The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-08-27

brothers palatial residence. Thus
there was no obstacle to a free seleo-
ton of a summer campaign headquar-
ters for the season OF 1908.
Judge Taft confessed after his no
mination that he had lingering long
ing for his Old love, Murray Bay, but
it was realized that che resort mem
toned was too isolated to permit of
convenient pilgrimages by the party
leaders with whom the nominee must
confer during the summer, and then,
too, it might not be quite the thing
for an aspirant for the American pre-
sidency to be spending so much of his
time in Canada. Thus after due de-
liberation Judge Taft decided that he
would establish his summer campaign
headquarters in the Virginia noun
tains, at point nearly midway be-
tween the cities of the East and the
Middle West.
The spot chosen, Hot Springs, in
Bath county, Virginia, has served
Candidate Taft admirably as a rest
ing place in which to make ready for
the coming fray. 1t has been possible
for prominent party workers to find
their way to Judge Tafts retreat with
no undue hardship and at the same
time the fact that this nook in the
mountains is, reached by only one rail-
road has prevented any influx of one
day excursionists with a perpetual de-
mand for speeches from the candi
date. Finally, and best of all in the
estimation of Judge Taft, is the Cir
cumstance that the altitude of $500
feet provides a tonic air that stimu-
lates the candidates energy and gives
genuine zest to the games of golf up
on which he depends to make him fit
physically.
In speaking of his plans Judge Taft
recently remarked : Il expect to play
golf a good deal during the next few
weeks. 1 am fond of the sport, and it
always puts me in excellent condition.
Within two weeks of taking up his
residence in the country Judge raft
had trained down" some eight or nine
pounds, and he is confident that ere
autumn tints appear in the leaves his
weight will be well down toward the
200-pound point. The mountain golf
cource over which Judge Taft takes
daily trips, usually accompanied by
some prominent politician, is one of
eighteen holes, and in tribute to it
the candidate recently remarked,
There are hills in that course that
make man pull very strong in order
to travel them"
Judge Taft is frequently accompan-
led on his daily horseback rides Dy
his youngest son Charles-a manly 10
year-old, who is bound to become a
prime favorite with the American peo-
pie if his father should be given a
lease Of the White House. Charlie has
a handsome pony, named Major-a
strawberry roam, 1914 hands high
presented by his aunt, Mrs. C. P. Taft,
of Cincinnati, and which is so recent
an acquisition that it still possesses
biiS NlAeli III VI lONNlNgs NeliAAihdNN lat
is ever urging his wife to become a
member of these horseback parties,
but Mrs. Taft, although she rode
horseback considerably when the fam
lily was in the Philippines, has rather
lost interest in the pastime since her
return. The only daughter, Helen,
rides occasionally. 1t may been noted,
incidentally, that Judge Taft is an ad-
vocate Of the cross seat for women
who ride horseback.
Judge Taft has never been famous
as a long-distance pedestrian, and he
does not make many excursions afoot
in the Virginia Mountains. where the
roads present many sharp inclines. The
candidate was induced TO play base
ball one day recently. but was igno-
mlniously put out" by his agile sou,