The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1911-06-21
fhFTS RECEIVE
5000 GUESTS
lhrOng Of Friends Attend Silver
Wedding Anniversary,
HAND CLASP FOR ALL

HAND CLASP FOR ALL
The President and His Wife Receive
Congratulations and Many Beautiful
Presents - White House Grounds
deliberately Decorated.
Washington, June 20.-President and
Mrs. Taft celebrated their silver we'd
ding anniversary, and it will be many
day before Tie national capital for
gets the function.
Every one, from the most exclusive
social cave dWelier TO the neWesF
member OF congress, seems willing to
admit that the reception was one OF
the most notable social affairs ever
held at the White House.
With the weather absolutely perfect,
the White House grounds transformed
almost into fairyland, the 5000 invited
guests having the best kind OF time,
and -FOUR times that many interested
and enthusiastic spectators standing
twenty deep outside The spiked iron
fence that surrounds the executive
mansion, President Taft as he stood
at The head of the receiving line with
the first lady of the land, didn't seem
to have a care in the world He was
particularly happy, as he said repeat
edly in the course of the evening, that
Mrs. Taft, lately not in the best OF
health, seemed 10 have won strength
for the occasion and was with him
every moment OF the time that the
thousands Of guests were fling by,
exchanging hand grips and expressing
the hope that they might be spared
to be present away off in the future
at the Taft golden wedding day.
Probably not single one OF the
guests had the slightest conception OF
the elaborate preparations that had
been made in q decorative way. And
to those entering the White House,
either from the avenue side or the
carriage entrance, there was little be-
yond a searchlight playing on the
fountain III front Of the pOrticochere
and q few clusters OF lights on the
lawn to indicate what awaited them
on the specious grounds in the rear.
Back there, though, the scene was
beautiful beyond description All
around the outer edge OF the acres of
level, short clipped grass within the
White House enclosure swung Chinese
lanterns of fantastic designs, blocks
upon blocks Of them, barely six inches
anaIf Gv-al!-l-- ~ tia ii@ht breez" ard
cas- ing queer shapes and shadows OF
the lawn.
Within the great square OF lanterns
every tree. big and little, every ever
green. every shrub and bush wore
dress OF colored light. From the top OF
ancient elus and oaks Ions streamers
Of lights in the national CJlCts, Topped
here and there from branch to branch,
swung downward to tie ground Ii
the pines and cedars clusters OF
smaller bulbs, wound about the
trunks, glowed within the green. From
the root of the White House a squad
of Whitehead jaelies from the dispatch
.oat Dolphin operated a big navy
Searchlight, casting ever-changing col
ored rays on the converging streams
OF the great fountain and basin in the
center of the lawn Just underneath
the huge stream of white light cast
from the Dolphins big reflector, the
red, white and blue of the national
emblem shone out from the thousands
OF colored incandesceuts arraneed
near the top OF the back portico of~the
White House.
It was a busy day at the executive
mansion and a busy and happy Gay
for the Tafts. They we're the recipients
of a fortune in silver, gifts pouring
into the White House by the wagon
load.
Congratulatory cablegrams from
many OF the rulers of the world pour
ed into the White House. Former
President and Mrs. Roosevelt sent an
antique silver bowl.
In addition to the silver service
sent by the senate, the Vice President
and Mrs. Sherman individually sent a
tall silver vase, marked with the mon
ograms of the President and Mrs. Taft.
The Speaker Of the House and Mrs.
Clark sent twenty-five American
Beauty roses, one for each year OF
the married life Of the recipients.
Tie Secretary of State and Mrs.
Knox sent a massive silver vase for
American Beauty roses.
From the Secretary of the Treasury
and Mrs. MacVeagh the President and
Mre Taft received a fruit platter of
silver, designed by Mrs. MacVeagh, |
and intended for state dinners. 1t is
obIong in shape, two feet wide and
very deep, with an inner rim of gold. |
At either end is d spread eagle, with
the coat OF arms of the United Sta; es. |
The gift OF the Secretary OF War |
and Mrs. Stimson is d tall silver vase |
and q silver tray.
The Attorney General and Mrs. |
Wickersham sent large repousse sill !
yer jewel case Ii is considered "a rare
piece OF workmanship.
From Postmaster General Hitchcock |
there is a handsome silver vase, in !
scribed with the initials of the Presi- |
dent and Mrs. TAFT and the date.
The Secretary of the Navy and !,
Mrs. Meyer have sent u loving cup !
There are gifts in silver from all the |
other members of the cabinet. Charles /
D. Norton former secretary to the !
president, and Mrs Norton sent a ST. ,
yer jewel case.