The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-06-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Attention for the moment is diverted
from Washington to Chicago where the
quadrennical political drama is mainly
enacted but no drama can be complete
with Hamlet left out and Hamlet is
still in Washington with his Horatio and
will remain here throughout the Chicago
convention for political etiquette has de-
creed that the President elect and the
President prospective must not be present
in persona at presidential nominating
convention. They will, however, know
almost to the second from wires in the
White House what is going on in
Chicago.
The Presidents recklessuess last week
came near causing him severe physical
injury if not death. He was riding
green artillery colt One that his orderly
had selected for himself. There was no
reason why the President should have
ridden this horse for he is tough and
active through practice of every manly
sport. He is nearly or quite fifty years
old and weighs two hundred pounds.
His orderly is slight, young, agile, per-
feet horseman aud all experimenting
with the powerful uettlesome colt should
have been left to the orderly. But no,
the President of the United States must
ride McDermott's new horse aud rode
him down steep bank into Rock Creek,
but the horse SHE'D at the swift water
and wheeling about endeavored to regain
the bank at sleeper place reared, fell
back into the stream, but not until the
President had parted from him and fallen
into the water beside the horse. The
President wet and bruised continued the
ride. His toughness and agility doubt
less saved him from severe internal aud
external injuries.
Your correspondent has frequently
seen the President cross the stream at
this place but always on his own horse, a
powerful we'll hammered animal and a fine
jumper. A few days since in riding
through the park I came upon the Presi.
dent and P. M. General VonMeyer jump
ing hurdles. The P. M. General rode
chestnut that was fine jumper and he
took FIVE and half feet hurdles with
ease. His rider does not weigh more
than one hundred and forty pounds. The
President rode at the same hurdles but
his horse baked. The President turned
him around and rode at it again, using
his spurs as he neared it and this time
sent his big bay over it very clearly. He
called out to the P. M. General and the
French Ambassador who were looking
on "It's pretty good horse that can take
a two hundred pound man over five and
a half feet fence like that
Secretary Taft rides horse back great
deal. He has powerful dark bay or
brown horse weighing probably 400 or
1900 pounds. The Secretary probably
weighs two hundred and fifty, aud he is
employing every means to keep down his
weight. The President has set or re-
vised the fashion of riding horse back in
Washington, and is seen frequently riding
with Secretary Root and other members
of his cabinet and with Mrs Roosevelt
and his daughter, but never saw him
with Secretary Taft. The latter is per.
hsps not rough enough rider for Mr..
Roosevelt, who starts off quietly enough
for the first mile or two, but sets up a
John Gilpin pace when he gets into the
rough and narrow briddle paths of Rock
Greek park.
There are many rumors as to what the