Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-18
TAFT ON HORSEBACK
AT MOVING PICTURE SHOW
FOR NICKEL A LOOK.

NEW YORK. April 1s.-Everybody who
knows anything about Washington
knows that Secretary Taft on horseback
Is one of the sights OF the capital But It
isn't sight that is very easy to see. To
get a really good view Of this phenome-
non you have got TO rise very cary in
road and make noise like a presidential
nomination. But they do say IL is worth
all the trouble
The Secretary has horse that is the
boastful possessor of a 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
Its back is like the back of behemoth
1T weighs pretty nearly ton. II has feet
like elephants cars. II has amazing dig
nifty. 1t seems to know that it may be
carrying the fate of the nation. II pro-
ceeds as if it were conscious of the
weight of my policies that it bears.
A Nickel a Peep.
Anybody who desires may verify these
statements for himself by dropping into
one of these moving picture shows that
are pushing vaudeville so hard these
days up in 18th street. The Taft rides
are secret no longer. The films got TO
town yesterday and every half hour from
10 O'Clock on you could by the payment
of cents. one nickel. the twuntiet' part
Of a dollar. see the Secretary of War.
Peace. Brownsville. Rebates and My Pol
icies galloping madly over the. Virginia
pike at the rate of at least four maes
an hour.
The gentleman who takes tickets at the
door of one of these moving picture par
lors assured visitors that no political sig
nificance attached to the exhibit. and IL
certainly Is perfectly true that after wit
the Secretary of War is in favor of tariff
revision or not You can't even tell
whether he favors reciprocity with Swift
erland. The only thing you're sure OF is
that you're sorry for that horse.
First View of the Start.
The moving scene opens with a view OF
the pOrtico of the Army and Navy build
ing. Maj. Gen. ]. Franklin Bell. chief of
the general staff Of the army, is apparent
ly telling the Secretary OF War that he
will be nominated on the first ballot.
The Secretary has wistful look. Any
how the subject OF conversation is evil
IDENTIFY something Of Tery confidential
nature, because at the end OF IL the Sec
rotary of War removes his hat. turns his
back on Gen. Bell, turns on the smile
that won the heart Of the mikado and the
car and makes a low bow.
Some weeks ago dispatch FROM Wash
inStOn told how the artful Bell had put
n
War He had decoyed him out on horse
back in the interests OF the moving pic
ture men. had posed him all unsuspecting
where he could be southernly exposed and
had then killed time foolng with his
own saddle Sirth while a moving picture
man. disguised the third stone from
the top in a neighboring wall, had eXer-
cised mis- deviish art
Sure enough. it's all there in the moving
pictures. The girth-tightening stunt comes
off Soi NJ ten
really be said that Gen. Bell appears like
the guilty wretch he must have felt. He
looks Oh the contrary, il lie were u"-
ing nothing to disgrace the uniform OF
an American soldier.
Taft Quite at Ease.
Mr. Taft, too appears quite at his ease
All OF Gen. Bells aids look quite COM
Portable. too. The only FESTIVE member
of the party IL Secretary Tafts horse.
He looks as If he didn't really enjoy en-
PERTAINING SO large a party.
Next we come to Fort Niger three miles
away, having made the run I'm about one
sixteenth Of a second. Here We see the
Secretary regarding his mount commiser-
atingly and reviewing the I'd Squadron OF
the 18th Cavalry and two batteries OF the
I'd Field Artillery. We al.o sec Mrs.
Taft and Mr.. ana Mrs. Charles +. TAFT.
We also see that practical joker. Gen.
Bell. and in all proba ty We could see
his machiavellian smile If il weren't for
the headache effect with which all NOV
ing 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
oculists. And SO once more We pass out
into the street. and If we don't We get
a hearty invitation to do so, and no gent
will spit on the floor.