The Washington times., 1913-02-05
TAf rs ARE HOSTS
AT LAST RECEPTION
AT WHITE HOUSE

at Most Brilliant levee of
Winter.
The President and Mrs. Taft held the
last of the state receptions in the White
House last evening. the officers os the
army and navy being the guests IF
honor, and a more brilliant event could
not have been chosen for the closing
social features of an Administration.
Never has the White House looked
more beautiful than last evening, with
it's decorations of Mowers and flags.
Tall palms and clusters OF pink carna-
tons adorned the East Room, and in
The Green and Blue parlors large how-
ering azaleas in white and shades Of
pink formed the CHER adodnments, clis-
ters OF American Beauty roses. orchids,
and maidenhair ferns being used in tine
he'd Room.
In the state dining room, where a
buffet supper was served throughout
the evening the mantel was banked
with mafdenhair ferns and clusters of
pink carnations, and candles with
dainty pink silk snaues adorned the
long tables
The Marine Band, which was sta
Iioned in the Red corridor, interspersed
it's classical program with old wartime
favorites, and music dear 10 the hearts
OF the navy men.
Uniforms Lend Color.
The bright red, blue and gold Of the
uniforms of the army and navy With
their distinguishing stripes of red, yell,
low and green. and the still more gor-
9eous uniforms of the. military ana
naval attaches of the foreign embassies
- legations added much TO the trin-
lance OF the reception. 1t Was interest
ing 10 see the foreign Officers walking
amcng the American officers, examin-
ing their uniforms, swords and spurs,
While TO the American officers the elab-
crate and brilliantly colored uniforms
Of their guests from across the waters
afforde special interest
The President is always at his best
where soldiers are concerned, and he
and Mrs. Taft received nearly 2,5o
guests, and the last received the same
cordial handshake and pleasant word
and smile which greeted the first. Maj.
Gen. Leonard Wood, Chief of Stan OF,
the army, and Gen. s. B. M. Young.
former Chief of STAFF, were the very
arst to greet the President and Mrs.
Admiral Dewey was surrounded at
all times during the evening with friends
trying to have a word or two with him.
General Miles was also the center OF
large group OF friends throughout the
evening.
Cabinet Members Attend.
In the Green Room a distinguished
Fathering of representatives of the sery-
Ice were assembled, and In the Blue
Room were the members of the families
Of the Cabinet officers, the assistant
secretaries of the War and Navy and
few personal friends of the President
The supreme Court was also repre-
sented and some members of the Dip
lomafic Corps were also among the
specially invited guests.
Although this was the largest of the
receptions of this year. number OF
guests were turned away on account
OF the strict ruling requiring the pro-
dnction of an admission card at the
door. No one was admitted who did
not have their card.
About i1:3e O'Clock, when the last
guest had been received and the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Taft and the members
Of the Cabinet went into the dining
room for supper, Lieutenant Santle-
mann led his men into the East Room,
where a dance program. such as only
the Marine Band can play, was given
The modern dances were quite the order
Of the evening, and when the President
and Mrs. Taft left the dining room,
luEy Cdftlt uilO Inc Edct fkOOiH cA'u nv
only were among the onlookers. but
Joined the dancing throug.
Mrs. Taft Joins Dancers.
Mrs. Taft danced twice. once with
Lieutenant Timmons, naval aide to the
President. and with Lieutenant Greble,
also one of the White House aides. The
President danced with his niece. Miss
Anderson. who is a guest at the White
House, and Miss Helen Taft danced
number of times.
From a sartoriaI standpoint, the re-
ception of last evening was In no way
selipsed by the former receptions, the
gowns of the women were particularly
beautiful and the Cabinet hostesses
followed the standard set by Mrs. Taft
in appearing unusually well.
Mrs Taft wore a handsome white
brocade gown made simply and trim
med on the bodice with tulle and touch
Is of white lace She wore handeome
diamond ornaments and carried a bou-
qtiet OF nauve orchids and pink roses.
This is the first time Mrs. Taft has ap-
peared this season in anything but
black.
In the receiving line with the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Taft was Mrs MacVeagh,
Mrs. Stmson. wife Of the Secretary OF
War; Mrs. Wickersham. wife of the At
torDey General: Mrs. Meyer. wife of the
Secretary of the Navy; and Mrs. Nagel,
wife OF the secretary OF Commerce and
Labor Mrs Fisher, wife of the Secre-
tary OF the Interior, was present for
part OF the evening. but was not in the
receiving line, as she is in mourning.
afrs. Knox, wife of the Secretary of
state. was not in the receiving line last
evening.
Mrs MacVeagh wore amber-colored
chiffon brocaded in velvet, with touches
OF rhinestone trimmings. She wore gor-
geous diamonds.
Mrs Stimsons gown was of silver and
white brocade with diamonds.
Mrs. Wickersham wore black crepe
meteor and tulle.
Mrs Meyer wore white satin draped
N black brocade and trimmed with
silver.
Mrs. Fisher wore a gown of dull
black crepe.
Mrs. NageI wore a beautiful draped
gown Of black charmeuse.
Mrs. Woods Guests.
Mrs. Leonard Wood wore a gown O:
green brocaded chiffon. Her niece, Miss
Alice Judson. Of New York, wore pink
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