The Washington times., 1920-05-21
Presidents and Pies
An Interesting Account of Washington Peo-
pie of Yesterday and Today BY the Wife
of the Well KnolUn DiDlOn,atist
- E, By Mrs Larz Anderson ...
By Mrs. Larz Anderson.

while fog horns doomed near ana
far and the bell buoys tollec,
Governor Forbes came out In
launch and boarded the Mayfower'
( and then all went ashore together,
going through the dangerous
Hole" TO our landing place. Be-
longing 10 the Forbes family are
several Islands. which look bleak
on the shore line, but in the interior
, have colossal oaks and beeches' at
that season just turning sSpero
i scarlet and yellow Naushort the
largest OF the group. seemed Ike
myBterious ghost island In the ntt-
ing haze as we drove through IN"
sunset glow among the golden red
woods until the twilight crept upon
US.
Next morning some OF us put on
riding clothes; they gave me'a' nice
Western pony, and we galloped on
to the great oak which was 10 be
named Taft" The Forbes elan
from different parts OF the lsland
gathered about the tree. and Mr.
Taft's name was cut deeply In inc
bark. ! expected at least poetry or
q speech, or bottle OF champagne
broken over the huge trunk--some
slight ceremonlal---but nothing hap
come. through the blue and gold
haze. The twilight mystery of the
night before had vanished, and the
Mayfiower sailed away with IA blaz-
ing sun on the sparkling sea.
on awakening the next day we
found ourselves entering New York
harbor. The band struck up a gay
tune, the crew all spick and span
stood at attention, and the Secre-
'tary ofthc Navy. Mr.. Meyer, came
on board with a great deal of cere-
pony and was received by the
President The governor OF New
York, some ribbonod diplomats, and
uniformed officials followed, until
about forty, should think, had
boarded the yacht. Yhen tho May
flower steamed up the Hudson
while the huge drab leviathans on
either side fired the Presidential
salute OF twcnty-one guns. The
roar of the cannon was deafcninS.
When the Mayflower had reached
the end OF the line VIC all had
luncheon and then steamed back
again. There were 1870 ships in the
fleet--among them my godchild,
the Perkins-ahd of these thirty
two were large battleships. all of
whose kecls had been laid during
Republican administrations.
That evening the President and
some of the party went ashore early
for the big navy dinner that was
to come off at the AstVl. Tho rest
OF US Mrs. Taft, Mr.. and Mrs. Ham
mond, DR.. Strong. l.. ami = -uIn ed
on the yacht and later wont to the
hotel. There Miss Helen Taft
Joined us. and all the wom'l sa5
in "A box overlooking a long
raised table shaped like ships
deck. with a painting of sea and
clouds for a background. In the
center sat the President, surround
ed by Mayor Gaynor, Mr.. Meyer,
Admiral Oste riaus. in command of
the. 1eet. Secretary Hitchcock, At
torney General Wfck ersham, and
number of others. A line of boxes
was filled with ladies' and the floor
itself was covered with small tables
for the officers. Mr.. Taft made an
admirable speech; three or four
others also spoke. and there were
songs and an orchestra. In response
to the cheering for Mrs. Taft, she
stood up in the box and bowed very
sWeetly.
1t was while we were at this din
ner that the terrible news reached
us that cX-President Roosevelt had
been shot. The fear OF another as
sassination was in the air. and not
tho least exciting part Of the cvc-
ming WaS the drive back in the
Presidents car. with police on.
motorcycles ahead and behind. ana
secret service men hanging On -
each side Of tho motor. We whirled
at breakncck speed through th"
streets. while the people scattered
to right and left, some cheering
and waving. Although pretty tired
when we reached the Mayflower,
we sat about and talked it all over
till the President fell asleep in his
chair.
Copyright. HouZhton. Mifiin Coz