social official calendar have followed
each other thick and fast during this
last week before the dawn of the
Penitential season bids Vanity Fair
rest q while. AT the White House, the
early days were occupied with the en-
tertainment OF Miss Helen Taft. who
came home to spend her first semester
holiday with her school mates the
Misses Rice and Winson of Bryn Mawr.
and her cousins, the Misses Anderson
OF Cincinnati. On Tuesday evening
PRESIDENT and Mrs. Taft gave their first
evening reception complimentary TO
members of the national house and
senate, their families. and a few hum
dred additional guests who had no:
oeen invited to either of the previous
state receptions. Wednesday being
theater night" the presidential party
went to see Miss Frances Cameron as
Inc Merry Widow, and on Thursday
Mr.. Taft, accompanied by his sister-in !
law, Mrs. Charles Anderson--Mrs. Taft
was unable to go-attended the last in
the series Of cabinet dinners to be given
until after Easter Their hosts on this
occasion were Secretary of the Navy
and Mrs. Won l.. Myer. who also enter
tanned large companies at dinner on
Monday and Wednesday evenings.
Their especial guest on the latter occa :
sion was Miss Ethel Roosevelt. who is
spending the season end with her
brother in-law and sister, Mrs. Nicho-
las Longworth.
Congressional receptions at the
White House in days gone-by were not
altogether to the liking of the smart"
official set many Of whom. unmindful
Of the mot transferable" In bold black
letters on the envelope containing the
please present this-card at-the-
door" were wont to pass their invita-
ton on to the first person expressing
a desire for IT. The more this custom
grew the less of a congressional re-
ception did the third annual state func-
ton become, and more did it resemble
the public receptions in vogue until
the first Roosevelt administration. Mrs.
Taft was quick to note the result as
Mrs. Secretary War. she stood third
from Mrs. Roosevelt in the receiving
line, and was frequently heard to ex-
press her opinion i'm gentle, though un-
mistakable, disapproval of an Official
affair that was not what 1t seemed.
Society was therefore on the qui vive
to see what the reception to lawmakers
would be under her direction.
Again, 1t was announced early in the
season, that in order to reduce the
number Of guests at each reception to
a company only large enough for real
entertainment and enjoyment, the
same people, with few exceptions,
would be invited to but one function
during the season. These exceptions
for the most part are in favor of those
legislators whose official connections
with committees on foreign relations
and the judiciary. entitle them to be
reckoned with whenever diplomats or
judges are to be entertained but this
was not evidenced to their satisfaction
or rather to that of their respective
wives, until a. week ago when invita-
tons were ISSUED for the congress
sionai reception.
Truly Representative Assembly.
Then Mr. and Mrs. Congressman end
Mr.. and Mrs. Senator, who had been
to one OF the other functions. wanted
to so second time to show their coll
leagues that he and she were twice
expected" and those who could only
hope for one opportunity to shake
hands and break cake with the chief
executive wanted to see and note the
innovations for themselves-or more
truly speaking, to see and be seen. The
result was the most representative and
complete gathering of legislators and
their families that has been assembled
in the presidents house within the
oldest inhabitants memory really
national gathering, democratic, yet
Diplomats Present.
1t was also somewhat diplomatic,
owing to the presence Of conspicuous
of foreign diplomats, charge
d'affaires and attaches, and therefore
more brilliant than the average con-
gressional reception. Comfortable ar
prevailed, and only once
In the state dining room, where a
buffet luncheon was served, was there
anything approaching a congestion of
people.
AS evidence of the absence of preced-
ence In the guest line one notes that
the first to greet President and Mrs.
Taft was popular bud of the season,
while among the last to pass through
was Miss Mabel Boardman, the close
friend Of the Taft family. with whom
the chief executive danced later in