The National tribune., 1909-03-25

HARRSG0AR co. % ss ss"s aiis A. sis.sa sa;i.
Really, the very funniest thing about
President Taft's first message to Con-
gress was the press notices. The big
| New York dailies and the Washington
dailies as well reported gravely on the
Saturday previous to the opening of the
extra session on Monday that the Pres
ident had been delayed by the many
demands upon his time, and was going
to spend most of Saturday night on
that message. One newspaper gravely
announced that in all probability the
President would have to put the finish
| ing touches on that message on Sum-
day. Oh, the situation was certainly
grave, according to the newspapers.
And then when that message came out
| it had $50 words in it! The President
having thought it all out weeks before,
could have written it in his own hand
in about 20 minutes time.
Teddy Bear will remain with US. Yes,
indeedy; he will that. He knew he
would feel lonesome off there in dark
est Africa. He'd heap rather let the
measly 'possum go on that trip, and
so he will remain in the White House
smile and weep, dance or slow-step it,
as the mood takes him. Bergman
and the little brown bear are so linked
in our minds that we can't spare either
of them. And, say, Bergman has just
as many moods, cutting out the sorry
ones, as the little brown bear; indeed,
he has. He is as cherky and as sunny,
as jolly and as optimistic as the dear
little creation of his brain. Bergman
and the bear make good team.
Secretary of the Interior Richard A.
Baliinger has purchased Roswell" the
big, raw-boned horse that carried Pres
ident Roosevelt so well. Roswell is q
splendid saddle horse, and the EXPIRES
ident hated to give him up. but as he
is going to spend the next two years
abroad he is disposing OF nearly all his
carriage and saddle horses. Mrs. Roose.
welt will spend the next year abroad
with her children, only Theodore re-
naming in this country, and her step
daughter, Mrs. Longworth, so she does
not need any horses, either. 1t is said
that Secretary Ballinger promised that
he would never dispose of Roswell to
whatever, before Mr.. Roosevelt would
sell the horse to him. Mr.. Roosevelt
was eminently humane in his treatment
of all creatures.
j
Mrs Agnes Meyer, of Selin's Grove,
Pa, was in the city attending the in
augural. Mrs. Meyer is=a member Of
the Woman's Relief Corps
Robert A. Taft, Yale, 1910, son of
President-elect Taft. it has been an
nounced, has been chosen a member
of Yale Chapter Of Phi Beta Kappa,
the honorary high scholarship society.
A relic of the old battleship Maine,
sunk in the harbor of Havana IL years
ago, recently sent the Navy Department
by Capt ]. c: Fremont, commanding
the U. S. S. Mississippi, now at Guam
tanamo, Cuba, is the union jack oe :he
vessel, which only recently came into
the possession of the naval authorities.
The jack is a blue flag with white
stars, displayed on the jackstaff at the
bow of warships from sunrise to sun
set whenever they are in port. Altho
tered in places. due probably to the
action of sea water, it is still in fairly
good condition.
The story of the recovery of the
Maine jack Is told in letter from
Lieut.. Commander w. T. Cluverius, Sc
nior engineer officer Of the battieship
Missouri, who says the jack came into
his possession during the recent visit
of the Mississippi to Havana to par
ticipate in the ceremonies attendant
on the inauguration of the second Pres
ident of Cuba.
This jack" says Commander Clu-
verius, twas the one in daily use on
the first Maine. and, as l remember,
was done up and slowed away over
night at the foot of the jackstaff ready
for Use the next day. Shortly after the
destruction of the ship it was rumored
that it had been picked up on the
water front, together with TWO marine
coats. but no trace of it at that time
could be found.
"Fhe jack was afterward obtained
by Henry Drain, then attached to the
United States Consulate under Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee, and now with the West
ern Railway of Havana. who turned 1t
over to me Jan. %, 1909, in order that
it may again be restored to the United
States Government"
One of the surest signs of speeding
the parting, welcoming the coming
guest is found in the photographers
windows. In nearly every window Mrs.
Rooseyelts picture has been replaced
by Mrs. Taft's The Roosevelt children
are no longer seen at all in the win
dows, and in the place of these you see
the Taft family in an automobile.
Brother Charles in large evidence in
this group; the Tafts in their home; in
this picture President Taft and his sons
are in business suits, the small Charley
is in "knicks." and Miss Helen Taft is
in a pretty street suit. Mrs Taft is in
an elegant evening gown. Then there
is Taft on the golf links; Taft on horse
back, and he makes a better figure on a
horse than ex-President Roosevelt; Taft
at his desk with Vice President Sher-
man, his trousers beautifully turned up
at the bottom (Tafts trousers); Taft
sitting at his desk, his trousers turned
down and exquisitely creased, both of
these pictures being taken with the
Presidents Flag for a background, but
1t is pinned up so awkwardly as to look
ludicrous; Taft in six positions at the
telephone exemplifying his twinkling
eye; Taft reading: Taft speaking which
Is something awful to contemplate, and
Taft in various other poses. A few of
these pictures are placed beside like
ones of ex-President Roosevelt, so that
it is possible to contrast them. Presi-
dent Taft is very personable man, let
it be known. While he is large of girth,
he is so tall and carries himself with so
much dignity that you forget that he
weighs about 100 more pounds than he
should for his hight.
Another rich girl is going to marry
abroad. This time it is Miss Martha
Cameron daughter Of former ITnitad