St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.


single stick play as means Oh eAer'
else has led to a sensational story that
he was nearly blinded by being struck
over one eye with a stick. The presl-
dent did receive a slight bruise on his
forehead, two or three inches above inc
left eye, but he laughs at the thought
that there should have been even
mention Of the bruise, several OF when
may be expected at each play at this
exercise The president has been play
ing single stick nearly every day for
two months with General Leonard
Wood with whom he rides, walks an(
goes through other exercises. When
the president and General Wood begin
to play single stick, the understanding
is that each is to do his best and that
there is to be no sham. So they attack
each other with the earnestness or
genuine opponents. General Wood lett
the bruise on the president that has
caused the story that the latter was
nearly blinded. The presidents boys
play single stick and Go it in a rough
and tumble fashion. If one of them
complained of bruise from the eXer-
else, the president would probably
Ichide him for his complaint. Single
stick is a broadsword exercise with the
swords left out and represented by
sticks. The faces of the players are
protected by helmets and the bodies by
padded jackets and cuirasses. Every
part of the body is brought into lively
exercise. Despite the projections,
bruise is often received by one or the
other of the combatants, particularly
if they play with zeal and strenuosity
Would Increase Naval Strength.
Rear Admiral John Crittenden Wat
son, in discussing the increase OF the
navy, said: eve have reached out to
the other side of the globe and unless
it be the intent of the nation, which l
strongly doubt, to willingly submit to
humiliation we have certainly got to
provide for what the future, through
our Widencd interests, will surely
bring. The safest and surest means of
reaching that state Of preparedness is
by building as rapidly as possible
naval force equal to our coming needs.
Personally | should like congress to
give us at least six heavy fighting craft
at this session, and four of them l
should elect to be battleships Of the
type of our Connecticut,
81 think too much stress is laid upon
the item of speed in armored cruisers,
and do not think their logical employ
lment is that of scouts for the battle
fleet. A much cheaper and a more efti-
cient style of craft can be designed for
that purpose, pure and simple, and |
heartily advocate putting the difference
in the true elements of the fighting line
that is, the big, heavily armored bat
tleships, l think our naval construct
ors have evolved a remarkably fine or
der of craft in the battleships Connect
lieut. and Louisiana, and | think con-
gress will do wisely in authorizing the
construction of ten more between now
and the end of the next five years."
White House Pictures.
Most of the pictures that were re-
moved from the White House during
the repairs and alterations are now
back, and it is believed that there will
be satisfactory arrangement of them
when they are all in place. OF course
some changes have necessarily had to
be made, notably in the east room,
where the new decorations will not adj
init of the hanging of pictures A num-
Der of the pictures have been hung in
the red room, and the effect is very
pleasing in every way. AS rapidly as
possible the others will be hung in 9th
er portions Of the building. This APP
plies to the oil paintings of presidents,
about which there has been some talk,
and to the pictures Of the wives of pres
idents also
Presidents Bear Zoo.
President Roosevelts Christmas pres
ents included the most motley and I'M
doubtedly the most extensive collection
of bears Of every size and condition to
be found within the confines of the I'm
ion. These bears came from all over
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