Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-06-28
TAFT SILVER FETE
THOUSANDS REJOICE WITH PRES
lDENT AND WIFE AT WE'D.
DING ANNIVERSARY.
5000 PERSONS ARE PRESENT
White House Lawn is Converted Into
a observation-disclosures Guests Be-
meath Trees-Hundreds OF Rich
Presents Sent by Friends.

Washington.-A 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.
1t was estimated that 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 md 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 brill
liant and unusucl but delightful in
every respect. The guess would
have filled 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 wed.
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 of the man
sion. down the broad steps and out
onto the lawn, which hat, been con
verted into a veritable fairyland, the
procession marched. They took theil
stand beneath two trees just about
the center of the lawn. whose branches
were Joined by an electric sign flash
ing "1886-1911."
\ The guests entered from the east
front, passed through the corridors
beneath the White House and out tt
the lawn. Down the winding wall
they passed In two lines to where tht
president, his face wreathed ii
smiles. was waiting to meet them all
The reception was just as informa
as the president could make it. Those
who could waited In line for hours tt
shake hands, but many slipped out o
the line and sought the shaded walks
the chairs waiting on the grass OF
wandered at will through. the lowel
floors Of the mansion. The present,
that numbered in the hundreds ant
whose money value ran high into the
thousands. attracted many, Will.
others turned to the east room who's,
polished floor echoed to the tread o
the dancers.
Preparations had been made fol
5000 guests and the refreshment
tables in the state dining-room came
as near groaning 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 in the state dining
room.
Mrs. Taft surprised even those IA
(, miliar with the improvement in health
that she has shown + remaining by
the presidents side in the receiving
line all the evening. She wore q
gown of white satin, brocaded with
silver flowers. with court train
Miss Helen Taft. who was near al
hand. wore gown Of pink satin
with tunic of pink chiffon.