Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-26
EQuestrianism is Now The
Washington Fad.
National Chairman Hin Calls an
President Taft,
Many School Parties From Maine
Now In the City.

VA 'le symptoms or the new adminiS-
tratlon Something like it has
happened at intervals for a number of
years There was a burst of it soon
after President Roosevelt came into
the White House. For after all tire
President sets the fashion in MANY
things, just as surely as King Edward
sets the fashion for ones trousers and
cravats and for other articles of manlv
attire.
Men who want to be in the swim. as
1t were, do the things that the Presi-
dent is doing-as far as they can. This
applies to the particular class of men
VINO come in contact with the official
circle. Mr.. Roosevelt rode horseback
great deal. but it was not his only
diversion. The tennis court called him
many an afternoon when otherwise he
would have been cantering in the
ountry-Maryland or Virginia But
President Roosevelt became de trop
to many ofsthe well to do Washington
folk and the figure Of the first citizen
commonplace. Now. however, there is
another figure of the first citizen. The
papers are full of paragraphs about his
which he carries his 300 pound rider
There are stories about how he rides
and with whom he rides The fire.
quenters of the White House offices
see General Clarence Edwards and
Capt. Archie" Butt. of the Army,
stolling over that way nearly every
afternoon, in their full riding toys.
Orderlies are waiting down at the
South gate with three or four good
horses. saddled and briddled. The
officers disappear inside the building,
go out through private passages, &C
companying the President. Occasion
ally one of the new cabinet officers, or
some other new official is included in
the riding party 1t all interests the
world of Washington.
And accordingly the interest in
equestrianism has been revived. All
the new officials of any degree are
getting accustomed to horses, learning
to talk horse. familarizing themselves
with the bride paths in Rock Creek
park, and all that sort of thing. OF
course, the summum bonum is IN
invitation to ride with the President
some afternoon. But it is pleasant
even to be seen by the President, when
one is out capering on the back of a
fine horse.
With officialdom making riding a
hobby of the hour. there are scores and
scores of others who take up horseback
riding. The livery stables note the
change. The demand FOR saddle
horses is something tremendous.
There is a job almost every afternoon
n hnf iS
broken to the saddle. The Willie boys
are riding in fact have discovered that
thew are tremendously fond Of that
form of outdoor exercise The tallors
are rushed with orders for stylish RID
ing suits. Idle negroes, who make a
living at odd jobs, hang around the
doors of the fashionable clubs, to hold
the horses late in the afternoon, whlle
the riders go inside and mlngle Win
their friends and acquaintance, Tor IL
is quite the thing, especially OF sun
dav afternoon to show ones self at
ones club in riding gear and to tarry
to sip a high ball or two.
Strangely enough this very whole
some and healthy form of outdoor
exercises seems to be attended WIN
neri,s in Washington. The casualty
lief has been something to take note OF,
asneciallv i'm wild and picturesque
Rock creek Park. which the fashion
,h1e riders frequent. Two or three
>..rs ago Theodore Roosevelt had a
tarr;hJe fall while riding in the Patk
and subsequently his horse fell on the
sIipperv bank of Rock Creek. In pot'l
instances the President escaped .!
GOOD luck. Some three or four moh'lis
ago a gray haired resident OF WASH
;no+o, who affects equestrianisn,
found himself astride a crazy morse
on one of the bride paths. ms
charger bolted up an unfrequentea
way where there We're low hahsllis
bourhs. which swept the rider OIL MS
arm was broken in half dozen places
and he is only getting out OF doors
again.
Nav, the latest casualty is that OF
! ;o,+ Ser,mem Read. the president
a;ao who was thrown from ms morse
=, poclx creek Park and is now at the
a;nt of death from his injuries. IN
Ri. case as in that of other accloeii-a
- riders in and around Washington,
:. h.nnens that the experienced
.trians are the ones who get hurt'
Whether, as the spIns o .. 10
| come. and President Tart taxes ~ co,
there will be great reviVai ol eo'nl.s
in Washington is yet TO U. ST
president Roosevelt's activity d. 'e i.I',
never did stimulate tennis espeo,snS
in Washington OF course ' haI,s
Washington men play tennis anu 4 .,a
been doing so for years. because 80; az.
enioy the game and regard II az az DIT Do,
eyercise AS much Is true OF soii nu,
neither of those out door sa'',e 70, aio on :
the same opportunities Tor oen ;nsa, ",
view or for meeting up occas .,,at i
with the President himseii anu ent' -
a consideration not to oe ,os' 70 whom
# counts with lot OF people TO ""o''
r. IS important to say: o,, p,ru
wei, was out in ROCK Ci.eN horse
| this afternoon on my ia ~ president