The Washington herald., 1909-02-26
AT THE HOTELS.

appropriation % carry on the study oL.
serostatics and the building Of airshipz"
said Lewis Nixon. OF New York. az the
New Willard last night 8ir Nixon Is
well known in political life IN the metrop-
Oils. as well as an authority on the con-
structiGu Of modern men-of-war.
There is a great future for the air
ship and each nation IS making efforts 70
get ahead OF the other in the matter OF
producing the best and most effective
aircraft It Is really 70 be depiored.
cantinued Mr.. Nixon. that the Congress
did not make the appropriation which
was asked for by the War Department
for the purpose OF carrying on expert
ments and Investigations
Mr.. Nixon said he believed in a strong
navy for the United States and a power
fuI feet for the Pacific. as well as for
the Atlantic The question OF a strong
feet for the Pacific is nothing new with
me. I wrote an article for one Of the
magazines over ten years ago advocating
an effective feet for the Pacific" he said
Referring 70 the Pacific feet. I made
no mention Of the japanese question, but
present events are the best evidence %
the seunjness OF my argument It is my
opinion that a great mistake was made
by our authorities in intervening in the
Russo-Japanese war. This is plainly 70
be seen IN the present tendency OF Japan
70 absorb Korea and Manchuria and cap
ture the trade and commerce Of China
Yes. Of course, I believe IN Dread
noughts, but this idea of fighting ma
chimes Is nothing new 10 the United States.
Even as far back as tire war Of 1872 the
49,
heavier and more powerful than that OF
the English vessels. The battery Of the
Indiana, which I designed, was more
powerful than that Of the same class OF
ships in the English navy American
ships have always been known for their
superior batteries"
Robert ManteII. the well-known actor.
was seen al the Raleigh last night, and
said that il Is a great mistake 70 think
that the actor does not take any interest
or part in active politics
If you were 10 drop in az the Lambs
Club at any time during the progress OF
a political campaign. YOU would soon
realize that the average actor takes
deep interest in the political affairs OF
the country. The reason why We DO not
vote is simply because that we may be
AT the most out-of-the-way places when
election day comes around"
There IS a peculiar fascination in firing
a revolver. said Capt Thomas A Berry.
OF Kansas City. al the Ebbitt last night.
Capt. Berry is a former army officer.
hut is now a lawyer. and is here on bust
ness before the departments
a gun IS well enough in its way" con
tinued Capt. Berry. and even the mill
tary rife IS good, but the revolver is the
weapon Of romance, and there IS nothing
Ike the feeling OF confidence that comes
over the man who knows he can hit what
he fires Al For this reason Il is q matter
Of wonder that the enjoyment OF the sport
IS not more general
"One reason may be the fact that the
range Of a pocket weapon is limited. and
that many Of these revolvers are pretty
nearly worthless as target weapons But
with a IS or a - caliber OF the best
model some marvellous scores have been
made at the various ranges throughout
the country.
Military rev0lvers with perfect an
munition viii shoot accurately I'd 20 900
yards although target shooting IS SCI
dom St a greater range than seventy-fvs
yards. With this class Of weapon one
may shoot into a two-inch circle az.
twenty yards and into e four-inch circle
al fifty yards.
The best pocket revolvers are capable
OF doing good work Up 20 twenty yards.
and viii shoot into a three-inch circle.
Because Of the shorter barrel. small size.
and necessarily heavy load for defensive
purposes, this class Of weapon Is more
difficult to shoot close groups at target
Speaking OF Presidential courtesy. sam
uel @. Rawcliffe. Of Saginaw. Mich. who
is al the Ebbitt. said last night that It.
was President Polk who first had the
/ courage 10 disregard the political pas
sions Of the times by inviting Henry
! Clay. who had been his competitor, 10
dine with him and Mrs Polk al tns
White House
1t was near the close OF the Polk ad-
ministrati0n he SAID during which
Clay had been a Senator most Of the
time, and remember how It shocked the
Democratic sentiment OF the time when
IL was announced that Clay had dined
with President Polk, not on q state oc-
casiOn, but had been welcomed at the
family dinner as a friend. Clay was the
! soul Of ChivalTy. and Polk was a man OF
Unblemished character and high attain
ments and his example OF courtesy 10
Clay has never since been broken
When Cleveland was defeated by Hsr-
rison, in 1855" continued Mr.. RswelifFe.
he wrote a very kind letter 20 his sue
cesSfUI competitor, inviting him &c give
his views as 10 al the details OF the in
aUgurati0n, and TO be the guest Of the
As hite House as long before the inaugu-
ration as he could find convenient When.
in turn. Cleveland defeated Harrison the
same courtesy was exhibited. and no re-
tiring President could to-day exhibit
any measure Of discOurtesy 10 his sue
cess0r without largely forfeiting p595l:a
respect.
When Garfield was inauEursted, IN
1881. Gen Hancock who had beer his
competitor and received within 10oo0 the
number Of votes that were given 10 Gar
field in the entire country, commanded
the military escort Of Garfield 10 the
Capitol for Inauguration"
Discussing the sailor and his uniform.
Benjamin V. Coburn, Of Wilmington, Del.
who is at the Raleigh, said last night
that all are familiar with the American
bluejacket's suit. but he wanted 70 know
whether anybody had ever stopped 10
consider how he came by It and what
the origin Of il is.
With the exception OF the ~ itself,-
said AIr. Coburn. who spent many years
in the navy Of Uncle sam when in his
younger years. and the stars in the cor
ner OF the collar. the whole suit Is copied
from the English One would have
thought that by this time the American
nation would have fallen upon some
original costume for its navy IN some way
more representative Of America.
In the earlE dars OF tha Erit-sh ra-v