The Washington herald., 1907-03-26

The people who wandered out to Rock
Creek Park yesterday afternoon saw cav
alcade that attracted their interest. It con-
/ sisted of heavy-set man. in riding cos
| tune and black SLOUGH hat, mounted on
superb hunter, a small man on a COLBY
animal, who appeared TO be on most ex-
| cellent terms with the heavy man; a
sturdy looking young fellow. who sat his
horse like a trained cavalryman; a still
younger man, not very tall, but well knit;
a boy of sixteen or thereabout, on
/ smaller animals, and a stalwart soldier.
attired in the uniform of a sergeant OF the
regular service, mounted on a big army
| charger
If those who saw the cavalcade had
followed in its wake, they would have
LEFT the macadam driveway that twists
and turns with the sinuous course of
Rock Creek, proceeded along a side road.
and at last come TO a field where there
We're a stone wall and several hurdles.
And if they had waited at this point they
would have seen some stunts that we're
Wei worth seeing.
/ The heavy-set man in the black sloueh
hat was the President of the United
/ States. The smaller man was his con-
slant friend and companion. Baron Speck
Won Sternburg, Kaiser Wilhelms Ambas-
sador to the United States.
! Theodore, Jr., and Kermit.
The sturdy young fellow was Capt Fitz-
hugh Lee, Of thu Seventh Cavalry. whose
firm seat showed that there was meaning
in that Virginia expression. '"The Lees are
in the saddle again" The other young
man and the boy were Theodore Roose-
lvelt. jr.. and his brother, Kermit, who are
home for the Easter holidays-Theodore
from Harvard and Kermit from Groton.
4 Ard the soldier was Sergt Cornelius Nc
Dermott. Of the regular service. crack re-
volver shot and orderly TO the President
When the party reached the field with
the stone wall and the hurdles. Barren
iSteTnbuTg, whom the President calls
! ''SPeck, took charge Of things. He was
there to teach young Theodore and Kermit
how TO jump their horses. Baron Stern
burg was "a hussaF OF the German army in
the war with France, and what he doesn't
/ know about horses isn't 10 be found in the
4 best literature on the subject. He learned
the art Of riding from the ground up. as
he enlisted as a private and worked his
fcavairy regiment
Authority on Horses.
Years ago when President Roosevelt
was a subordinate official Of the govern
ment in washington, and the present
German Ambassador was a secretary OF
his Emperors Embassy here. MIR. Roose-
Welt found out that the little Freiherr
was an authority on horse flesh, and
particularly wei informed in regard to
animals used for military purposes Many
of the points which Col. Roosevelt found
of value in the organization OF the Rough
Riders We're obtained from his German
frien6, and when his two older boys ex-
pressed a desire TO learn something about
riding hunting nags the President didn't
hesitate a minute in the selection of a
tutor.
Baron Sternburg is the man." he said.
And the boys were delighted, for the
German Is a great favorite with every
body at the White House. where he con-
tinues the old intimacy begun IN the days
when he and the President were young
enthusiasts here In Washington
The lesson that Baron Sternburg gave
the Roosevelt boys yesterday was not
lliGlA III Il uiiutA HIS luitahst. lie mas
been put with them several times, and
has managed to bring them to a state OF
efficiency that already gives them the
confidence and ability TO follow the
hounds.
Capt. lee Assists.
Capt. Lee is assistant tutor and the
President also takes a hand occasionally,
but leaves most of the instruction to the
tGerman Ambassador and the army officer
The Roosevelt boys had the time OF
their lives There was tonic in the air.
and the animals they rode at fence and
hurdle were full of mettle and inspired
with the spirit of the sport Two of them
were the Presidents own mounts-Roswell
and Audrey-mag gnificent blooded hunters
of a line Of hunters. The other horse
sent at the jumps was a big fellow from
the wild and woolly West Capt Seth
Bullock. Of Deadwood. frontier friend Of
Mr.. Roosevelt, brought him to Washing
ton two years ago to ride at the head
OF ths cowboy contingent in the inaugural
parade. Upon leaving Washington Capt.
Bullock gave the horse to Theodore, jr
Grey Dawn he is called, and II he lacks
the style and conformation of Roswell
and Audrey, he makes it up in ginger
and endurance.
Now" cries Tutor Sternburg; and
young Theodore gees at the hurdle His
animal clears it ut a bound.
Pretty good for a beginner" says the
spectators, when the measure shows that
/ it was a jump of four and half feet
= Then Kermit tries it. and manages to get
over also-gOod work for a boy in his
teens
Il think I'll try it myself" cries the
President of the United States as he
: throws a leg over Roswell and Jams his
| hat down upon his ears.
Away We go!" somebody shouts; and
away they went.
The additional weight is a little hard
on Roswell. but he makes supreme
. effort and manages to top the hurdle
Puts Bar Higher.
Then Baron Sternburg puts up the bar
TO I'VE feet. and the Roosevelt BOYS try
it again. One or two balks for each. but
they finally get over, while their father
and the others applauded. The Presidents 5
, blood is up by this time, and he wants
to do five feet also. II the spectators
have any doubt as to his ability to do as
well as his youngsters, they fail to ex-
a Ia CARD Lunch served Da.Iy
At Eekstein's from y 70 3. i4Ig y. 7. ave.