The Washington times., 1912-01-31
PRESS CLUB FETE
STARTS FASHION Or
HAVING HOBBIES
Diplomats, Scientist, Music.
ian, and Detective Boom
Fad at Club.

It's the fashion today to have a
hobby. The fellow who never possessed
one before heard this morning of that
FESTIVE occasion at the National Press
Club last evening and Immediately went
into the hobby market looking for a
To the poor uninitiated, let it be said
that last night was Hobby Night at the
home of the Washington newspa per
correspondents. Distingu shed men, rep
resentative of diplomacy, science, music
and criminoiogy, rode their nobby horses
about the clubrooms, which were Sc
packed with applauding spectators there
was barely room for the prancing steeds
to cavort.
The Secretary of state talked on in.
ternational peace; Count Won Bernstorff
German amba assador, spoke on the bond
OF sympathy between diplomats and
newspaper men; Or. 8. w. stratton ex.
plaihed our system of weights and
measures; Victor Herbert played the
cello as he had never played before, and
William j. Burns, the detective. told
how to detect.
Colonel Graves Starter.
Col. John Temple Graves, Of Georgia
gifted orator from a land where mer
grow eloquent even in saying "Howdy
do. was toastmaster. He started the
lobbyists OFF on their diverting rides
and was prepared 10 call time IL the
post wasn't reached In ten minutes
Nobody objected, however, when one
or two OF the riders struggled under the
wire little late. but to- the accompani.
ment OF wild applause.
Victor Herbert, who quit playing the
cello twelve years ago to take. up the
more lucrative work of composing ano
leading an orchestra, rode his hobby
as though he hadn't been out of prac.
tice day. Two encores were demand
ed. Mr.. Herbert, who was accompanied
on the piano by his old friend, Henry
Xander. came back" with marvellous
skill and technique, ana the cheer,
Secretary Knox. introduced by Colone
Graves, after Colonel Graves had beer
introduced by Frederic J. Haskin, pres
tration treaties. so dear to the hear
OF the present Administration. In his
plea, the Secretary said:
1T has been suggested that the trea
should contain a proviso that W,
should. In addition to agreeing to arbi
trate the differences between the par
tiesi to the treaties, likewise agree t.
arbftrate the differences with other ma
is exactly what the United States ha,
proposed to the world in the identica
note inviting the nations to join In es
tablishing permanent court OF arbi
tral Justice. and a first long step to
powerful nations to set the exampl,
by agreements between themselves sucf
as those now receiving the considera
tion Of the Senate, and such as m.
good friend the German ambassador
and myself had begun to negotiate
when halted by the unexpected objec
tions in the Senate to tho treaties al
ready negotiated, and some protests
outside the Senate; which recalls tn.
spirit that led to the burning In effigI
of John Jay because OF the arbitra
ton clause In the treaty Of Ghent.'
Count Won -Bernstorff declared ther'
was a bond of freemasonry uniting
diplomats and journalists. We diplo
to look to the press as not only thu
quickest. but, on the whole. the mos
accurate course of intelligence In al
matters Of public tnterest." Sometimes
acknowledged the German ambassador
It was necessary for diplomat to cor
rect a newspaper story, but he quail
fed this by saying that the story rea'
better II II were bit exciting.
Dr. Stratton. Of the Bureau Of Stan
dards, traced this scientific bureau o
the Government from the time the Geo
detic Survey bought a yard stick AIT