The Washington herald., 1911-05-28

~ ESPITE the mad rush for Lon
don and the coronation festivi-
ties, and the general exodus Of
the leisure class for the sum-
mer pleasure spots there is yet ample
time to devote to sentiment.
This is exemplified in the universal in
terest the American people take In tir'
approaching silver wedding anniversary
of the President and Mrs. Taft, to be
celebrated in the White House on June
10; the very general and active interest
the country takes in the personnel OF
the family of the new Speaker OF tho
House of Representatives.; the unveilins
of the bronze statue of the poet Tom
Moore, as a memorial. in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art, unveiled last evening. and
many other such events happening during
this spring season, which will go down
into history.
OF them all. the silver anniversary OF
the President and his wife is the ono
nearest to the hearts of the people, who
will rejoice heartily with the first family
in the land in their happiness and sue
cess in life, and their usefulness to other
people.
The approaching Memorial Day has
been the inspiration for many riding and
automobile parties to the historic and
beautiful places around Washington. A
company Of young people and young
married people started on Friday morn
ing in touring cars for visit to the
Natural Bridge and Luray Caves. to To-
turn here on Wednesday or Thursday.
They will celebrate Memorial Day in
the picturesque surroundings Of Virgin
las most interesting show places. Miss
Isabel Hagner. who was an important
factor in the social life of the last ad-
ministration, was member of the party.
ss.s
The reunion Of the class Of 81 Of the
Naval Academy which will take place
here and at Annapolis on May 80 and 81
and June /. will be an important affair
of the coming week. This class came in
to the limelight two years ago this
month when the Vice Admiral Of Japan
and Baroness Uriu made a visit to the
scenes of their school days, and were in
Washington and at Annapolis for the re-
union of this same class, Of which the
baron admiral is a member. Col. Robert
NJ. Thompson. a recent winter resident
Of Washington: Representative John w.
Weeks, of Massachusetts,; Minister to
Santo Domingo w. w. Russell. and a
number of others who have become dis
tinguished citizens were also graduated
from this class, but because Of the very
large class only ten were retained, the
others of the class being dropped, and
those above mentioned were among the
unlucky ones. They go to the reunions
of the class. nevertheless, almost every
year. Col. Thompson. now at Annapolis
on his houseboat Everglades. will en-
tertain his old classmates elaborately.
"A trip down the Potomac on the Dolphin,
a call on the President at the White
House, a pilgrimage to Annapolis, and a
banquet at the Arlington are among the
festivities, the wives Of the members
being included in the invitations. except
for the banquet.
A shadow has fallen across the spring
festivities of the young people in the
sad and untimely death Of Miss Char
iotte Pettus, one of the brightest and
most attractive of the buds of the past
season. Just on the eve of her debut,
and in the midst of the debutante fes-
tivities, and with her debut preparations
all made, even to the gown, all opera |
tions ceased and it was announced that |
the family had gone South for an in |
definite stay, because of illness in the
family. Not much has been heard among !
their friends since then, and only their |
close friends knew of the real anxiety |
the family felt over the condition Of their |
only daughter. and the news Of her |
death has been a shock indeed. A wave |
of universal sympathy has passed to the |
family from all circles of society in and |
around Washington, where they are well
known.