The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-29
PRESIDENT has TO
Be GOOD DIPLOMAT
And the Presidents Wife
Must Always Display
Greatest Tact.
" JONATHAN WHITFIELD.

vook 10 wu1ko uouue VIII" w.
and people or moro in = single even
lng. To steer them without tangIe
throuSh. the corridors Of the White
House. and to send them homeward
without having trod on the toes Of
some sensitive diplomat. or offended !
the wife OF some powerful politician.
These arc the things that must be
met BY every president and his wife
at ordinary onlcial receptions and the
Job II generally all that the White
House. stan can handle without try
Ing to put any new wrinkles ON the
entertainment.
When Il was announced that Mrs.
Taft had decided to add to her re-
ceptions buffet supper for the guests
Washington realised that she had un-
Aertahen Q great task. In the days
Of the Hayes administration this had
been attempted. but though the
crowds then were not ~ large ~ now
the trouble Of providing luncheon for
% many guests proved 20 great that
no other administration attempted II
until Mrs. Taft came to the White
House.
give sRsal Partlss."
Mr.. Taft has gone the Hayes ad-
ministration ono better. At the d.
plomatic reception this year not only
Wa luncheon served but the big east
room was cleared for dancing. and
waltsss favored at European courts
were mingled with the Boston. the
"Dip" and the 1.-TWO STEP" In fact
the Tafts are not giving receptions
they are giving real parties where
everyone has . good time.
This genial hospitality on the part
Of the TAFT administration throws
into strong relief the methods In
vogue during the Rooseveltian White
House occupancy. In those days the
visitors were rushed into the east
room. marshalIed In double line hur.
yled through the hand shaking cere-
mony. then hustled on to the cloak
rooms and home or II II happened
% b . diplomatic reception portion
Of the great room was roped on and
the civilian guests were herded be
hind the Hines Of plush. while the ID.
plomats, resplendent in the flnery Of
foreign courts majestically strobe
about the open portion of the room
for their admiration and amusement
Formerly one went to view spec
tacIs-now one goes because 1t 10
pleasure.
Today the guests gather In the eas
room @ formerly and the same cere
mouiouo hand shaking takes place
but instead Of being ushered to thu
cloak room they are led 70 the sup
per tables where the Sowing bowl ans
heavily laden table Of the colonia
days has again made it, appearance
The hand shaking ceremony over. tn
Marine hand strikes up popular
waits and the door II soon filled Will
whirling couples. EtlQuette's edic
demands that the president open tn
dances By being lrst ON the Aoor. bu
a. personal INCLINATION and an avoiI
dupols far above the average max
The occupancy Of . large chair mucl
more preferable he usually delegate
that honor to his daughter Mis-
Helm.
Cannon llkoe Dancing.
Auong the many who come TO 81
10y H. dance 40 :Uncle Joe" Cannon
whose foats upon the waxed Aoc
seem to put to naught DR.. Osler
theory regarding age. Scarcely hav
The first strains Of the music vibrate
Through the great room when "Uncl
uoor may b. seem spinning about Il
hall room Door with some partn,
whose laughing face bears witnei
both 10 HE ability - . dancer IN
the Wit Tor which he 10 famou
There are many old men In Washin
Ton Who dance, but In most cases
Il either for the amusement Of the
friends Or - matter Of formalit
sUnclo Joe" however. goes on Il
Door for hia own amusement ~
throws toemality to the winds. MOI
OF those old fashioned wrinkles 4
hin! He 10 In touch with the vel
latest thing In dancing and lear
Overy new step invented. w
The diplomatic reception 10 Il
most snowy Of all. for tho diplomat
CORPS Of foreign countries are reQu
ID By their governments to hal
themselves IN q uniform whose eve
goegoous detail II prescribed with 4
most oxactitude. Some Of them
ln for feathers and some for arm
plate, steel helmets and shining plec
% burulshcd metal. which brilliant
coatrAst with the sober event
clothes OF our own diplomats. To
american. unaccustomed to the pol
ana splendor Of court life. the Z
Asoomblage that weaves and viii
about the east room ON diploma
uiGhts reminds one Of the brillian
0roosed chorus Of . comic opera.
An infalllble method OF estimati
uan's worth at White House dir
matte recsptions II BY his cloth
Not. however By the splendor Of
raimeoA but BY its soberness In {
y al cot. II diplomats represent
Orse class country their dress 10
aose human. but u they hail n
pome place thetopographer almost
sets 10 put on the nap their 81
bognFs description The less Il
annount 70. the usore they wear" i
sommon white House saying.
7s.s yss 49, - {, "a ~ !. - 60 q. :
a 81 3 - 81 eeeele q q. Caldw'
80 - 60 Gono - ~