The Washington times., 1914-02-08
MAKES MANY ENTREATIES.

of the navy shortly after Christmas.
For a few wretched days. however,
il seemed that there would be no we'd
ding. a week or so before the date for
the ceremony Mr.. Simpson was ordered
thousands of miles away. And. more
over, by way of increasing the terrible
suspense, there was no prospect OF him
returning to Washington for at least a
year.
Poor Mr.. Simpson! Unhappy Miss
Smith! The situation apparently was
hopeless. In no way. by suggestion, by
proxy or by letter could the bridegroom
to-be ask the Secretary Of the Navy to
interfere in his case. II is against the
rules of the department for either an
officer or an enlisted man to question
out loud, of course-the workings of the
navy.
The slightest hope expressed by the
unfortunate fiance would prejudice his
case beyond anyone's help; In such an
emergency what can be done so that
the wedding bells may ring at the ap-
pointed time?
Ordered Home From Coast.
To one with an appreciation Of dra-
matte situation and a knowledge Of the
old, old proverb that all the world
loves a lover" particularly IL the gender
be feminine. there is just one solution
to the difficulty. And IT is this solu-
ton that places the Secretary of the
Navy in such a trying position.
The bride-to-be herself. no one but the
fair young bride, gowned in the smart
est costume of her trousseau and
wrapped in a halo of sorrowing love.
must so to the stern Secretary and
plead for the return Of her Douglas,
fond and true"
1T just happened l was able to aid
in the realization of loves young dream.
There was a vacancy on the May
flower" said Mr.. Daniels. This made
il possible for me to order the sched-
uled bridegroom from the Pacific feet
and return him to Washington on the
Mayfower.
But no matter how deeply 1 may
sympathiZe with the unhappy lovers in
the case. | can't break the rules of the
department. Whenever a transfer is
! possible without. of course, interfering
| in the slightest with the workings of
the navy. can bring back the wan
And what is your rewardg' he was
asked.
My reward?'' he repeated EmilingIy.
To kiss the bride. of course. II is al
| ways permissible to kiss the bride in
the presence of the bridegroom, Is II
| not?''
! Skipping from love to hobbies the
J Secretary said: The enlisted men are
nv hobbies. They are my boys and
| am delighted with the schooling they
| get on board the cruisers and battle
ships.
Enlisted Man Is Splendid
THE enlisted man of today is a splen-
! did fellow, a well-bred chap with an ad-
venturous spirit and who longs to see
the world He isn't a down-and-out
! chap without another resource in the
world. by any means"
Secretary Daniels is just as ready to
play Cupid with his enlisted men as
with his officers, however. when the
| exegencies of the service permit
81 like my job" remarked the Secre-
tary to a caller recently when he had
, finished telling about his experiences as
best man at a number Of navy wed
dings which wouldn't ever have hap
pened IL he hadn't inteTVened. He sat
| back comfortably in his big office chair
surveying his environments.
| Never was there a more sumPtuouS
floor, exupIsitely inlaid in diamond and
rectangular designs, was overspreaG
with Persian rugs. Leather chairs, more
than a dozen of the big. fat, comfort
able kind, settee or two. handsome
portraits and photographs of men prom
inent in the navy, all these made the
ICom seem more like a living room thar
! an office.
ut seems trite to say it," he con
tinued. but meet so many interesting
fellc-~ men who have been all ovel
the world. round and hack again: meT
who have seen life. who have actually
lived and who know what LIE means
For instance, chap in the navy wa:
in here this morning to see me. w,
were discussing some other matters anc
wondering about certain date.
Says His Men Are Not Snobbish.
Let Inc see.' mused my friend
When did that happen? Why. I know
II was when l was in China at tn
time Of the Boxer uprising.
Now. that officer did not speak of hi
presence in China at such critical tim
as a matter for boasting: Being Il
China and having all the thousand ex