The sun., 1908-04-18
TAFT ON A HORSE ON VIEW
AT THE MOVING PICTURE SHOWS
FOR 4 NICKEL 4 LOON,

Its said the Secretary Was COlened into
Having His Picture Taken, Vet He Bows
and Smiles at You In Presidential style
Anyway You're Sorry for the Horse.
Everybody who knows anything about
Washington knows that Secretary Taft
on horseback Ia one Of the sights OF the
capital. But It isn't a sight that Is very
easy to see. To get a really good view Of
this phenomenon you have got to rise
very early in the morning, hasten out on a
country road and make a noise like Prest-
Dental nomination. But they do say II Is
worth all the trouble
The Secretary has a horse that il the
boastful possessor Of waistline that any
member Of the Old Guard might we'll be
proud Of. They have to send to a betting
company TO get the saddle girths made.
It's back is like the back OF behemoth. II
weighs pretty nearly a ton II has feet
like elephants ears IL has amazing dignity
IL seems to know that il may be carrying
the fate Of the nation II proceeds as II II
we're conscious Of the weight Of my policies
that 1t bears.
Anybody who desires may verify these
statements for himself by dropping into
one Of these moving picture shows that are
pushing vaudeville 80 hard these days mp
in Fourteenth street. The Taft rides are a
secret no longer The films got to town yes
terday and every half hour from 10 O'Clock
on you could by the payment Of five cents,
one nickel. the twuntiet part Of dollar,
see the Secretary Of War. Peace, Browns
Vile Rebates and My Policies gdlloping
madly over the Virginia pike at tho rate Of
at least four Dies an hour.
The gentleman who takes tickets at the
door Of one Of these moving picture parlors
assured visitors that no political significance
attached to the exhibit and it certainly il
perfectly true that after witnessing the
show you can't tell whether the Secretary
of War ia in favor Of tariif revision or not
You ca even tell whether he favors rect
procity with Switzerland The only thing
you're sure Of il that you're sorry for that
horse
The moving scene opens with a view Of
the portico Of the Army AMI Navy Building.
Major-Ge j. Franklin Ball, Olief Of the
General StaE Of the Army, is apparently
telling the Secretary Of War that he will De
nominated on the frs ballot Tns S'o'1.
tary has wis,ful look. Anyhow the ib-
ect Of conyers ltion is evidently sjmet hing
Of very confidential nature, because at
the end Of il the Secretary Of War removes
his hat. turns his back ON Gen. Bell, turns
on the smile that won the heart Of the
Il, nj 10 m Los "a hn
Some weeks ago a despatch from Wash
ingtOn told how the artful Bell had put up
a lob on the innocent Secretary Of War
lie had decOyed him out on hOrs aback in
the interests Of the moving picture men,
had DOS 'd him all unsIspeCting where he
could be s)uthernly exposed and had
then killed time foolng with his own saddle
girth while a moving picture man, dlsSuls 'd
as the third stone from the top IN n"ign-
boring wall. had eXercis ,d his devish art.
Sure enough. it's all there in the moving
pictures. The girth tight tening stunt comes
Of as per said despatch but It cannot
really be said that Gen. BELL appears like
the guilty wretch he must have felt. He
looks on the contrary as il he we're doing
nothing to disgrace the uniform Of an
American soldier MIR. Taft too appea n
quite at his ease. All Of Gen Bells aides
look quite comfortable too. The only
restive member OF the PARTY is Secretary
Tafts horse He looks a. II he didn't
really enjoy entertaining 50 large party.
Next we come to Fort Myer, three miles
away, having made the run ia about one
sixteenth ~ second. Here we See the
secretary regarding his mount commiser.
atingly and reviewing the second squadron
Of the Thirteenth Cavalry and Two batteries
Of the Third Field Artillery. We also see
Mrs Taft and MIR and Mrs. Charles p.
Taft We also see that practical Joker.
Gen Bell and in all probability We could
see his machiavel smile If it weren't
for the headache effect with which all
moving picture machines accompany them
selves.
Probably the ticket man was right about
there being nothing political in il, but the
show is highly approved by all Ocullsts.
And 30 once more we pass out into the
street and IL we don't We get a hearty in
vtation 10 do So and no gent will spit on the
floor