The Washington herald., 1909-01-14

Just 10 show the army and navy ON
GERS that s0-mile ride is nothing for an
active man to accomplish IN three days,
the President mounted his favorite horse
at the White House yesterday morning at
so O'Clock, gaIloped across the rough
Virginia hills. AID when he greeted Mrs
Roosevelt On his return at $50 last
night he had covered exactly ninety-eight
miles
The Chief Executive, wearing coat Of
ice he received in the drizzliRg rain and
sleet, was as spick and span as when ne
started out in the morning. almost and
was in that usual good spirit that fol-
lows ali Of his lively jaunts across hill
tops and valleys, on foot as well as on
horseback
The President made a rush for dry
clothes as soon as he reached the Excel
i've Mansion, and then sat down and par
took heartily Of good, hot meal that
AaA LcEl E4EkaA%N Aoa ttA4--
That he enjoyed 1t was evident 70 all in
the dining-room, and that the day in the
saddle was Ineffective in working hard
ships on him was shown clearly by the
interested manner m which he told OF MS
accomplishments
Day Full of Interest.
..-=---.-- - rF-, -s1e v--s slid
with interest, and rot once did the Presi-
don't show evidence Of regrettiag what he
lad undertaken He gaIl0ped and walked
and trotted and led the pace for the other
members Of his party Just as ne always
does He laughed and told jokes and
listened. and Joined IN other amuse-
ments suggested by those who accom-
panied him. II was q great day for the
President and he cared not whether 3 Sc
eret Scrvicz message were helng consid-
cred BY Congress.
He forgot his duties Of state; it was q
day for an outing. and the splendid. driz-
zling rain ard sleet added materially 10
its attractiveness-
The President stole march on the
newspaper men At the White House. and
not a living one OF them knew the pur-
pose Of his absence srom the executive
Office OF course they knew he had gone
away for the day; that he had even gone
on horseback. but not suspicion was
aroused as 20 the reason for the trip
Not an intimation was heard that army
and navy officers were going 70 be put
10 shame because they could not ride
ninety miles in three days; and not one
OF them had any idea that the President.
unused 20 the strenuous exercise OF a
day with his feet in the stirrups, would
attempt 10 90 almost as far as one could
ride on the cushioned seats Of an auto
mobile.
But those familiar with things about
the White House are not scheduled TO
show surprise at what the President does
in the way OF riding and walking. and
WREN the real purpose OF the outing and
the distance covered was made known 10
the favored few last night. they simply
smiled and nodded their heads in ap-
prOvaL
Unravels His Secrets.
Then there was a scrambIing for the
details and they sat in utter astonish-
nent as the secrets were unraTeled.
They were related with the vim and VI /
vacity that mark all the stories OF the
Presidents strenuous activities Those
who heard stood back with watering
mouths" as they listened
Surgeon General P. N. Rixey. DIT. Carey
Grayson. assistant surgeon Of the navy, !
and Capt Archibald Butts, the Presi- /
dents aid. accompanied the Chief Ex-
ecutive on the Tide. They met at the 4
White House shortly after a. n while I
unsuspecting Secret Service men were I
dreaming that everything was all right 1
That Admiral Rixey. who is fifty-six 4
years old, six years the senior Of the
President. and Dr. Grayson and Capt. /
Butts. yet in their forties. enjoyed the 4
company Of the President was not doubt
ed by any one Of them for minute. but 4
they were not so certain about the de-
HghtfuI features Of the ride Where duty
calls the dutiful 90, they al agreed. but 4
II vas not entirely with the same amount /
OF pleasure as their leader.
The party rode out Pennsylvania avenue 4
and across the Acqgeduct bridge. not even
attracting the attention OF arousing the /
suspicion Of q party Of newspaper men /
standing on the corner as they passed
They thought simply that il was q party /
OF uufCrtunates. travelling in the dreary. /
cold night TO reach their destination by 4
morning To them II never occurred that /
the President was running the gantIet 4
against the big men Of the army and 4
navy; 20 them the President appeared /
Just as any other good horseman would /
Ride In -Four Relays.
The ride was made in four relays The /
President rode his favorite saddler. Ros-
well, on the first lap out and The last on 1
the return trip He has confidence in
Roswell. and arranged the ride this way
so that he could have him coming over
the toughest part OF the road. which he
knew would be al night On another re-
lay he rode another OF his favorite sad
dlers. George. and on the other two laps
he rode cavalry horses The other MEM
bers CT the party rode cavalry horses the
entire distance
The first stop was made at Fairfax, and
the President loafed around n the ugly
but delightful weather and rested for an
hour Other members Of the party sat
quietly and felt z little sore and stir
from the first few miles. but none Of that
kind Of business was on the programme