The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-07
PRESENT GEMS
TO MRS. TAFT
Miss Boardman and Others
to Give Her Token
of Esteem.

Washington p. C., Feb. For
as the wife of the president of the
United States. has been accorded the
esteem ir which the American people
.'rc wont to hold their first lady ST
the land" In the hearts of man
Women vt Washington. however. she
OF friendship. and to demonstrate
their regret at having to part with her.
several of these most intimate friends
have begun to raise IL fund with whi:n
to purchase an appropriate farewell
token. notably ia .iewclcd necklace.
similar to that presented Mrs. Rooss-
Welt when she left the White House
four years ago.
Deepest secrecy has cloaked the un-
dertaking in order that the gift might
bring the spontaneous pleasure of sur
prise to Mrs. Taft when presented.
Meet ut Miss Boartiman's Home.
1t was learned last night. however,
that the womc who conceived tho
idea met last week at the home of
Miss Mabel Boardman. 1901 p street
northwest. and discussed the prelim1
mary plans.
When asked about the matter. Miss
Boardman said last night that nothing
definite had been determined upon.
other han that some gift would be
purchased with contributions from the
women of Washington who have been
intimately associated with Mrs. Taft
during her residence in this city. The
determination to present Mrs. Taft
with an appropriate gift. she added.
sprang from the friendship which
these women feel toward Mrs. Taft.
and it was not intended that it should
be in any Il public movement.
Donors Observe Secrecy.
Asked what form the gift would
take. Miss Boardman answered that
details had not been considered. The
women who had discussed the propo-
Sition. She said. were merely mention
ing it to mutual friends of themselves
and Mrs. Taft, and these in turn were
to be permitted to subscribe any sum
which they saw lit, the object beng not
to raise n definite amount Of money.
but merely to show the friendship Of
the donors Tor Mrs. Taft.
Miss BOardman. it is understood, is
one of the principal directors OF the
Mrs. Richard Townsend and Mrs.
Ellis.
SO soon AS opportunity has been
had to determine what sum will he
for the gift. the object to be
purchased will he determined upon.
1t will not be presented. however, I'M
til shortly before Mrs. Taft leaves the
White House. Miss Boardman saiu
last night that the presentation prob
ably would be made some time during
the day prior to the Inauguration Of
President-elect Wilson.
The proposal of IL Gift to Mrs. Taft
is the following Of AN example set at
the retirement of Mrs. Roosevelt from
the White House. and probably will
the establishment of IL precedent
for the future. On March l.. 1909,
Miss May Williams and Mrs. Robert
Hit. W of Mrs. Roosevelt's most in
drove to the White House and hand
cd to AN attendant at the door IL pack
which they requested should be
given Mrs. Roosevelt.
This package contained a beautiful
of graduated diamonds, con-
sisting of 35 perfect white stones,
grading down from a handsome. gem
of two carats at the center to quarter
carats at either side of the claps. The
Of the necklace was height.
by the platinum rim surrounding
each diamond.
With this magnificent gift was
wrapped an embossed friendship book
containing the names of the 50 wom-
en- who had subscribed, to It's pur-
chase. The donors. However. were
lOath to discuss their gifts or even to
divulge their James to the public. 1t
was learned. however. that the sub
ranged from $50 to 500.
Among those who figured most promi-
nently in the purchase Of the gifts
were Mrs. Henry Cabot Lodge. Mrs.
Hit. Mrs. Charles Z. Glover and Miss
The campaign among Mrs. Roose-
friends was begun at Il meeting
at Miss Williams home. February is.
and the project had been completed
by the end of the month. When tho
money had been collected the sub
scribcrs. not heing able TO determine
what the gift should lie. appoint
cd from their number Il committee .f
three. which went to New York and
mad" tho purchase of the necklace.
The friendship book was made in this
city. 1t vas s by 10 inches. bound in
rrcnm-colored ralfskin. with Il "sumac
Upon the center of the ov-
or WAS Mrs. Roosrvrlt's monogram.
Il. h. r." done in gold.