Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-21
SILVER WEDDING HOLDS EYES
Reception on White House Lawn ?
Ends Most Notable Function.
FIVE THOUSAND ARE PRESENT
Mrs. Taft Surprises Her Friends BIZ
RemaininE By the Presidents -
side I'm ReeeiviaG Line n
All EyentnH.

All EveuiaG.
WASHINGTON. June N-Ths silver
wedding celebration OF President and MrG
Taft. the second that has been held In the
White House, came to an end last night
with the reception on the whits House
lawn. Invitations had been sent 10 almost
1900 persons and while tho official count
of those who shook hands with the preai-
dent was not given out II was estimated
that at least 5000 persons were present
Never IN the history Of the nation prob
ably has such a function been held I'm
Washington. The diplomatic corpe the
United States supreme court. the senate
and the house OF representatives, the de-
partments of the government. the men who
are high in political affairs OF the country,
the army and navy and almost every walk
in life we're represented. The clear, cool
night making the reception In the open
! air possible. prevented the crush OF which
the White House for DAYS has been afraid
and made the reception not only brilliant
and unusual, but delightful In every re-
spect. The guests would have filled the
| White House to OVERLOOKING, but the white
| House grounds are ample and there was no
| crush and no confusion.
Possibly 1900 people crowded about chs
iron fence that surrounds the grounds ana
| looked longingly at the electric display,
the splsshing fountain and the gay throng
within Washington seldom gets excited
about Snything. but tonight it showed its
interest in the anniversary Of the president
in Nnmistakable fashion.
Processes Begins Reception.
The 0Asas said that the reception would
begin at 3 c'OsOCk and promptly on the
hour, to the strains 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 room to the rear portico 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
Joined by an electric sign flashing "1sas-
1911"
The guests entered from the east front,
passed through the corridors beneath the
White House and out onto 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
Above the walks the electricians had
touched the trees with magic and theyt
blazed in red and white and blue bulbs,
From the top Of the treasury q monster
searchlight played upon a new Americas
flag upon the summit OF the mansion.
over the rear portico another nag in
red, white and blue incandescent lamps, q
ghimmered and waved. The fountain In the
center of the grounds. played upon by
another searchlght, sprinkled forth all
hues of the rainbow.
The Washington monument, 1000 feet 10
he t.aA
sands Of lights, stood out sharply against
the sky, with here and there q star striy.
ing unnecessarily against the lights oA
man.
Presents Beautiful Scene.
The White House iawn, clipped and
shaved to the very quick made a carpet 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 White House itself the Engineer band
We'd with them. Every. corner Of the man
sion had its own particular light On the
terraces that extend upon the old man.
sion eastward and westward the beauty oe
the White House Conservatives had bean
poured. The tall lamps that stand along
the borders Of these terraces had bean
shaded by deep red paper. resembling Moth
ing 30 much as monster peoples
The reception was just as informal a.
the president could make it. Those Who
| could waited in line for hours to ahaha
| hands, but many slipped out Of the I,n.a
and sought the shaded walks, the chajra
waiting on the grass or wandered at viii
through the lower floors of the nnars,or
! The presents that numbered in thu HIM >
dreds and whose money value ran hi1h
into the thousands attracted MANY. viii.
others turned TO the east room whose NIL
ished floor echoed to the tread OF the
dancers.
Preparations had been made for k0o
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 aides
were served on the east terrace but the
guests found their refreshments In TIA
state dining room.
Mrs. Taft stays in Line.
Mrs. Taft surprised even those fan,iI,ar
with the Improvement in health tb., 81.
has shown by remaining by the president'a
SIDE In the receiving line all the evening
ehe wore gown of white satin brooadaA o.
with white flowers, with a court train
Miss Helen Taft, who was near AZ hama
wore gown OF pink satin with . tunio at
pink chiffon
In spite OF the unusual crowd the ma.
chihery mad been so perfected that every
tnihs WORKED smoothly. The automobiles
under the watchful eye of the noI,c.
chugged up TO the east entrance. depost,.d
their occupants and steamed away again
half dozen TO the minute. The foot nas-
sensers found access more difficult but IN.
police arrangements were good and with
little rushing now and then, a little A.
plomacy hsre and there. they got through
the crowds OF the curious. More than
100 policemen In uniform were on
guard around the fence and the usual nIaIn
clothes men and secret service guarda we're
within the grounds.
While o'clock had been named an the
hour at which the reception began no time
was fixed for the end Of the festivities ami
1t was after midnight that the enRine.r