The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-06-23
then at his earnest solicitation, sat
down beside him.

then at his earnest solicitation, sat
down beside him.
Throughout the formal part of the
| reception the marine band played on a
special stand erected to the right Of
the Illuminated fountain, and the en-,
gireers' band on the portico Be.
| tween the two of them-and the music
was practically continuous--Major
Archibald Butt, the presidents aide
who introduced the swiftly passing
| thousands to the president and Mrs.
Taft had hard time making his voice
heard.
The gowns of the women were
| among the most beautiful and elabor-
ate ever seen at the White House.
Mrs. Taft wore a heavy brocaded
satin, the ground of white and the
brocade in silver flowers. The dress
had long graceful court train and
was cut square at the neck. Mrs.
Ta.t's ornaments were pearls and dia,
monds. Miss Taft was gowned in pink
satin, yelled with pink chiffon.
President Taft had crowded good
deal of happiness into the day before
the climax came in the big reception
in the evening. The celebration be.
gan for him when he appeared at the
breakfast table in the morning, sur
rounded by the big house party Of kin
folks-the Tafts, the Torreys and the
Ferrons. The president was hardly
up from his morning meal before Sec.
rotary Ejlles began to shower on him
messages of congratulation that had
been pouring into his Office from the
kings and other rulers of the world.
One of the first visitors to be pre-
sented was Monsignor Falconio, the
papal delegate to this country. He
called under instructions of Pope Plus
X, and conveyed the best wishes of
his Holiness to the president and Mrs.
Taft. After Mgr Falconio came Am
bassadof Bryce of Great Britain, who
had been requested by King George
and Queen Mary to convey their best
wishes.
Among the many messages from the
foreign rulers were words Of congratu-
lation from Kaiser Wilhelm, President
Fallieres Of France, the king of Italy,
the king and queen of Denmark, the
king of Spain, Car of Russia, the en-
peror of Japan the sultan of Turkey,
the king of Sweden, President Arose
mena Of Panama, MARQUIS Komura
and Prince Katsura Of Japan.
These messages, of course, pleased
Aunt Della Torrey and others of the
presidents relatives immensely, but
the president himself turned from
them to write two-page letter in his
own hand to a Yale classmate who
had sent his congratulations to the
president with the heartfelt regret
that he was unable to attend the sill
yer wedding with the other members
of the Yale rs because he was bed
ridden.
All day long express wagons and
drays rolled up at the White House
doors with presents and more pres
ents Of silver for the president. Some
of these the president himself opened,
not the big packages, but the little
odd ones. Early in the day he ap-
peared before Mrs. Taft and Aunt
Della with the queerest and daintiest
cid satin slipper in his huge hand. 1t
vas the slipper worn by his great
grandmother Forbush at her wedding
in Colonial, Mass. 1t had been sent
IS the tribute of Harriet Waters For
bush. herself a great-granddaughter OF
Grandmother Forbush.
The official festivities Of the day be-
gan with the call at the White House
of forty members of the Cincinnati
Commercial club, who arrived in
Washington on special train. Many
of these men were among the oldest
Of the presidents Cincinnati friends.
They secured the presidents company
for luncheon and for the better part
of the afternoon.
At Chevy Chase Country club they
presented their fellow townsman with
a rose silver bowl and President
Greene of the club, made speech OF
congratulation to the president.
AS President Greene had attempted
In his little talk to draw the presi-
dent from the world of officedom and
present him to his townsmen as Will
liam Howard Taft of Cincinnati, 80
the presidents address in reply was
reminiscent Of his former days In that
ely. 10 S1A------------,---.---.