The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-07
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Rr me sPEcTAToR-

WASHING OIN OE1R1.
BY THE SPECTATOR.
It IS just as sensible" said naval
officer the other day who had been hikins
through the country preparing for his
physical test. TO determine the fitness
OF sailor man for active duty by
long horseback ride or a cross-country
walk as It would be to determine the TT
ness OF bank clerk by putting him on a
man-of-war and expecting him to go
through the drills which are required Of
the enlisted men. Henry Fielding wisely
wrote that an human flesh Is not the
same flesh, but there is one kind OF flesh
or landsmen and another Of seamen; and
70 suppose that nan who has been con
hned TO a vessel for the greater part OF
his life is capable OF the same athletic
accomplishments as a cayalryman or n
iehtryman. for instance Is manifesIly
absurd. Chaucer gives a true portrayal
OF the shipmen' in his Canterbury Tales
ana he is acknowledged to be a good
lelaWe. Yet the company OF pilgrims
whom he joins poke fun az his aWkard-
ness on horseback; and what is true in
Chaucer's day IS true to-day. To be a
good hOrseman one must keep cOntinu-
ally az IT. Sea legs are a misft on
horses back. and II is as amusing 10 see
a gallant naval officer cavOrting around
on an Unruly steed as IL is 10 see 4 land
luo0er climb up a ships ladder in a
storm. And 10 what purpose? Why
should an experienced naval Officer be
lost 70 the service because he can't take
a fence and comes a crOpPer az the FIRST
difehg II these tests. which are ~ for
opera boufe only. are persisted in. the
American navy will be Impoverished. for
they VIII remove some Of the best men
the most efficient officers. from the serv-
ice. Take the late Admiral Converse.
for instance. There was a no more capa-
bic officer. q no more valuable man in HE
line on the whole roster OF the navy. and
yet in the last twenty years he would
have rCen unequal 20 the physical tests
tfat are now imposed. II there must be
such a test, let il be In a mans own
line. for IL IS asking too much OF a
dog an old sea dog especially. 10 learn
new tricks
The position Of naval aid 20 the Priest
cent is By no means an easy billet, al
though. OF course. IL Is a position 10
which is attached much honor and dis
tinction. but the holder OF il must keep
himself in a state Of discipline that
should bring TO mind his life at the
Academy. lie IS always on dress. parade.
must be perennlally good natured. polite.
suave. diplomatic. must keep the social
wheels OF the White House well oiled
and see that there IS no friction. He
must have the manners OF a Chesterfield.
the sagacity OF a Machiaven. and must
be Man Friday 10 the President and
the Presidents family. What is true
OF the naval aids Is true OF the other
aids. There are compensations. OF
course. rich compensations. for the sac
rihces these positions entail. for those
who are placed in this intimate relation
20 the President are sure 70 become his
warm personal friends. and they benefit
through that friendship the rest Of their
lives. The naval aid, when he re-
linquishes his position az the White
House. is sure 10 come into an easy
berth. as Is evidenced by the case OF
Commander " s Simms. whom Mr.. Pal
mer succeeds. Lieut.. Palmer. by the way.
was popular with HE class az the Naval
ACADEMY and a man who is popular IN
that little world is apt % continue a pop
ular member CT the service when he quits
IT, Ar. Palmer IS a handsome fellow,
with a fine carriage and address. and
his stalwart figure in fun Uniform viii
add % the brilIlancy % the social func-
tious az the White House, which under
Mrs Tafrs management. promise 10 be
more brilliant than those OF any previous
administration
Washington has become the Mecca OF
portrait painters because OF the number
OF noted people gathered here whom they
can secure as subjects. The last season
there were a number OF foreign artists
- town. among them Ernest Moore. OF
England VINO established a studio in
Connecticut avenue early in the season
and has been busy with his brush ever
since his arrival The most ambitious
work he has done. perhaps. IS the por-
trait Of the British Ambassador An
other painter who makes Washington his
headquarters is Mr. Barry. a Canadian
artist, VINO has made a number Of por-
traits, among them an acceptable one OF
Mrs. Newberry. The latest arrival In this
colony is Francois Flameng. the French
painter. who has come over 10 iii sew
eral orders, and who is just ROW painting
AIathilde Townsend Artists compIssn %
the lack OF atmosphere IN Washington
but there is evidently an Improvement in
that regard, for the artist colony az the
Capital has grown apace IN the last few
years IL Is however. unfortunately
transient and its members come and go.
there not being sufficient work or inspira-
ton 70 keep them constantly busy at their
easels-
A notaSi> ~~tist who Is expected IN
town next week is Arthur w Dow, or
New York and Ipswich. in which quaint
old town he was born. Mr. Dow Is a
pupil Of BoulaRger and Fefebyre. and
caught the charm OF both OF those art
lists. but he has devoted the greater part
Of lis Hfe TO teaching rather than paint
ms. He was for awhile instructor IN
fine arts at the Pratt Institute. In Brook
lyn. and now holds the same chair IN the
Teachers College, Columbia University.
New York. and Is the director OF the
Ipswich Summer College for Artists. Mr..
DOw's studies OF the scenery along the
Ipswich River are especially charming.
and contain a sentiment peculiar 20 the
artist. who as a lad. explored every foot
Of the banks OF that picturesque stream.
The recall OF Baron ROsen has been
postponed. after all. for 1t is given out
that he and Baroness Rosen and their
daughter. Elizabeth Rosen. viii pass the
summer at Newport. where they purpose
the latter into American so
ciety. The Baroness Elizabeth was quite
old enough to make her debut when her
mother took her abroad two seasons ago,
but It is obligatory at foreign courts that
the young women OF the nobility shall
be presented at their own capital before
they are presented in a foreign country:
hence the wife OF the Ambassador took
her daughter 10 st. Petersburg for that
formal ceremony.
Il.