The Washington herald., 1914-12-20

Revealing the intimate story OF heI
prominent life, describing her interest
ing social and T.Oi:tical experiences. and
unfolding in sincere and unreseryed fash
10 delightful incidents of her sojourn IN
the National Capital and particularly in
the Executive Mansion, Mrs. William
Howard Taft, First Lady of the Land
during the four years of her husband S
Presidency, has just published n book
entitled "Recollections of Full YearE.''
The volume, which comes from the
press OF Dodd, Mead & Co. is the most
interesting and valuable book of auto
biography printed in recent times. The
style is clear and simple and full of
ease and charm-charm which flows
primarily from the remarkable sincerity
and intimate touch impaired to the work
by its author.
As a strikingly attractive story of a
prominent career the ho0S, f course, has
a wide app -al b:t Us larger merit comes
from the many sdelishts thrown Unon
social and political Conditions viewed
and reviewed by the former mistress OF
the White House il Washington, IN ire
country nj large and IN foreign lands.
BecauSe OF this fact it is safe to say
the little volume will live long in the
estimation of the people both as a con-
tribution to history and to literature.
Her First Impression.
One OF the principal incidents of girl
hood referred TO by Mrs Taft Is her
initial visit to the White House as guest
or President and Mrs. Hayes Mr.. and
Mrs Hayes and Mrs. Taf-'s father and
mother had been lifelong friends. Mr..
Mayes at one time had been a member
Of her fathers law firm. They had been
closely associated for a great many
years and possessed a very warm regard
for each other. Mrs. Taft's youngest
sister was born shortly after the cleo
tion of Mr.. Hayes, was named Lucy
Hayes Heron after Mrs. Hayes, and
was taken to the White House to be
cEristened. Mrs. Taft's mother paid sew
,ral visits to the White House, and aft
er Mrs Taft's sister Jennie was married.
Mrs Hayes invited Mr.. Anderson and
her 30 stay week with her.
To my intense excitement" writes
Mrs. Taft. Il was invited to accompany
them. I was seventeen years old; had
never been TO Washington: and TO me
it was very important event. I was
not out so l couldn't spend my time
in the White House as 1 would have
liked in going TO brilliant parties ana
meeting all manner Of charming people.
hut fortunately Tor my peace OF mlnu,
the Hayes lived very quietly, so it was
not 20 trying to have to devote myself
tu seeing the sights of the Capital like
any other tourist"
Tells of Meeting.
1t is in a simple and naive hut ap-
Dealing way that Mrs. Taft tells the
story of how she met and fell in love
with the future President of the United
States
'I didn't meet my husband until was
eighteen years old" she writes. Eve
had been born and brought up in the
same town: our fathers were warm
friends and had practised law at the
same bar for more than forty years;
during that time our mothers had eX-
changed visits, and my sister Maria and
Fanny Taft were schoOlmates and close
companions at Miss Nourse's, but the
Tafts lived at Mount Auburn. hill
suburb of Cincinnati. and after Will
finished Woodward High School he went
Tor four years to Yale. so it is not at
al surprising that We did not meet.
Judge AlphOSO Taft was Secretary OF
War. and later Attorney General in
Grants Cabinet. while his son Will was
at college, but before the latter grad
aatcd the family had returned to Gin
riunati. 50 he came straight hope and
entered at once upon law course in
the Cincinnati Law School 1t was at
that time when he was still Il student
:rnd working as law reporter on the
cincinnati Commercial, that I met him.
Ii was at a Coasting party one winters
night. I remember very well. when II