The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-29
WHITE HOUSE HAS
AR|sTOCRAT|C AIR
1t Is Real County, Now, In Striking
Contrast To Roosevelts Time
as President
eY ROBERT r. WILSON.

WASHINGTON, April %. - No
longer do the children OF Washingtcu
group themselves under the trees OF
the white house lawn Saturday after
Moons and romp on the grass Willie
listening TO the music OF the splendid
Marine band
No longer can the underpaid gov
eminent clerk quit work early, walk
the brief distance To the white house.
and there. in as beautiful spot as
there is in the United States, meet his
Mamie, and listen To the band play in
spring music.
The grounds now are forbidden the
children, the sweethearts and the aged
alike. The concerts have been dis
continued Now we have the Lunetta.
Don't you know what the l-uneua
is? Well, perhaps il does need word
Of explanation. The Lunetta Is the
smart waterside drive in Manila. 1t
was established by the royal COVER
nors from Spain.
II was there, in the cool OF the day
the lords OF the land took their leisure
in their fine equipages
The United States, in taking over
the Philippines, assimilated more than
the natives and lot of land for the
sugar trust The Tafts assimilated
the Lunetta for us
The Washington Lunetta isn't called
the Lunetta. but the speedway or
Potomac park But ii was frankly
Mrs. Taft's idea 1t is a splendid
boulevard of oiled macadam. encirc-
ling the walled tidal reservoir OF the
Potomac. Immediately southwest OF the
Washington monument
The gravel sidewalk for pedestrians
is not as wide as the bride path on
the other side OF the drive. The whole
park is a mile from the nearest street
car line
Washington's oldest inhabitants can
not remember when the Marine band
has not given its summer Saturday
afternoon concerts on the white house
lawn.
The program regularly began at .
u. m. An hour earlier the departments
had released their clerks and by the
time the opening chords OF the first
march were sounded thousands would
he taking their ease in the spacious
mark. Many would bring their even
ing meals with them. To make the
affair the more democratic, the Roose-
velts used to sit on the south porch
and have tea served.
When the Tafts moved into the
white house they had the speedway
built 10 be the Iunetta of the Amert-
can court. BY midsummer last year
AZ was completed III hen the regular
Saturday concert was shifted TO ire
Lunetta.
The populace took to the idea at
first. and the opening concert brought
mammoth crowd. But the people
found themselves wedged tightly be-
tween the band-stand and the croWasd
roadway on hot. sunny lawn. They
refused 10 attend again. and the con
certs were discontinued.
Other white house innovations since
the Tafts occupancy have brought ire
III the official residence nearer lil,e
that I'm a European court. The presl'
dents auto bears the national coat oil
arms on it's doors. There Is dlstihc-
tive livery for the stable servants. For
the first time. two majestic buffers
now stand on either side OF the puDlc
entrance TO the house. The blue room
-handsomest i'm the residence--has
been appropriated as the Taft FAMILY
room. In it is Mrs. Taft's ivory ana
gold piano
Capt. Archibald w. DeClavering BUT
wears his uniform when he attends
Mrs. Taft about Washington.
1t Is said that the Tafts, soon after
moving into the white house, wrote the
Washington theater managers, request
ing that no performance begin unit!
the president and family arrived. Gus
tom for years has reserved the 'front.'
Iisht-hand box in every Washington
tfeater for the presidents use. The
box is held until the curtain rises
then sold OF course, the management
Is told I'm advance whenever the presi-
dent is to attend the performance.
But until the Tafts time, no per
Torrance was held for the presiden-