The Washington herald., 1907-04-01
PERSONAL STORIES
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN
BY FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN.

There has been but one American order
of knighthood. and its members were
known as the knights of the Golden
Horseshoe. This order was born dur
Ing the time OF Sir Alexander spotts-
wood. one of the colonial governors Of
Virginia, who organized a body Of gem
Usmen, woodsmen. soldiers, and slaves,
and rode TO the western rim of the blue
Virginia hills 70 see if il were true, as
the Indians had said. that a great ocean
could be seen from the heights. 1t was
a Journey rich in adventure, and willis
NJ sea hlled the world beyond, they looked
upon a valley rich in possibilities that
the later centuries realized. In memory
Of this long journey, and of the good
oomra6eship thcy enjoyed. Gov. Spotts-
wood called the members of his cavai-
cade the knights of the Golden Horse
shoe" He wrote TO his king telling OF
the Journey. of the great Industrial posi-
bilities that the New World offered In
that wilderness. and Of the new order he
had instituted.
In recognition Of this. and TO show his
august approval, his majesty ordered TO
be made upon the royal looms rich, yell
low broeade, starred at intervals with
golden horseshoes. When completed the
gift was forwarded to Lady spottswood.
the governors wife. This rare piece OF
cloth was afterward cut into generous
samples, which have passed down from
generation TO generation. One of the last
pieces known 10 be in existence is care
fully framed, and hangs on the wall In
the home of Mrs. J. Harvey Mathes. of
Memphis, Tenn. This lady is a direct
descendant of the founder of the Knights
of the Golden Horseshoe" Before her
marriage she was Miss Mildred Spotts-
wood Cash, and she takes great pride IN
her distinguished forefather. She recent
IS organized the frst Pocahontas Wig
wam." the members being descendants
of the Indian princess. and the object Of
their organization being to erect a monu-
Tlent 10 her at jamestown.
The case Of Frank Steinhart. American
consul general TO Cuba, is a refreshing
contrast 10 the usual rules pertaining 10
political life. While so many men are
trying persistently to get into office.
steinhart is attempting vainly TO get out
ers. want Steinhart to work for them,
and made a contract for his services at
a salary Of S25000 a year. But Uncle Sam
doesn't want 10 let Steinhart go. lie
knows so many people in Cuba, has
such a thorough knowledge of conditions
there. and Is so altogether indispensable
20 American interests In the island, taat
on three different occasions the President,
Secretary Taft. and Secretary Root have
appealed 10 Speyer & Co. TO let Stein
hart stay in the government service Just
six months more" He has already been
held ever eighteen months in this man
ner, and it viii be most difficult to re-
place him when he finally quits the
service.
Frank steinhart speaks four languages.
and has been nicknamed the consul Of
all nations because of his ability TO help
the people OF other nationallties besides
his own. His success has not been ac-
complished in the way that most politi-
clans get on. He doesn't mix much in
the general sense of that word. During
the nine years that he has lived in Ha-
vana he has never been inside any of the
numerous theaters in that city. He never
dimes out, but always goes home 10 be
with his family. His success and popu-
larity are based solely on the fact that
he is business from the word go. Mr.
Steinhart has been in the service of the
War and State Departments for twenty
fve years That he comes of capable
official stock is shown by the fact that his
grandfather was chief of police of Munich
until he died at the age Of l0L
Miss Maud Powell is the greatest
woman violinist, She is famous because
she Is a great artist, and she is great be
cause she measures up TO the standard of
violin playing established by virtues OF
the highest rank. without any allowance
being made for the fact that she is a
woman -She is blood descendant Of
Spohr. wrote a distinguished critic of
her last winter. when she tucks her
nddle under her chin. she makes a solemn
reverence before the altar of music and
off1ciates as pTiestess in the temple.
Miss Powell was born in Peru. H. Her
father was Welsh. and his knowledge OF
music was limited 10 the Old-fashiOned
hymns that were 'lined out" by the
preacher. Her mother, however, is musi-
cal, though she never had an opportunity
10 nave tirA LuiEtiL Au4tANdtt-t k7A4E 1ete
that she has achieved through her talent
ed daughter what she was never able
TO do herself
Miss Powell studied with the greatest
living violin teacher. Herr Joachim, who
is now past seventy-fve yeSs of age.
and stiil teaching in Berlin. He was a
harsh master, and rarely failed to make
his pupils cry when they came to him
Tor Instruction Miss Powell always an
swered with spirit when he spoke rough
~ 10 her, and he paid her back by giving
her harder lessons than any of the rest.
She always made it a point 10 master
what he gave her, and so the lessons be
came harder and harder Finally on
Tuesday he gave her the "Moto Perpetuo''
of Paganini to make ready for Friday.
II was an almost impossible task. but
she set 20 work not only TO master it for
him, but 10 give him a little surprise as
well. When she came for her lesson
she closed the music and stood ready to
play. He asked her with an unbeiieving
grin if she expected to play it from mem-
Ory, thinking II would be a farce of short
duration. She nodded an affirmative and
before the piece was half over the skepti-
cal master was sitting forward on the
edge Of his chair. showing in every way
his anxiety that she should not break
down. After that he offered 10 more
sarcastic comments and they got on IA
mously.
When old Dominic Hodges. a Yale man.
found himself in the barrens of Kentucky
in the early SOS. out of money and out
Of job. he applied at the home of one OF