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Recollections of Full Years

Recollections of Full Years (1914)
by Helen Herron Taft

Recollections of Full Years is a 1914 memoir by Helen Taft, a First Lady of the United States and wife of William Howard Taft. The memoirs were the first to be published by a first lady. The book serves as "the most important source of information" about Helen Taft.

4664364Recollections of Full Years1914Helen Herron Taft

RECOLLECTIONS OF FULL YEARS

A picture of the author, Mrs. William Howard Taft, wearing a formal gown.
MRS. WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT

MRS. WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT

Recollections of
Full Years


BY

MRS. WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT


Printer's mark

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS


NEW YORK

Dodd, Mead & Company

1914

Copyright, 1914

By THE BUTTERICK PUBLISHING CO.


Copyright, 1914

By DODD, MEAD & COMPANY

FOREWORD

I wish to express my grateful acknowledgment to Eleanor Franklin Egan and to my daughter for their valued assistance in the preparation for publication of these Recollections.

Helen Herron Taft.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
Introductory 1
Cincinnati—City of Birth and Early Memories. Educational and Musical Advantages. Childhood in Large Family on Moderate Income. Meeting Mr. Taft—Political Turmoil. First trip to Washington to visit President and Mrs. Hayes. Social Gaieties and Serious Undertakings. Engagement—Summer in the Adirondacks. Marriage—Trip Abroad. Mr. Taft's Father and Mother. First home—"Satisfactory though Mortgaged."
CHAPTER II
Cincinnati and Washington 21
The Superior Court—First Doubt as to Desirability of Judicial Career. Mr. Taft's Embarrassing Truthfulness. My son Robert. Solicitor General—Move to Washington. Mr. William M. Evarts. Washington Society Twenty-five Years Ago. My Daughter Helen. The Federal Bench. Youngest Child. Tranquil Years. The Cincinnati Orchestra. Spanish-American War—Results to the Taft Family.
CHAPTER III
To the Philippines 39
The Second Philippine Commission. Army Transport Hancock. Honolulu. "Aloha Oe!" Yokohama. Mr. Taft in a Jinrikisha. His Size Interests the Japanese. Audience with the Emperor and Empress of Japan—A Question of Clothes. I Decide to Remain in Japan for the summer. The Hancock to Manila.
CHAPTER IV
In Japan 65
Keeping House in Yokohama—In Quarantine with Measles. A Japanese Menage. Fascinating Oriental Sounds—Alluring Shops. First Letter from Mr. Taft. A bit of Philippine History. Miyanoshita—Japanese Inns—The Darkest Night. A Refugee from China—Boxer Insurrection. Joseph did not Commit Suicide; He was only Learning to Sing. More Letters. Mr. Bryan's Complicating Policy. To Manila.
CHAPTER V
First Impressions of Manila 91
The China Sea. Manila Bay—Strange Scenes and Strange Peoples. First Home in Manila—"Getting Used" to my Environment. Seventy Thousand American Troops. General Arthur MacArthur—Social Coolness. Intrigue—Assassinations—Problems. Progress of Pacification. A Typhoon. American Presidential Campaign. Civil and Military Rule. September first—The Commission begins to Exercise Authority.
CHAPTER VI
A Strange Environment 118
El costumbres del pais—Employes and Parientes. A Pair of Black Ponies—A Runaway—Filipino Coachmen. Charlie's Playmates. Shopping—Saloons. Manila Society. "He may be a brother of William H. Taft, but he ain't no friend of mine!" A Filipino Call. Presents. American Patriotism. Friars and Friars' Lands. A Momentous Decision.
CHAPTER VII
"Days of the Empire 142
Unrest and Uncertainty—Guerilla Warfare. Re-election of Mr. Mckinley. Optimistic in the Face of Chaos. Christmas—Eighty in the Shade. A New Year's Reception—Silk Hats and Frock Coats. The Federal Party and the Peace Movement—Washington's Birthday. First Visit to a Provincial Town. Establishment of Civil Government. Mr. Taft First Civil Governor.
CHAPTER VIII
An Historic Trip 156
Through the Southern Islands. Establishing Provincial Governments. A Test of Endurance—Filipino Bands—Banquetes and Bailes—the Rigodon. Moroland. Aguinaldo—Colonel Frederick Funston of "the Suicide Squad." Zamboanga—Cottabato—the Gulf of Davao—Surigao—A Perilous Journey. Cebu. Sorsogon—A Riot of Hospitality. "The Sacred Torch of Liberty."
CHAPTER IX
The Wild Men's Country 182
Into Northern Luzon—the Wild Men's Country. A Spanish Steamer. General and Mrs. J. Franklin Bell. A Side Trip. Impedimenta and Military Discipline. An Amazing Summit. Where no White Woman ever was before Igorrotes—Human Skulls as House Decorations—Rice Teraces. Down a Long Trail. Baguio—Our $2,500,000 Road. Necessity for Haste.
CHAPTER X
Governor Taft 206
The Inauguration of Governor Taft. Two Thousand Guests. Moving to Malacañan Palace—Social Activities. The Governor's Working Day. General Chaffee—Continued Differences of Opinion. General Corbin. The Assassination of President McKinley—Dark Days. Mr. Taft and President Roosevelt. Balangiga. A Trip to China—Mr. Taft Ill— Hurried Return. Ordered Home on Leave—An Earthquake. We Sail on Christmas Eve.
CHAPTER XI
A Trip to Rome 233
Some Unhappy Memories. Business in Washington—The Friar Lands Question. A Mission to Rome. Left Behind but Follow Shortly. Position and Character of Commission—Complications and Embarrassments. Cardinal Rampolla. Pope Leo XIII. A Brilliant Society. Vatican Politics. An Audience with the Pope. Vallombrosa. Gifts from the Pope. Unfinished Negotiations—Mr. Taft to Manila. Switzerland.
CHAPTER XII
Last Days in the Philippines 251
A Great Demonstration. Cholera—Rinderpest—Famine—Turmoil. The Church Schism—Aglipay. Archbishop Guidi. Ladrones and Assassins. Taft declines the Supreme Bench—Mr. Roosevelt Insists—Popular Protest. A Letter from Mr. Roosevelt. Called to Washington as Secretary of War. A Farewell Fête—The Doge of Venice and his Lady—Regretful Good-byes.
CHAPTER XIII
Secretary of War 274
Contrasted Attitudes—Guests of a Nation and "Just Nobody." Settling down in Washington—Difficulties in living up to an Exalted Office—Life of a "Cabinet Lady." The Panama Canal—Trip to Panama. Mr. Taft, a Congressional Party and Miss Alice Roosevelt. Summer in England. Intervention in Cuba—"Those Awful Twenty Days."
CHAPTER XIV
Busy Years 302
"The Three Musketeers." A Political Campaign—the Rush of Life. The Supreme Bench again. A Presidential "Boom." Mr. Taft not Interested. I misunderstand Mr. Roosevelt. Athos and Porthos. "Sitting on the Lid." Agitated Days. Growing Enthusiasm. Murray Bay. Starting Around the World—Yellowstone Park—A Sunday game of Bridge. A Taste of Campaign Work.
CHAPTER XV
A Hurried Trip Around the World 313
Japan—Shanghai—Manila. Opening of the first Philippine Assembly. Trips and Entertainments. Vladivostok. Across Siberia. Moscow—St. Petersburg—Berlin. A Shopping Expedition and a Perilous Night. The Steamship President Grant. Return to the United States. Nomination for the Presidency—Political Campaign—Election.
CHAPTER XVI
President of the United States 324
The Evening of March Third, 1909. A Dinner Party at the White House. A Stormy Night. Washington Ice-bound and Isolated. "I always said it would be a cold day when I got to be President of the United States." The Inauguration. At Home in the White House—A Brief Inspection—The McKim Restoration. The Inaugural Ball—A Brilliant Scene. "Aunt Delia." The End of the Greatest Day.
CHAPTER XVII
The White House 347
Mistress of the White House—Domestic Responsibilities—Some Innovations. The White House staff—Furniture and Porcelains. The President's Hospitality. A Diplomatic Tea. Forms and Precedents. My First Dinner Party. Various Entertainments. Potomac Drive. Delightful Spring Evenings. The Charm of the Home of Presidents. A Passing Glimpse of Mental Pictures.
CHAPTER XVIII
Some White House Formalities 365
A Long Illness. Garden Parties—The First Disappointment— Subsequent Success. The Nation's Summer Capital— A Question of Privacy—The Secret Service Men. The Washington Social Season. State Dinners and Receptions. First Cabinet Dinner. The New Year's Reception. "Behind the line." Cutting down the Lists. The Diplomatic Reception and Dinner. Serving Refreshments. Various Demands.
CHAPTER XIX
Conclusion 382
Mr. Roosevelt Returns from Africa—Calls at Beverly—An Agreeable Meeting. A Cruise on the Mayflower. The President of Chili. A "Whirlwind" Existence. A Cabinet House Party. Fitting Charlie out in Long Trousers. Helen's Début. Our Silver Wedding. Renomination. Plans for a Quiet Future. An Expression from Mr. Taft.

ILLUSTRATIONS


Mrs. William Howard Taft Frontispiece
FACING
PAGE
Mrs. Taft's childhood home on Pike Street, in Cincinnati 4
Mr. and Mrs. John Williamson Herron, Mrs. Taft's father and mother 8
Members of the salon. Mr. Taft in the centre with the author at his right 12
Mr. and Mrs. William Howard Taft at the time of their marriage 16
Mrs. Taft with Robert and Helen, when Mr. Taft was Solicitor-General 26
Charlie Taft when he went to the Philippines 36
Nikko. An ancient cryptomeria avenue and a glimpse of the famous temples 52
Entrance to the Imperial Palace gardens in Tokyo 56
The State Dining-Room of the White House, showing tapestry presented to Mrs. Taft by the Empress of Japan 62
Helen Taft in Japanese costume 76
Mrs. Taft in formal Filipina costume 90
A carved Nara or Philippine mahogany bed, now in Mr. Taft's room at New Haven 98
A typical Philippine river scene and some Filipino laundry work 104
(Left to right) General Wright, Mr. Taft and Judge Ide, as Philippine Commissioners 118
A typical Filipino menu and place card 148
Triumphal arch at Bataan 152
Filipino members of the organising party enjoying afternoon repose on the deck of the Sumner 158
The Sultan of Sulu boarding the Sumner, followed by Mr. Arthur Fergusson, Spanish secretary to the Commission 166
A Morn datu with his retinue, and the favourite wife of a datu with her maids-in-waiting 170
Picturesque bead bedecked Bogoboa of the Davao country 176
Philippine non-Christians: A Bontoc Igorrote (top left), a Mora and two Kalinga chiefs (with shields) 182
On the long trail in Northern Luzon. Mrs. Taft second from the left 186
Mr. Taft and Charlie enjoying their favourite exercise 186
An Igorrote Head Dance and a company of cargodores with their dogs which are to he killed for food 190
Views of the extraordinary Igorrote rice terraces. Practically all of the wild men's country is cultivated in this manner 192
Igorrote chief proudly displaying his house decorations of human skulls and carabao horns 196
Bontoc Igorrotes with ganzas showing handles made of human jaw bones 196
Benguet Road before and after completion. Not the most thrilling curve on this spectacular highway 200
The Zigzag. How the Benguet Road climbs to an altitude of over 5,000 feet in six miles 204
Mr. Taft taking the oath of office as first American Governor of the Philippine Islands 208
Two views of Malacañan Palace. The first picture shows the wide, roofless veranda over the Pasig River 214
Scenes attending Governor Taft's arrival in Manila after his first absence 250
Arch erected by the Partido Federal representing Filipina offering another star to the American flag 258
Mr. and Mrs. Taft with members of their family and staff including Major Noble, aide (at left), and Mr. Fred C. Carpenter, private secretary (right), in costumes worn at the Venetian Carnival 270
Mr. Taft and Colonel Goethals, in Panama 290
(From left to right) Mrs. Jaime de Veyra, Mrs. Taft, Governor Smith, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Taft, Mr. Sergio Osmena, Speaker of the Philippine Assembly, and members of the Assembly in the Ayuntamiento, Manila 312
The White House as it looked on the evening of the Fourth of March, 1909 324
Mr. and Mrs. Taft returning to the White House after Mr. Taft's inauguration 330
The private dining-room of the White House, and the family sitting-room at the end of the long upstairs corridor 334
Two White House bedrooms showing fine old colonial beds 338
Two corners of the White House kitchen 350
The East Room 356
Mrs. Taft on the Potomac Drive 360
The south Portico from the end of the garden 364
The White House garden and Washington's Monument from the south Portico 368
The Taft cottage at Beverly, Massachusetts 372
The crescent table in the State Dining-Room arranged for the Diplomatic Dinner 376
Mrs. Taft's own picture of the White House 380
The long eastern corridor through which guests arrive for state functions 388
The main stairway leading to the President's private apartments 388

RECOLLECTIONS OF FULL YEARS


This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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