The Washington herald., 1911-06-18
-HE festivities at The white House

-HE festivities at the White House
tomorrow evening are like an
oasis in q desert. for they have
come as a surprise to society
sust as the summer lethargy had settled
upon the city. While for many months
this silver anniversary Of the Chief
Executive and first lady Of the land. have
been well known and talked Of. It was
not generally expected that 50 large and
brilliant an entertainment would be given
because of the Iateness OF the date and
Grncre recently because of the health Of
Mrs. Taft. A company of such distin-'
guished magnitude as the one which win
be received in the White House to-mor-
row evening has probably never been
gathered together in the summer in
Washington before. And, indeed, It has
been said by these who have known
many administrations closely that 80
large and elaborate a function has not
been held in the White House In the past
half century. There is general reioic-
ing that Mrs. Taft has 50 conserved her
strength that she is able to get about
again, to go OUT and enjoy the theater,
and that she will be able to take her
place beside the President on this beauti-
full and auspicious occasion.
The uptown districts, which have been
deserted for weeks, are feeling. a tenn
porary awakening. Many houses which
were closed a fortnight ago for the sum-
mer are open again and lights are Shin
ing gayly in the windows these last few
evenings, their owners having returned
for the several days preceding the great
reception and dance in the Presidents
House, as it was once known. II is fond
ly hoped that the weather man will be
kind and allow this typical June party to
be carried out according to the plans.
The Cabinet circle will be complete,
even to the two new members OF that
circle, who viii make their first appear
ance in their official capacity. the Sec
retaries of War and the Interior and
their wives. Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Wick
and the other members of that circle had
not yet left their Washington homes for
their summer ones.
The gifts being sent to the central fig
-ures in the entertainment will be worth q
fortune, and when all have arrived Pres
ident and Mrs. Taft will unquestionably
have the greatest and most valuable coll
lection of souvenirs of any American
citizens, for they were already possessed
of one of the most valuable and interest
ing ones in this country, gathered during
their various trips abroad, of souvenirs
and gifts from crowned heads, the late
Pope Leo, and from the people of all
ranks and nationalities. Their former
home in K street during the regime Of
the President as Secretary of War was
filled with art treasures, hoth-usefu and
otherwise, from the furniture OF the draw
ing-room TO the silver for their table
The beautiful punch bowl OF silver pre-
sented to Mrs. Taft by the Orchestra As
sociation of Cincinnati on her departure
from that city for the Philippines when
her husband was made governor of the
islands will be a fitting companion to the
superb pieces which are being prepared
and sent to her by distinguished men and
women from all over the world. She was
president of this association from its
formation and for fourteen years. The
punch bowl, which is one of her most
cherished possessions, and which she car
ries with her whenever she changes resi-
dence, for no matter how short time,
was specially designed with reference TO
her tastes. II has a broad band, or rim,
about the top upon which is beautifully
engraved a portion of Dvorak's New
World Symphony" one Of her favorite
works. The notes are so perfectly repro
duced on the silver that they could be
played from quite perfectly. On the in-
side there are strains from Wagner's
"Niebelungen Ring" in addition to the
proper dates and names.
A silver tankard, which is also particu-
larly cherished by the first lady of the
land, was given her by the musicians of |