Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-23
THOUSANDS GREET
Mr.. AND MRS. TAFT
Great Reception Marks Silver
Wedding of President.
PRESENTS WORTH A FORTUNE
immense Crowd Offer Congratulations
to Couple Beneath Trees on White
House LaWn-Perfect Wealth
err Attends Function.

Westinghouse reception on the
White House lawn brought the silver
wedding celebration Of the President
and Mrs Taft, the second that has
been held in the executive mansion,
to a close
Invitations had been sent to close
to $4,000 persons, and while the Off
cial count of those who shook hands
with the president was not given out,
it was estimated that at least 5000
persons were present.
Never in the history Of the nation
probably has such function been
held in Washington. The diplomatic
corps. the United States Supreme
court, the senate and the house of
representatives, the departments of
the government, the men who are
high in political affairs of the coun-
try, the army, the navy and every
walk of life almost were represented.
The cool, clear night, that made a
reception in the open air possible,
prevented the crush that the White
House for days had been afraid of
and made the reception not only bril-
liant and unusual but delightful in
every respect The guests would
have filed the White House to over
flowing, but the White House grounds
are ample and there was no crush
and no confusion.
Possibly $4,000 people crowded
about the iron fence that surrounds
the grounds and looked longingly at
the electric display, the splashing
fountains and the gay throng within.
The cards said the reception would
begin at nine o'clock, and promptly
on the hour, to the strains Of the we'd
ing march, the President and Mrs
Taft came slowly down the staircase
of the White House, preceded by the
six presidential aids and followed by
the cabinet. Out through the red
room to the rear portico C the man
sion, down the broad steps and out
onto the lawn, which had been con-
verteu into veritable fairyland, the
procession marched. They took their
stand beneath two trees just about
the center Of the lawn, whose branches
were joined by an electric sign flash
Ing 18S6-1911.''
The guests entered from the east
front, passed through the corridors
beneath the White House and out to
the lawn. Down the winding walk
they passed In two lines to where the
president, his face wreathed in
smiles. was waiting to meet them all
The reception was just as informal
as the president could make it. Those
who could waited in line for hours to
shake hands, but many slipped out of
the line and sought the shaded walks,
the chairs waiting on the grass Or
wandered at will through the lower
floors of the mansion. The presents
that numbered in the hundreds and
whose money value ran high into the
thousands, attracted many, while
others turned to the east room whose
polished floor echoed to the tread Of
the dancers.
Preparations had been made for
5000 guests and the refreshment
tables in the state dining-room came
as near grooming as perfectly good
table can come. The president and
the members of his family with the
cabinet and the aids were served on
the east terrace, but the guests found
their refreshments ii the state dining
room
Mrs. Taft surprised even those ia
miliar with the improvement in health
that she has shown by remaining by
the presidents side in the receiving
line all the evening She wore a
gown of white satin, brocaded with
silver flowers with a court train.
Miss Helen Taft, who was near at
hand, wore a gown of pink satin
with tun1c of pink chiffon.
In spite of the unusual crowd the
machinery had been SO perfected that
everything worked smoothly.