The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-20
Their S il We I Wedding
Celebration Is Most
Brilliant Affair.
MADE PERFECT BY
CLEAR WEAtIH Ter.
On Lawn of Mansion 5000
Guests Gather, While Many
Times That Number Crowd
About Grounds and Look
Longingly at Gay
Throng Within.

Washington. D. c.. June 1.-THE
silver wedding celebration Of presi
dent and Mrs. Taft. the second that
has been held in the White House.
came to an end tonight with the re-4s
ceptton on the White House lawn. In. <
ritatfons had been sent TO 12,UOU per.
sons. and 1t was estimated that at
least 5000 people were present. g6
Never in the history of the nation
probably has such function been /;
held in Washington. The diplomatic
corps, the United States supreme
Court. the Senate and the House or
Representatives, the departments OF
IN political affairs of the country, tne,
army. the navy and every walk in l;fe'
almost were represented. i
The cool. clear night that made a
reception In the open air possible.
prevented the crush that the White
House for days has been afraid OF 4
and made the reception not only bril-
liant and unusual, but delightful III Z
every respect. The guests would have
filled the White House to OVERCOMING
but the White House grounds arc am
pie, and there was no crush and nc
confusion. a$
Possibly 5000 people crowded about
the Iron fence that surrounded tnee
grounds and looked longingly at the (
tain and the gay thronG within
To Strains of Wedding March. Gi
The cards said that the reception
would begin at 0 o'clock, and promptly.
on the hour. to the strains of tine
wedding march, the President and Mrs.
Taft came slowly down the main stair
case Of the White HOUSE, preceded jpy,
the SIN preside aides and followed
by the Cabinet. Out through the Reu
Room to the rear portico of the man
sion, down the broad steps and Sour
on to 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 centre OF the
lawn. whose branches were Joined py
an electric sign flashing "1Ss6-lyll.;.
The guests entered from the east
front, passed through the corridors
beneath the White House and out tic
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 they
blazed I'm red and white and blue bulbs n
From the top OF the Trea sury a mon
ster searchlight playe ed upon new
American flag upon the summit of the
| mansion. Over the rear portlco am
otitet iiaS IN ieu, Wnite ana nlue In v
| candescent lamps shimmered and
waved. The fountain in the grounds.
played upon by another searchlight.s
| sprinkled forth all hues of the rain
| bow. The Washington Monument,
+, thousand feet to the south. brought,
into relief by the thousands OF lights
stood out sharply against the sky
striving successfully against the lights
of man.
On Grassy Carpet.
| The White House lawn, clipped and
shaved to the very quick. made car
| pet OF soft dark green over which
! walked lightly the gai!y clad women.
| the men In black or in The white OF
! the military service. Down near haa
I; fountain the Marine Blni. In scarlet
| coats. played with vigor, anl in the
White House itself the Engineer Band
/! We'd with 1t.
Every corner OF tine mansion mad {
| It's own particular light. On the ter-5,
races that extend from thu old man
| sion eastward and westward tho heau-9
I;.S$sof the White House c.aservatoIi les
s4.4neen poured. The tall lamps that
! races had been shade by deep ed
! rn2er, and they reson;h!cG nothing SO /
1 r,nch as monster peoples.
/! ] he reception was jus. as Informal
| as the Presden. could make It.. Those
! V ho could waited In line fo- hours 10
/ shake hands. but many slipped OUT OF
/ The line ard s"'i:ht the SnadGt! walks,
Ire chairs wa'ti1r on tho grass. or
wandered AZ Will. through the lower
/ a,ors Of III. ,'i IL t
The presents that numbered in the 4
hundreds and whose money value ran
high into the thousands attracted .
many. while others turned to the
East Room, whose polished floor echoed
to the tread of the dancers.
/ Prepare ton had been made for s.
900 guests and refreshnent tables in
the state dining room came as near
grooming as a perfectly good table
can. The President and the members
4 Of his family. with the Cabinet and /
the aides. were served on the east
, terrace. but guests found their re-
.freshn,ents in the state dining-room M
Mrs. Taft Surprises All. III
Mrs. Taft surprised even those
familiar with the improvements in her3
, health that she has shown by. re-
ma lining By the Presidents side In
l,he receiving line all OF the evening"
She wore gown OF white satin.it
brocaded with silver flowers. with a
court train. Miss Helen Taft who was
near at hand wore n gown OF pink
satin with a tunic OF pink chiffon.
In spite OF Rthe unusual crowd thoa
machinery had been so perfected that
everything worked smoothly \ 4 While
. O'clock had been named as tho hour
at which the reception began. no TINA: