Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-20
REJOICE WITH TAFTS
Five Thousand People at Reception
White House Lawn Converted Into
Fairyand-WeatherP Perfect.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TST1SCI.
Washington. June eO.-The silver
wedding celebration Of the president
and Mrs. Taft, the second that has been
held in the White House, came to an
end last night with the reception on the
been sent to close to 10000 persons.
and while the official count of those
who shook hands with the president
was not given out. it was estimated
that at least 5000 persons were present.
Never In the history of the nation
probably has such fucntion been held
in Washington. The diplomatic corps.
the United States supreme court. the
senate and the house of Representatives.
the departments Of the government, the
men who are high in political affairs
Of the country, the army, the navy and
every walk In life almost were repre-
sented.
The cool, clear night. that made re-
ception In the open air possible. pre-
vented the crush that the White House
for days has been afraid of and made
the reception not only brilliant and un-
usual but delightful in every respect.
The guests would have filled the White
House to overfl"wing. but the White
House grounds are ample and there
was no crush and no confusion
Possibly $4,000 people crowded about
the iron fence that surrounds the
grounds and looked longingly at the
electric display. the splashing fountain
and the gay throng within. Washing
fou 70 axcitaI hnlt
thing but last night 1t showed dts IN
terest in the anniversary of the presi-
dent in unmistakable fashion.
Trees Ablaxe With CoIored Lights.
The cards said the reception would
begin at 9 o'clock. and promptly on the
hour. to the strains Of the wedding
march. the president and Mrs. Taft
canes lowly down the staircase of hte
White House. preceded by the six
presidential aides and followed by the
cabinet. Out thru the red room to the
rear portico of the mansion, 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 join
ed by an electric sign flashing
"lSS6 -1911."
The guests entered from the cas-:
front. passed thru the corridors be-
meath the White House and out to the
lawn. Down the winding walk they
passed in two lines to where the presi-
dent. his face wreathed in smiles. was
waiting to meet them oil. Above the
walks the electricians had touched the
trees with magic and they blazed in
red and white and blue bulbs. From
the top Of the treasury monster
searchlight played upon new Aneri-
can flag upon the summit OF the man
SION Over the rear portico another
flag In red. white and blue 1ncandes-
cent lamps shimmered and waved. The
fountain in the center Of the grounds,
played upon by another searchltght,
sprinkled forth all hues OF the ram
bow. The Washington monument. a
thousand feet to the south. brought in
to relief by the thousands Of lights.
stood out sharply against the sky dark
blue with here and there a star striving
successfully against the lights OF man
Thousands Shake Prssident's Hand.
Tho White House lawn. clipped and
shaved to the very quick. made a car
pet 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