The Washington herald., 1912-12-08
tBY THE DowAGER.

liant than any OF its predecessors. IL IL
like the final production Of a well re-
hearsed play. Questions OF policy have
been solved. scenery and costumes pro-
vided. the oft-tried players serene and
secure. When the curtain rises the only
concern OF the actors is to give fine
| performance; 30 II Is with the last few
months OF q Presidency term; so 1t will
be the coming winter.
From the moment she entered the
White House, Mrs. Taft took her duties
seriously, and devoted herself to them
with enthusiasm. To her task she
brought knowledge, experience and the
ambition to increase the social prestige
OF the Presidents house, which she de-
termined to place in the same relative
position toward society 1t occupied when
| Washington was President, a position
lost under Jefferson and never regained
until lately. This determination has been
carried out. The White House to-day is
OF greater social Importance than at any
time In the history Of the Capital. It is
a power, an influence. a raIlying point
Tor the best In society. which It has come
to dominate.
To reorganize the White House, to do
| away with old things and inaugurate
new, to change its personnel, upset It's
domestic arrangements. required strength
courage, an indomitable will, belief in
her own purposes, and respect for her
position, a combination few of Mrs.
Tafts predecessors possessed. Fear Of
criticism. dread OF the radical press. the
bobbing up OF that Banquos ghost, JEFF
fersonian simplicity, tied their hands
Mrs. Taft closed her ears to criticism.
shut her eyes to disapDrOving looks, and
reorganized the White House thoroughly
and effectively
The fine old mansion in which the
Presidents have lived since Washington
became the Capital had been beautified
in President RoOsevelts administration.
and as far as cleanliness. convenience
and elegance went. left nothing to be
! desired when the Tafts took possession
Mrs. Taft devoted her attention not to
the house itself, but the life within. She
introduced a modern domestic system.
changed its staff and gave a new signifi-
canoe and purpose to its social side
treating with tenderness its traditions
aud seeking to offend as little as possible
the critics and busybodies
| Until the beginning Of her regime. a
motley crowd Of messengers and ushers
political appOintees, some Of them veter-
ans OF the civil war. dressed as their
fancy dictated. held sway in the lobby
of the White House. They opened the
doors for social as well as official callers.
received and delivered messages. and
played the role Of fOotman in a sIipshOd
fashion that had for years been a sub
ject OF comment. These officials Mrs.
Taft had transferred to other depart
ments replacing them by trained, hveried
servants, which at once lent to the
White House service a new dignity.
At the time Mrs Taft assumed the
direction OF the White House. the Presi-
dents official receptions had degenerated
into meaningless crushes To be invited
TO them was no longer considered A COM
plIment People went from a sense Of
obligation and out Of respect to the
President Women wore their oldest and
shabbest frocks. which would. like as
not be torn into shreds with the pushing
and crowdinE. The cloak room service
was like that at a Bowery ball 1t some
times took an hour 10 pass from the
lobby to the receiving line Mrs Taft
changed all this She rearranged the
lists and divided har guests among the
several receptions, inviting to each only
as many as could be accommodated. She
adopted system for the cloak room.
planned by a man familiar with such
service 1t has been proved efficient.
She re-estabIished the custom Of serving
supper. n custom that had been aban-
doned with Arthurs administration and
| never resumed.
\ trained nurse was conveniently sta
toned IT, case Of sudden illness. Pre-
viOusly there had been no provision for
the care Of the sick, and accidents will
happen and women faint even in the
White House. The official receptions
were improved in every direction Under
Mrs. Tafts capable management they
became dIgnified functions and took on
an air OF elegance. They have become
enjoyable even. Formerly it was Consid-
cred a bore TO attend them; now it is
regarded a privilege.
\ musician herself of no mean repu-
tatiOn. Mrs. Tafts musiCales have been
delightful occasions. the programmes
excellent. the numbers well given. and
the artists taking part treated with due
consideration. Culture. in a word. and
the courtesy born OF culture, have been
the watChwords of the Taft administra-
ton. Early in her husbands regime,
Mrs. Taft succeeded in establishing an
esprit du corps among the women of his
official family. which has caused them
to work as one for the social success of
the administration. All these things, al
though handicapped by i'll health. Mrs.
Taft accomplished in the first year she
was at the White House. Her work of
improving and rcorganizing finished. il
lis hoped she will think more of play
than of work, and find some pleasure
and enjoyment in the last few months of
her husbands administration.
With the return OF the President and
Mrs Taft to the White House, the wom-
en- of the Cabinet were all at their posts.
ready to take up their duties and make
the last season a red-letter one. Long
before the usual time. society was in full
swing. and before THANKSGIVING the Cab
met women had begun their weekly re-
lceptions.
There being no Vice President, Mrs.
Knox. wife of the Secretary of State.
ranks after Mrs. Taft, and will occupy
the place next TO her at official recep-
tons. Tiny is Mrs. Knox. tiny and slen-
der, a wee bit of a person for her i'm
portant part. Scarcely more than fivc
feet tail, a school girl in appearance.
looking young enough to he the sister OF
her sons and daughter. vet equal 10 the
role. She has knowledge. experience,
wealth, wit. aplOmb, and does her work
con amore.
The Knox house was built by the lat"
George w. Child. artistic dilletanti as
We'll as noted journalist and fnancier.
and is a fit home for the premier. well
adapted for the weekly receptions that
are given there throughout the season.
understand how to make successful
T.. rr-f11 h.s mn ont tor