The Washington herald., 1916-06-08
SEEN AND HEARD
BY GEORGE MINER

have signed to take this course of personal
preparedness They are men of every kind and
condition, every class and clique rich and poor,
laristocrats and pebeans hghbrows and fat
heads, Republicans and Democrats. The drill
master will level them all to grade and
!!'hen they may work themselves up, if they
That's what happened last year. and it
brought about some laughable incidents. Among
the rockies dressed in privste's uniform, was
Robert J. Bacon. one time member of the firm
iof J. P. Morgan & Co., time Secretary Of
State for the United States, and one time Amer
ican Ambassador to France
1t was the first day OF camp. A recruit was
dragging in his camp chest and found it job
for a man. He spied Mr.. Bacon walking along
the company street, and, without the slightest
idea of his identity and seeing in him only an
other private soldier who appeared to have
nothing to do and quite lot of muscle to do
1t with, he hailed him.
Say" he said, you look like husky cuss.
Gimme hand with this chest, will you?"
Certainly" answered Mr.. Bacon, and picked
Iup the other end of .hc load When they put
it down the assisted was grateful.
You're all right" said he and slapped Mr..
Bacon on the back and gave him a cigarette.
One OF his tent mates looked on in horror,
and when Mr.. Bacon had faded away explained
that the man who had helped carry the trunk
was no other than former Ambassador and
Secretary of State. The others eyes opened
and his knees shook at this information
"Wen," he answered in Justification 81 don't
care if he is, he's blamed good fellow, any
way"
| understand that is the democratic spirit
that actuaes Plattsburg and exactly the spirit
that the promoters of the camp wish to en-
courage.
The colleges have contributed remarkably
large number to these military training camps.
More than one-hfth Of the total enrolment
comes from Yale, Harvard. and Princeton
Harvard leads the list, having contributed more
than a thousand to the camp. You see
Gen. Wood is Harvard man, and it has been
"a matter OF pride with him to see to it that his
alma mater came to the front IN fine shape
Gen. Wood is the kind of man you would
not recognize from his photographs. He is not
at all the typical soldier, although he is sturdy
and strong. There is nothing dashing or devil
Imay-care about him. any more than there is
about Col. Roosevelt, who also looks like any,
thing but soldier. So far as martial appear
Iance goes, they very similar
Gen. Wood has a very large head set on
thick shoulders which. however are very sloping,
and his neck is the biggest one | ever saw on
IA man who was not abnormal He is the
ioriglnal bull neck" if not the original bull
moose. This neck Of his is so thick he can't
wear an ordinary collar and has to have them
made specially. They are queer-looking things,
very narrow and very far apart at the opening.
He has to them with evening dress too.
las It is out OF the question for him to ATTEMPT
to wear a standing collar
When making a speech he has a very un-
isoidlerlike habit of sticking both hands in his
pockets and keeping them there the whole time
HE never makes a gesture, never suits the
action to the word. Instead of becoming mo-
inotonous and annoying, this habit is really very
impressive He carries It out in his whole man
ner in making speech by looking straight in
front and never moving his head from one side
ITO the other or rolling his eyes Also he keeps
his voice steady and strong and with hardly
Iany noticeable infection.
In other words, he violates all the customs
and rules and methods of oratory. He never
Ideclalms and he never laughs, is never tragic
iand never comic. He is always serious and ear
jnest. Occasionally he tells funny story but
lhe never smiles when he is doing it and in tell
ling 1t he uses serious tone of voice as
would a supreme court Judge in speaking from
the bench.
All this makes whatever he says seem very
important. He gives one the impression OF
overwhelming strength.
If there is thing he fights shy Of more
than another it is being quoted in the news
papers. He wasn't always like this and the re-
porters got many good interview out of him,
until about year ago when the War Depart
ment at Washington sat him pretty severely
for talking for publication Since then he has
shut up like clam, and nowadays he never
makes speech without the distinct under
standing that part of it is for publication.
| This is too bad, for he makes lot of good
speeches that the public never gets the benefit
Of Also he is not afraid to tell inside facts
about the condition of Our army that | imagine
would be very embarrassing to the War Depart
ment II they became public property That is,
OF course, exactly why the department put the
muzzle on him.
incidentally | may mention that Gen Wood
uses the broadest "a" that there is in stock
anywhere in the Hub and has the most Bos-
ltonesque accent to be found anywhere west of
Beacon street English people might be said
ito talk through their noses in comparison TO