The Washington herald., 1911-06-25

-HB most beautiful function IN the
history of the white House. the
silver wedding Of President and
Mrs. Taft. made the past week
q memorable one In washington It was
second only in world interest. to the gor-
geous ceremony and attending Festivities
Of the coronation OF King George and
Queen Mary.
The reception. dance. and garden party
at the White House were as keenly en-
soyed by the President and Mrs Taft
as It was By their multitude Of guestss
upward OF 400. They were % general
In their wish to allow others 70 retoics
with them that the invitation lists at the
White House were stretched to the ex-
treme limit, and the result would have
been terrible TO contemplate had It oesn
K. very disagreeabIe wet night. for the
old mansion could hardly have given
shelter TO all
: Scarcely has there been a more ideal
evening than that for such an entertain
! ment none too cool and none too warm,
and even the breezes held their breath
while Mrs Taft, recently out Of sick
bed. greeted the guests and enjoyed the
festivity. So well did she arrange for
F the comfort and pleasure OF the guests
! that they fingered longer than those at
any White House party for 10. these
many years, II ever. It was indeed. after
the hour Of / a. m. before tn last one
departed, and they left the President
smoking contentedly upon the verande
on the south side, apparently not wear1ed
by his mammoth party, although his
bride of a quarter of century ago had
been persuaded TO retire to her apartment
soon after the guests had all arrived and
the dancing, was well started
The terraces at either end of the first
floor of the mansion were the most at
tractive spots next to the garden, which
was a veritable fairy forest. Small tables
from which was served a delicious re-
past filled the west terrace, where soft
lights. music in the distance. and q
beautiful electric lighted panorama
spread out beneath them. were most en-
ticing. Delicate and fragrant foliage,
inviting seats and benches, and cool
shaded corners made the east terrace
a blissfuI resting place for the dancers
from the East Room. The President and
Mrs. Taft being great dancers in their
youth, encourage the art among both
young and old, but on this significant oc-
casion the President did not dance, and
some one said from feeling of senti-
ment that on this anniversary, II the
bride could not dance with the BRIDE
groom he would dance with no one
else.
He was free to confess that. while the
party was Mrs Taft's own, the idea
OF the garden fete was his, and he caught
the idea from the entertainments in the
Philippines, during their long residence
there. Indeed. brilliant affair. al
fresco was given by the President and
Mrs Taft, as the governor of the
Philippines and mistress OF the guher-
material mansion. shortly before they
called to the war portfolio OF President
Roosevelts Cabinet. This wes said to
be the most beautiful and gorgeous re-
ception given in these possessions OF
ours, and was sort Of inspiration for
the silver wedding which was then an
event Of the dim future
aSsH
The introduction Of one new Cabinet
hostess to washington society was sue
cessful one. for Mrs. Stimson, who ap-
peared for the first time at the silver
wedding at the White. House. made a
very beautiful impression on all who met
or saw her. She is a handsome woman
Of poise and cordiaiity. She has a youth
ANA AoSO cA0 oOAA 6A6y AoaA5 lleAc1
friends with the first glance.
She remained In the line with Mrs.
Sherman and Mrs Knox until the end,
as Mrs. Taft did, although Mrs. Taft
took frequent rests in a large chair placed
beside her. She held out pluclxily and
well, and seemed not little bit tired
when the last Of 1000 hands had been
shaken. Mrs. Stimson is the close COM
panion Of her husband, a condition be-
tween most Of the men and women who