The National tribune., 1911-02-16

Lie ISCeptlOH dt Tie w Hitc I1OuSS
last Tuesday night in honor of tht
members of the National Senate and
House of Representatives was one OF
the gayest of the whole season. There
was less military show and pomp anc
foreign display and more delightful
hospitality, good comradeship ana
ing very well, indeed, and seems to
have stood the arduous duties of the
season much better than it was feared
she might at the beginning of the sea
son. She was almost radiant in white
satin, vailed in black, and wearing dia-
monds and pearls while Miss Helen
of pink Miss Taft seldom wears any
5ewelry, and if she does, it is simple
necklace of pearls, or something OF that
character. Her gowns are built on
slender lines, and she seldom wears a
train. President Taft was just as jolly
as ever, but he certainly did look a
bit tired when he sat for few mo-
Inents on the sofa in the green parlor
after the crowd had drifted away into
the East Room or into the great State
Dinine-room. Miss Alice Roosevelt
Longworth was his companion in tete-
a-tete companion talk, and this viva
clouS young matron brought many
smiles'to the face of the Nations Exec
utive AS she chatted to him while the
thronts left them alone. A little later,
with his daughter on his arm, he
threaded his way to the dancers and
held q jolly converse with many men
whose names shine bright upon the
pages of the country's history. These
receptions at the White House take
on every year more and more of the
air of home receptions. The White
House is now so ample in proportions
that $500 guests do not crowd the spa
cious corridors or parlors. The only
vIo hot lie cd ic ha Dining
room. Very long tables with dainty
sandwiches, most delicious salads, ices
and cakes are served and champagne
punch of the most exilarating charac-
ter. 1t is supposed that society is well
fed. but the way some of those diplo-
mats and Army people hide away White
House viands would argue that they.
had been fasting for this very purpose.
One of the mysteries of high life in
society in this city is why people want
all the time to stuff themselves. One
remembers now with shuddering hor-
Tor the democratic and unholyecFushes
of the unfed and unwined populace that
used to crowd the Cleveland and Harri-
son parlors at the White House. There
will be but one more White House re-
ception until after the Easter holidays,
to be given the Army and Navy.
United States Senator George S.
He never held an Office in his life ex-
cept one term in the State Legislature
as State Representative until he was
sent TO the United States Senate. Sem
ator Nixon got his start in life as a
telegraph operator. 1t must have been
mighty paying. as he is now the
owner of several banks land and the
alter or two, all of which are said to
be worth at least 20 millions of dol
lars. A story of one of his feats OF
telegraphy has recently been told. He
was on one of the California limiteds
few, years ago. when the5e was
wreck. They were away off from no
where. so to speak, with the methods
of communication cut off. The con-
ductor of the limited said that they
had telegraph instrument aboard, and
always carried it, but unfortunately
there was no one that could send a
message. Senator Nixon heard him,
called for the instrument, and proceed
ed to climb the nearest telegraph pole
with all the agility of one fond of the
art He cut in, and in less than five
minutes was calling for a certain sta
ton down the line, which he had call
ed thousands of times in his youthful
days. Now, everybody does not know,
perhaps, that a telegraph operators
manner, of sending is equally as dis
tinct his manner of writing or speak
ing, and those who have ever known
his touch remember it just exactly as
they WOULD remember his voice if they
had ever heard it. The operator at
the station he was calling happened to-
be the Did one, and he had not heard
Senator Nixor's touch for 20 years, but
recognized it at once.
~WhtTe the Sam Hill did you come
from, shd where are your" came over
the wirt to Nixon.
ron sop Of telegraph pole" replied
Nixon SsSQnd q wrpckinp
And sou better believe the wrecking
train WIS sent in a hurry. Since then
SenatorfNixon has been a hero with the
people IN that train.
Miss Alice V. Houghton, a clerk in
ths Census Office, was scalped in the
mast htArible manner while at her desk
one dat last week. Miss Hougbton
had hels hair piled on her head in vol
uDsinouA puffs, as is the fashion to-
dab. aItl stopped unde{ her desk toI
pick w, a card and her hair caught
in sthe machinery under her desk and
het wilDle scalp was torn from her
head. She is in a very critical con-
dillon az the hospital, but it is thought
shs will}recover. II WAS thought at first
that her torn scalp could be replaced.
1t rsas syswed on, but had to be removed,
and resort will now be had to skin
grating A bill is to be introduced in
Congress asking for $1,000 to pay her
hospital expenses.
Miss Elizabeth c. Harris, daughter of
Representative Robert o. Harris, of
Bridgep alter, Mass, is to be the private
secretary of her father. The Boston
papers make great account of this, say
ing that she is the first woman TO be
private secretary to a member OF Con-
gress. ~ hich is not true, as many mem
bers Of Congress have as private Sec
retaries young women. Women have
also been clerks of committees in Con-
gress; so there will be nothing at all
unique in Miss Harris serving her
father es his private secretary. Miss
Harris is quoted as saying that she is
now studying stenography and typewrit-
Ing in Boston and learning the routine
duties ~ the professional private sec
Rotary. Miss Harris will be good deal
surprised when she reaches Washing
ton and! finds out what the duties of
private secretary to a member of Com
gress are. She will probably be pretty
much or an errand boy, and will spend
about ty+o-thirds of her time in the De-
partmeufs attending to the one thou
sand ana one requests of the constitu-
ents OF her distinguished father. while
the committee clerk will probably take
care of that gentleman's correspond |
ence.
Senator Gamble, of South Dakota, |
and Representative Daniel Franklin La
fean, of York, Pa, celebrated their |
Ia q NJ NfHF.at n. e.