The Washington herald., 1912-01-14
MRS. TAFT ESTABLISHES
MANY SOCIAL TRADITIONS
Season of Receptions at the White House Is Now in
Full Blast

/ been present at similar dinners under
former administrations. The Austro-
Hungarian Ambassador has dined at the
White Hoese as the guest Of four Presi-
dents, commencing with President Cleve-
land.
per plate. according to the menu, wines
and the personnel Of the guests. The
diplomatic dinners, always the most
sumptuous, cost on an average OF 8. 200
apiece. but history records past ban
Quets which cost 5000 There Is no
set rule IN regard to the menu or the
wines served. both being made as elab-
crate as is consistent with good taste.
Mrs. Taft personally supervises every
thing. The arrangement and choice of
flowers, menus. color schemes for dec
lorations, as well as the lists OF guests
Ito be invited are all matters to which
she gives attention.i In all OF these mat
ters she has the able assistance OF her
secretary. Miss Letterman. and the eight
young officers from the army and navy
who are such potent factors in the en-
tertaining.
HouseIxeeDer Paid $1,000.
Mrs. Taft has housekeeper whose ssl-
ary Of s., 200 year is paid by the govern
ment. Her position is one Of great re-
sponsibility, as she not only has entire
charge Of all the servants, linen, and sill
yer, but looks after the house and does
all the marketing for the entertainments,
as well as the family table. Under the
Taft regime all the catering is done in the
White House kitchens, even to the Ices
and confectionery. For the preparation
Of all this food there are three cooks, sew
eral buffers, pantry men. and walters,
and for such state affairs as are given
throughout the season about twenty-five
extra helpers are hired 10 give assistance
in the cloakrooms, kitchens. and dining
rooms.
To maintain a house of forty rooms.
keeping the lower floors open for the in
spection Of tourists from 10 a. m. until
p. m, without a vast number OF servants
seems impossible, but that is only one Of
the many difficult problems which has
confronted the Chief Executives and their
wives when they assumed control Of the |
home Of the Presidents. Being President
and first lady OF the land is anything
but a dream Of blissful leisure and tndo-
lent splendor. On the contrary, these two |
people are allowed very little leisure, for |
never may they forget that they are not |
free agents, but temporary occupants
whose stewardship is under constant crit |
icism both at home and abroad
Upon Mrs. Taft devolves the most difi-
cult Of all problems. She must direct the |
social. semi-poltical destiny of her hus-
bands administration with as much ele- |
gance, tact, and skill as though economy |
were never to be considered. She must |
compete with Foreign powers and acquit |
herself creditably without departing from |
the democratic simplicity ordained by our |
forefathers or allow the faintest breath |
OF criticism to cast its shadow upon the |
hberality and hospitality of this great re-
public.
In the matter of the salary Of our Chief |
Executive, in comparison with the other |
mighty nations of the world, considering |
the ranking size and Importance of the |
United States, she is far behind even |
scme whose rating is quite Insignificant
The Gar of Russia may never know /
the necessity Of economy on an annual /
state income OF 500 ,OO0 besides receiy- |
ing several millions yearly as the head l
OF the house OF Romanoff. The Presi- I
dent Of the French republic has 5000 1
yearly. Queen Victoria had an annual /
income OF $2s20.0oO besides the payments /
made to the members OF the royal family
and their relatives The annual COM
pensation Of the King OF Italy is s, $4,000.
Beside these munifcent incomes, the \
annual allowance OF $T5ot0 to our Presi-
dent seems mere trifie, which not even