The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-10-07


smoothing them out, and refuses TO
become upset or worn out.
The secret of President Taft's
boundless reserve of power and
strength when travelling lies in his
ability to catch forty winks" when
ever the occasion presents itself Be-
tween stations the President can drop
down into a big easy chair, put poll
tics or affairs of state out of mind,
and lapse into quiet sleep for ten or
fifteen minutes. He awakes with
mind cleared and bodily strength re-
newed, and is able to keep up a pro-
gram of speech-making and continu-
Gus touring that has been equaled by
no other President.
The presidential special that rolled
out of Beverly two days ago, and is
now carrying the President on a tour
that will cover twenty-four states, is
a busy little world in itself. The
President lives in the private car
Ideal, a Pullman set aside for his use
by the Pullman company and fitted up
according to the Presidents tastes
and preferences. At the end is an
observation room and platform. The
little room serves both as a sitting
room and dining room for the Presi-
dent and his immediate staff, which
includes usually only Secretary Hilles
and Major Butt, the military aid, and
a physician who watches the Presi-
dents health and cares for his
throat
Adjoining this sitting room, in
which he often entertains visitors
along his line of travel is his own
compartment. The President enjoys
the luxury of brass bed, which adds
not a little to the comfort and repose
of travel. A table and some chairs
complete the furnishings of the room.
Here the President dictates most of
his letters, revises and dictates his
speeches and transacts much of the
state business that follows the spe
cial train into every nook and corner
of the United States.
The Grew" of the special car Idea
is small. The car will accommodate
about eight persons, and the immedi
ate staff with the President consist:
of Private Secretary Charles D. Hilles
Major Archibald w. Butt, military
aid; w. w. Mischler, confidential
clerk; Charles Wagner, private stem
ographer and James Sloan and Rich
ard Jervis, secret service men.
The President has a chef and
steward, furnished by the Pullman
Company, and two walters to serv,
the meals in the private car. TIL,
cook and the steward are especial,
selected for the President and havr
travelled many miles with him. TIL,
President is a hearty but careful eat
er, and his food is carefully chosel
and prepared in a severely plain an,
home cooked" manner.
Next to the Presidents compart
ment is that of Secretary Hilles, VIII,
likewise revels in the luxury of
brass bed. Major Butt has an ad
joining double compartment and tn,
next one is occupied by the secre
service men, the faithful shadows o
the President, who see that the ar
rangements at each stop are carried
out so that he is not harassed or il
danger of accident.
The private car Ideal is but par
of the presidential special. The trai1
this year consists of four cars, be
sides diner, one more than was car
ried on the last tour of the country in
1909 There are two other compart
ment cars, for the newspaper men
the Presidents assistant secretaries
and others who may join the party
for part or all of the trip; and bag
gage car in which all members of the