The Washington herald., 1911-06-20
ATTEND
SILVER WEDDING
Continued from Page one.

Continued from rage Ones
end of the two wing-from the execu-
tive offices to the carriage entrance op-
posite the Treasury-e- line of fire
ran along with a rope of diamonds
drawn taut. The incadescents. indeed,
were like a thin, firm, brilliant pic
ture frame for the mansion. In its CEN
ter was magnificent display, with the
color fairly throbbing in its depths.
This was none other than the American
flag in electric lights. It was pendant
from the sportico, hanging halfway
down. with the light flushing across IL
as the current ebbed and flowed.
On each column of the portico an
American flag hung Imply in the stir
less June air-on all except the second
column on the west. where the Presi-
Dental flag dipped. This was so arranged
that it was hanging just over the heads
of the Presidential couple as they stepped
down the terrace to the lawn.
On the bISad expanse of lawn, In the
|. Myriad of SenrchIights.
center of the Sardens, myriad Of search
lights played, one from the top of the
White House, one from the Treasury
Building.
All around the outer edge Of the acres
of level. short-clipped grass comprised
within the White House enclosure, swung
Chinese lanterns OF fantastic design,
blocks upon blocks of them, barely six
inches apart, swinging in the light breeze
and casting their queer shapes and
shadows on the lawn. Within the great
square of lantersn, every tree, big and
little, every evergreen, every shrub and
bush, wore dress of colored light From
- Ill
and oaks long streamers of incandesccent
lights in the national colors, grouped
here and there from branch to branch,
swung 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
a squad of white clad jackies from the
dispatch boat Dolphin operated a big
navy searchlight, casting every-changing
colored rays on the converging streams
of the great fountain and basin in the
center of the lawn.
The center OF this scene was a dia-
mond-the dais at which the President
and Mrs. Taft stood Electric lights
above ii bore the numerals symbolic of
the anniversary, '1SS6-1911."
Join Young People.
When the receiving line was broken
up, the President escorted his wife to the
mansion, and she stayed for some time
on the portico while the dancing was
in progress in the East Room. Not until
a late hour did either one join the gay
young folks there.
1t was not until Uncle joe Cannon
set the fashion, by escorting Mrs. Parker
to the East Room, that the older folks
tried the allurements of the waltz and
two-steps.
The Engineers Band provided the
strains there, while the Marine Band
with the skillful Santelmann at its head,
played on platform placed on the tennis
court in the south oval. Hundreds of
guests thronged around this splendid or
ganizatlon after the receiving line broke
up, and enjoyed the music.
II formality opened the event. inform
ality closed II. When the Presidential
party came down the portico steps, with
Col Cosby and Maj. Butt at its head,
followed by Lieuts. Palmer, Pratt, Har-
rington, and others, and wound around
the red carpet on a stately march to the
dais, the function had formal distinc-
tion which, however, quiqasW. ylnished.
But after the receiving 1inaf broke up.
the, true charm of the event was mani
tested. After the President had escorted
his wife to the mansion, he once more
came out into the gardens and skipped
lightly from group to group, bringing
personal messages of hospitality, enjoy
ing himself to the fullest
Chats with Friends.
He greeted his friends just as a host
at a private party would, told Of his de-
light that his wife had managed to stand
the strain of it all, told how he had ried
to make her sit down and save her
in vain.
He said he had gained his original idea
of silver wedding anniversary frcm one
of the fetes he had seen in the Philip
pines, where festivities reign supreme
amid delightful Oriental scenes He de-
clared the idea had grown upon him until
he had become enthusiastic about It, until
he was fairly obsessed with the idea of
having summer revelry that would be
the social climax of his administration.
''Did you get a piece of the wedding
caks?" he asked frequently among the
groups. Many of the guests responded
In the negative, IS some misunderstood
ing developed regarding just when and
where il would be distributed
1t was in the dining-room, surrounded
by attendants, and was cut and boxed
on request.
A view of the silver wedding presents, |
however, was vouchsafted only to the
closest friends of the Presidential fam
ily. The White House dining-room was
packed to suffocation throughout the
evening, and thousands tried to reach |
The portico in vain.
It was here the Engineers Band was |
placed until the reception was practically |
over, when 1t took possession of the East |
Room for the eager young folks waiting |
for the light fantastic.
Garden LIZ Wonderful Scene.
Surely the south gardens of the White |
House have never held such rout be-
lore. Upon its broad acreage the rowing |
aye, Teasing on beauty and ravishing |
gowns, tried in vain to escape the ami |
mated scene.
Vfvacious gayety was everywhere. The |
groups waxed and waned in number, SEX I
ng hooks and shadows in the expanding
foliage, sometimes running within full |
play of the powerful searchlights focused |