The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-22
TAFT RECEIVES
5000 Guests Attend We'd.
ding Anniversary.
DECORATIONS WERE GORGEOUS
Throng of Friends Exchanged Hand
Clasps With Mr.. and Mrs.
Taft-Fortune in Sill
yer Received.

Washington, June 2O.-President and
Mrs Taft celebrated their silver wed.
ding anniversary. and II will be many
a day before the national capital for.
gets the function.
Every one, from the most exclusive
social cave dweller TO the newest
member Of congress, seems willing tc
admit that the reception was one OF
the most notable social AFFAIRS ever
held at the White House.
With the weather absolutely perfect
the White House grounds transformed
almost into fairyland. the 5000 invited
guests having the best kind Of a time,
and four times that many interested
and enthusiastic spectators standing
twenty deep outside the spiked iron
fence that surrounds the executive
mansion, President Taft as he stood
at the head of the receiving line with
the first lady Of the land, didn't seem
To have care In the world. He was
particularly happy. as he said repeat
edly in the course Of the evening. that
Mrs Taft, lately not In the best OF
health, seemed to have won strength
for the occasion and was with him
every moment of the time that the
thousands OF guests were filing by.
exchanging hand grips and expressing
the hope that they migmt be spared
to be present away of in the future
al the Taft golden wedding day.
Probably not single one OF the
guests had the slightest conception OF
the elaborate preparations that had
been made In a decorative way. And
10 those entering the White House,
either from the avenue side or the
carriage entrance, there was little be-
yond searchlight playing on the
fountain in front Of the pOrticochere
and few clusters OF lights on the
lawn TO indicate what awaited them
on the specious grounds in the rear.
Back there, though, the scene was
beautiful beyond description. All
around the outer edge Of the acres OF
level, short clipped grass within the
White House enclosure swung Chinese
lanterns Of fantastic designs. blocks
upon blocks OF them. barely six inches
apart, swayng in the light breeze and
casting queer shapes and shadows on
the lawn.
Within the great square Of lanterns
every tree. big and little, every ever
green, every shrub and bush wore a
dress Of colored light. From the top OF
ancient elms and oaks long streamers
Of lights in the national colors, looped
here and there from branch to branch,
swung downward to the ground. In
the pines and cedars clusters OF
smaller bulbs, wound about the
trunks, glowed within the green. From
the roof OF the White House squad
Of white clad jackies from the dispatch
boat Dolphin operated a big navy
searchlight, casting eyer-changing col
ored rays on the converging streams
of the great fountain and basin in the
center Of the lawn. Just underneath
the huge stream of white light cast
from the Dolphin's big reflector, the
red. white and blue Of the national
emblem shone out from the thousands
of colored incandescents arranged
near the top Of the back portico OF the
White House.
That is but a feeble picture Of what
the silver wedding guests saw when,
after leaving their hats and wraps,
they emerged from the White House
into the open.
II was q busy day at the executive
mansion and a busy and happy day
for the Tafts. They we're the recipients
of a fortune ir silver, gifts pouring
into the White House by the wagon
load.
Congratulatory cablegrams from
many Of the rulers of the world pour
ed into the White House. Former
President and Mrs. Roosevelt sent an
antique silver bowl.
In addition to the silver service
sent by the senate, the Vice President
and Mrs. Sherman individually sent a
tall silver vase, marked with the mon
ograms of the President and Mrs. Taft.
The Speaker of the House and Mrs.
Clark sent twenty-five American
Beauty roses, one for each year Of
the married life of the recipients.
The Secretary of State and Mrs.
Knox sent a massive silver vase for
American Beauty roses.
From the Secretary Of the Treasury
and Mrs. MacVeagh the President and
Mre Taft received fruit platter OF
silver, designed by Mrs. MacVeagh,
and intended for state dinners. 1t Is
oblong in shape, two feet wide and
very deep, with an inner rim Of gold.
At either end is a spread eagle. with
the coat of arms of the United States
The gift Of the Secretary OF War
and Mrs. Stimson is a tall silver vase
and silver tray.
The Attorney General and Mrs.
Wickersham sent large repousse sill
yer Jewel case. 1t Is considered a rare
piece of workmanship.
From Postmaster General Hitchcock
there Is a handsome silver vase, IN
scribed with the initials of the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Taft and the date.
The Secretary OF the Navy and
Mrs. Meyer have sent a loving cup.
There are gifts in silver from all the
other members of the cabinet. Charles
d. Norton former secretary to The
president, and Mrs. Norton sent a sil-