The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-20
BIG HAND SHAKE.
Taft Silver Wedding Celebration
Comes to an End.
Twelve Thousand People We're
Asked and 5000 Came.
CROWD OF $4,000
Stood Along the Iron Fence and
Looked In.
Mrs. Taft Remained by Presi-
dents Side All Evening.

Washington, June 20.-The silver
wedding celebration of the president
and Mrs. Taft, the second that has
been held in the White House, came
to an end last night with the reception
on the White House lawn. Invitations
had been sent to close TO IL, 600 per-
sons and while the official count OF
those who shook hands with the presi-
dent was not given out, it was esti-
mated at least 5000 persons were
present.
Never in the history OF the nation
probably has such a function been
held in Washington. The diplomatic
corps, the United States supreme court,
the senate and the house of represen-
tatives, the departments of the gov
ernment, the men who are high in
political affairs of the couItry. the
army, the navy and every walk in life
almost were repreS enIed
The cool, clear night shat made a
reception in the open air possible pre-
vented the crush that the White House
for days had been afraid CT and made
the reception not only brilliant and
unusual, but delightful in every re-
spect. The guests would have filed
the White House to overfiowing, but
the White House grounds are ample
and there was no crush and no con-
fusion.
CooADAN
about the iron fence that surrounds
the grounds and looked longingly at
the electric display, the splashing
fountain and the gay thronE within
Washington seldom gets excited about
anything, but it showed its interest in
the anniversary of the president in
unmiStakable fashion.
Band Plays wedding March,
The cards said that the rece eption
would begin at 8 o'clock and prompt
ly on the hour, to the stratus of the
wedding march, the president and Mrs.
Taft walked slowly down the staircase
of the White House, preceded by the
six presidential aides and followed by
the cabinet Out through the red
door to the rear porticC of the man
sion, down the broad steps and out
onto the lawn the procession marched.
while hundreds of guests already in
the grounds watched their progress.
They took their stand beneath two
trees just about the center of the
lawn, whose branches were 3oined bv
an electric sign flashing "1886-1911."
The guests entered from the east
front, passed through the corridors be-
meath the White House and out to the
lawn. Down the winding walk they
passed in two lines to where the presi-
dent, his face Wreathed IN smiles was
waiting to meet them all. Above the
walks the electricians had touched the
trees with magic and they blazed in
red and white and blue bulbs. From
the top of the treasury a monster
searchlight played upon a new Ameri-
can flag over the summit of the man
sion. over the rear portico another
flag in red, white and blue incan-
descent lamps shimmered and waved.
The fountain in the center of the
grounds, played upon by another
searchlight. sprinkled forth all hues OF
the rainbow. The Washington monu-
ment, thousand feet to the south.
brought into relief by the thousands OF
lights, stood out sharply against the
sky, dark blue with here and there a
star striving sky against the lights OF
men.
Decorations We're Beautiful.
The White House lawn. clipped and
shaved to the very quick. made car
pet of soft dark green over which
walked lightly the gayly clad women,
the men in black or in the white of
the military service. Down near the
fountain the marine band in scarlet
coats played with vigor and in the
Wed with them. Every corner of the
mansion had its own particular light
On the terraces that extend from the
old mansion eastward and westward
the beauty of the White House con-
servatories had been poured. The tall
lamps that stand along the borders OF
these terraces had been shaded by deem
red paper, resembling nothing so much
as monster poppieS-
The reception was just as informal
as the president could make it. Those
who could waited in line for hours 10
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 values run into the thou
sands, attracted many, while others
turned to the east room whose polished.
floor echoed to the tread of the dancers.
Preparation had been made for 5000
guests and the refreshment tables in
the state dining room came as near
groaning as a perfectly good table can
come. The president and the mem
bers OF his family with the cabinet and
the aides were served on the east ter
race but the guests found their re-
freshments in the state dining room.
(Continued on Page Eight.)