Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-21
SILVER WEDDING HOLDS EYES
Reception on White House lawn ,
Ends Most Notable Function.
FIVE THOUSAND ARE PRESENT
Mrs. TAFT Surprises Her Friends BIZ
RemaininE by the Presidsnt's
side In Receiving Line III
All EVENING.

|
WASHINGTON, June N-Ths silver
wedding celebration Of President and Mira
Taft, the second that has been held In the
White House, came to an end last night
with the reception on the White House
lawn. Invitations had been sent 10 almost
1900 persons and while tho official count
Of those who shook hands with the presi-
dent was not given out II was estimated
that at least 5000 persons were present
Never in the history Of the nation prob
ably has such a function been held I'm
Washington. The diplomatic corps, the
United States supreme court. the senate
and the house OF representatives, the de-
partments Of the government. the men who
are high In political affairs OF the country,
the army and navy and almost every walk
in life were represented. The clear, cool
night. making the reception in the open
air possible, prevented the crush OF which
the White House for DAYS has been afraid
and made the reception not only brilliant
and unusual. but delightful in every re-
spect. The guests would have filled the
| White House to OVERLOOKING but the white
| House grounds are ample and there was no
| crush and no confusion.
Possibly 1900 people crowded about chs
iron fence that surrounds the grounds ana
| looked longingly at the electric display,
the splashing fountain and the gay throng
within Washington seldom gets excited
about Srything, but tonight II showed it's
interest in the anniversary of the president
in Nnmistakable fashion. -
PrOceSvsoa Begins ReceptiOn.
The Sasds said that the reception would
begin at o'osOok and promptly on the
hour. to the strains Of the wedding march.
the president and Mrs, Taft walked slowly
down the staircase OF the White House.
preceded by the six presidential aides and
| followed by the cabinet Out through the
red room to the rear portico of the man.
| sion, down the broad steps and out onto
the lawn the procession marched. while
hundreds OF guests already in the grounds
watched their progress. They took their
stand beneath two trees just about the
center OF the lawn, whose branches were
Joined by an electric sign flashing 1885,
Isll."
The guests entered from the east front.
passed through the corridors beneath the
White House and out onto the lawn. Down
the winding walk they passed in two lines
to where the president his face wreathed
in smiles, was waiting to meet them all.
Above the walks the electricians had
touched the trees with magic and thsyt
blazed in red and white and blue bulbs
searchlight played upon a new Americas
flag upon the summit OF the mansion.
over the rear portico another nag in
red white and blue incandescent lamps.
shimmered and waved. The fountain In the
center OF the grounds, played upon by
another searchlight, sprtnkled forth all
hues of the rainbow.
The Washington monument 1000 feet to
the south. brought into sight by the thou.
sands OF lights, stood out sharply against
the sky, with here and there q star striv-
ing unsuccessfully against the Lights oA :
man. \
Presents Beautiful Scene. J
The White House Iawn, clipped and
shaved to the very quick, made a Garnet Of
soft dark green over which walked lightly
the gayly clad women, the men in black
or in the white OF the military service.
Down near the fountain the Marine band
in scarlet coats played with vigor and in
the White House itself the Engineer band
Wed with them. Every, corner Of the man
sion had its own particular light On the
terraces that extend upon the old man.
sion eastward and westward the beauty OF
the White House Conservatives had bean
! poured. The tall lamps that stand along
| the borders Of these terraces had been
| shaded by deep red paper. resembling MOTH
ing so much as monster peoples
The reception was Just as Informal A
the president could make It. Those who
| could waited in line for hours TO ahaka
| hands but many slipped out OF the lines
! and sought the shaded walks, the chaIra
! waiting on the grass or wandered at will
! through the lower floors OF the mansion.
! The presents that numbered In the hun.
dreds and whose money value ran hiRh
| into the thousands attracted many. whiIa !.
| others turned to the east room, whose mol
| ished floor echoed to the tread OF the
I dancers.
| Preparations had been made for kOno
guests and the refreshment tables
in the state dining room came as near
grooming as a perfectly good table can
come The president and the members of
his family with the cabinet and the aides
were served on the east terrace but tho
guests found their refreshments In thu
state dining room.
Mrs. Taft Stays in Line.
Mrs. Taft surprised even those fan,iItap
with the Improvement in health that sha
has SHOWN by remaining by the presidents
side In the receiving line ali the evening.
she wore gown Of white satin brocaded
with white flowers with a court train.
Miss Helen Taft, who was near at hand.
wore gown OF pink satin with q tunIc of
pink chiffon.
In spite of the unusual crowd the ma.
chinery had been so perfected that every
thing worked smoothly. The automobiles
under the watchful eye OF the police.
chugged up 10 the east entrance. deposited
their occupants and steamed away again
half dozen TO the minute. The foot pAs-
sengers found access more difficult but IN.
police arrangements were good and with a
little rushing now and then, a little d.
plomacy here and there. they got through
the crowds Of the curious. More than
100 policemen IN uniform were on
guard around the fence and the usual plain
clothes men and secret service guards were
within the grounds.
While o'clock had been named as the
hour at which the reception began no time
was ilNed Tor the end OF the festivities and
it was after midnight that the engineer
band struck up Home Sweet Lor,. >, a..