The sun., 1903-08-16

therc WIS tne lhlnnest possible coating Of
the white enamel paint. Then fresh paint
was put on and more rubbing followed.
Sir Thomas rubbed his hands almost fondly
over the surface to find out for himself
how smooth It was.
few words with the foreman and then
he climbs out of the dock and visits the Erin
for a talk with Capt. Matthew'S Everyth hing
satisfactory there, nc sends for his chief
steward, Nobs. 1t may be that Sir Thomes
has some particular friends who ere TO visit
MIN during the day and Mr.. Nobs ia told 10
set some special dishes.
All chis will probably take an hour of the
baronet Is time. end then back to the house,
boat. There he meets Secretary West wood
Designer William Fife and other members
OF his stat. Mr.. Westwood has glancet.
ever the newspapers End has carefully
marked anything that he thinks will in
terest Sir Thomas, and for half an hour
the news OF the day lis read up. Even while
he is engaged in sport Sir Thomas does not
forget to glance at the market reports. and
he has the faculty Of absorbing the news
quickly end retaining IL in his activamind
Breakfast comes next end this is a simple
meal. 1t is over in half en- hour and then
the real business Of the day begins. De-
signer Fife goes of to the Shamrock and
watches carefully everything that is beirg
done on that yacht. Sir Thomas goes to
his Office with his secretaries and looks
over his mail
DAILY MAIL FULL OF GIFTS AND CHARMS
The mail for the popular Irishman is
enormous. More than 2O0 letters a day are
delivered to the yacht. Every day there
are bundles OF letters from admirers. They
come from all parts Of the world wishing
the Shamrock good luck. Many of them
contain lucky pieces and charms. These
are the letters Sir Thomas enjoys reading
and he examines each charm carefully
and then it is put into the Shamrock
museum, which has assumed large pro-
portions.
Some of the letters are manifestiy for
advertising purposes. Some are crude and
some are clever. but Sir Thomas can usually
tell genuine well-wisher from one who is
trying to make capital out of him. and The
advertisers letter is quickly consigned to
the waste basket Not so with the others
Each letter is answered. and in many cases
the answer is dictated by Sir Thomas him
self.
The Baronet is very fond of showing these
letters to his visitors. He got one recently
saving that broom had been sent which
was to be carried on the Shamrock for luck
and mastheaded after she had defeated the
Reliance The broom is beautifully decor
ated. The handle ia painted, and ribbons
,..it ,lN rNpir, ,aIs. 10
verv gay AFFAIR.
Another man sent two rabbits ears neatly
mounted In his letter he said ii was a mis-
taken idea that rabbits hind feet were lucky.
They are hoodoo." he said, "the ears al
ways 90 ahead of the feet"
FrOm.Kansas were received some grass
hoppers that have legs like the legs of
dromedaries From Seattle came stone
which the donor said had brought good luck
TO his family and would surely help the
Shamrock win. The stone il curiously
painted and decorated
Horseshoes are received by the dozen
There are large ones and small ones, horse
shoes that have seen service and new ones
that have never been worn. Some are
beautifully decorated and mounted and
A dainty ring was received from one man.
who said he had made it out OF horseshoe
nail On the head of the nail was engraved
the America Cup and this was surrounded
by tiny horseshoe with seven nail holes for
good luck
Handkerchicfs have been received by the
score They are decorated with sham
rocks, Irish flags and pictures of the yacht.
painted or embroidered Sofa pillows are
sent by many of the Baronet's admirers,
and all have some nautical design or lucky
emblem on them.
Models OF the yachts and OF the Cup in
miniature have been given to Sir Thomas, and
some of them show that lots of fine work
was necessary to make them as pretty as
they are.
From Texas came a walking stick made
of paper, The paper was put on steel
rod in layers and then compressed so that
1t could be tui ned in lathe and polished
Another stick that Sir Thomas values
highly was presented by the 900 sailors who
live OF Sailors Snug Harbor.
From New Zealand yesterday Sir Thomas
received a cableRram wishing him good
luck in the name of the Royal Australian
Yacht Squadron. This was promptly ac-
knowledged. From Rothsay came bunch
of white heather. Sailors consider this an
omen of rare good luck and the white
heather was sent to Capt. Wringe of the
Shamrock.
box containing lot OF shamrock was
received from an admirer in the southwest
Of Ireland and an Irish woman way out In
Washington sent sprig Of shamrock which
she said had been given TO her by her
mott her and which had always brought good
luck
Three dogs have been received and dis
tributed around the feet. Then there are
black rabbits, Irish hens a canary and
other livestock
AN ANCIENT POETIC MARINER.
1t would take pages to tell of all the gifts.
More than 1000 four-leaved clovers have
been gathered. Horoscopes have been
cast by the hundred by those who are al
legged to he authorities in such things and
all but one make the Shamrock winner
There is a big box of verse. More than a
thousand friends have been dreaming
and in these dreams they have seen all
sorts of good omens for Sir Thomas One
piece of poetry, which Ia a sample OF what
he gets, was received from Patrick Halton
at Sailors Snug Harbor. This is what
Halton wrote:
An August morning passing fair, 1t was the twcn
saw Two men approaching as l rambcd on my
With easy grace they nearrd apacs. when meet
An interesting dialogue. and this Is how IL ran:
Good morning. Mr., IselIn." Sir Thomas FIRST did