The Detroit times., 1912-10-28
BY IDA McoLoNe GIBSON.

| by lbh mC0IONE OloOON.
II IL an unwritten law that the wife
OF the president OF the United States
may not talk for publication and the
newspaper woman who gets to her
does SO only under strict promise that
she will not quote her in the nrst
person.
The vacation home OF the president
II very beautiful. l thought as ap-
preached the doorway where / was
ushered into the breat living hall with
its tapestry covered walls, its beauu
full old furniture. it's open fireplace in
which fire was burning. This hall
way has about 1t balcony from
which a stairway comes down into
the room. Through an open door !
caught q glimpse OF music room al
In white woodwork, before the mis-
trsss Of the house entered.
Mrs. Taft shows the wear and tear
of the last few years to greater de:
gree than the president. She never
had q famous SMILE" however, SO
the tired lines which have made their
appearance about her mouth may not
be noticed by the casual acquaintance
Bat II n an open secret among her
friends that the social strain or the
white house regime has been TOO
much for Mrs. Taft's pnysicai
strength.
Sne has not the poise of Mrs. Roose-
the sympathetic tolerance OF Mrs.
Wilson, nor that courage to- sllentiy
bear that seems the abiding 1orce OF
Mrs. Debs character, therefore she
does not take the newspaper criticism
with equanimity that has been gwen
her husband.
Mrs. Taft's soft white skin which
was her greatest beautp and whlch
gave her q singularly youthful ap-
pearance when she entered the white
house four years ago has lost It's trans
slucent quality and there Is RANT
net work of wrinkles about the gray
blue eyes which seem to have grown
too weary to express the alertness OF
which was their great
est charm four years ago She never
talked much and she Is now more
silent than ever.
"If YOU should say Aren't the
flowers glorious at Beverly this tall!
she would answer Eyes" with slight
very slight--smile, and you would
have to fish about IN the recesses ot
your brain for another subject OF con
yersation. Her silences, however, DO
not impress you as the silence OF
dull mind. but those OF woman
naturally reserved and physically
weary. But through these very
silences you come TO know that she
ia an ambitious woman who Is nos
TO be swerved from her purpose d.
physical Ills. was she that persuaded
her husband to accept the presidency
when he rather leaned toward the SUI
p-eme bench. She as enjoyed being
III e first lady In the land and the cere'
monious functions that she has pro-
vided at the white house have been
perfect in appointments.
II Is said that when Mrs. Taft was
with her husband In the Philippines
the natives adored her. she learned
iteir language the better to be able to
understand their point OF view, but l
think however" said q friend who
was trying to describe her, that hef
great hold on them was her quick I'm
Outstanding OF all their forms and
lccremonials OF which the F1lipinos
have thousands and by which they
set great store"
The wife OF President Taft Is a
great stickler for etiquette and she
believes that her social duties at
Washington should be discharged with
regard TO her high station instead or
regard to her own prejudices. One
OF her friends tells story that throws
q light on her ideas about this
! When the president was member
OF the cabinet very wealthy woman
came to the city. She was an &C
ouaintance of Mrs. Taft and waited
for her 10 call, not knowing that ac
cording to the official etiquette she
should first call upon Mrs. Taft
When she found out her blunder she
informally apologized and said that
she depended upon the knowledge OF
her social secretary. Mrs. Taft, how
ever. would not take that as an ex-
cuse because she believed that no
woman in official circles should de.
pend wholly on the word of social
secretary.
Mrs. Taft's social secretary has no
questions OF this kind to decide She
has 10 do the clerical work, but Mrs.
Taft herself decides who shall come
to her functions and who shall stay
away.
The presidents wife likes elaborate
functions and Is a devotee OF bridge
whist IL Mrs. Wilson became the
next mistress at the white house,
manv women who have 80 much EN-
Ijoyed Mrs. Taft's bridge PARTIES
which were perhaps the most informal
OF ali given during the last few years
will miss her very much.
Mrs. Taft is not generally -giHeE
tcTedit for her wit, among her other
accomplishments, but at dinner In
Washington Just before the family LETT
for Beverly, she carried OF the honors
to the amusement OF all the guests
ipresent. A noted French traveller
was so absorbed in Boosting about
the politeness OF his countrymen that
he failed 10 catch the bored expires
sion that spread over the faces OF
those around him he French he
drawied, ARE re politest people in ~
world Eat is acknowledged every.
where. You Americans are remark
able but you cannot excel 70 French
in pollteness Surely you must admit
zat He continued his line OF con