The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-14
.BALFOUR PAYS VISIT
TOCOL. ROOSEVELT
British Commissioner Didn't
Let Anyone In On Trip.
CALL WASN'T ON PROGRAM
Celebrities Chat, Sup Informally,
and See ChOpping Block.

NEW YORK, May 14.-The Rt. Hon.
Arthur ]. Balfour. British foreign
secretary and head OF the British war
mission, went down to Oyster Bay
last night to call on his old friend,
Col. Theodore Roosevelt, ate supper
with the Roosevelt family, chatted for
two hours with the Colonel, and then
brought the day to a fitting climax
by visiting and seeing the famous
chopping block. where the Colonel
llmbers up his muscles and works of
his superhuous energy.
Mr.. Balfour's visit was a surprise
TO everybody but himself and Colonel
Roosevelt. 1t was not down on the
program, but the Colonel and Mr.. Bal
four are old friends, and at the ban
quet in the waldorf-Astoria the other
night they fxed up their little party
without anybody else knowing about
IL
Mr.. Balfour was unaccompanied on
his visit except by his parliamentary
secretary, Ian Malcolm, a member OF
Parliament from Scotland, and two
automobiles filled with Secret Service
men and detectives under command
OF NnlCl w D. Fly uIle Vi lAlG
United States Secret Service. ,.-'-
Roosevelt Meets HIN.
Mr.. Balfour reached Sycamore Hill
about 6 o'clock. and when the footing
of the automobile horns gave warning
of his approach the Colonel. bare
headed and with his face wreathed In
the Rooseveltian smile, ran out on his
broad porch and waved his hand in
greeting. Mr.. Balfour waved back,
rising in his seat in his cordial greer.
ing to the Colonel, and fairly leaped
from his car as the machine whirled
around In the driveway and stopped
In front OF the porch. The two men
shook hands and started talking
earnestly even as they walked into
the house, where Mr.. Balfour greeted
Mrs. Roosevelt and Quentin Roose.
welt, who has enlisted as q private
in the aviation corps and came over
from the training ground at Mineols
especially for the occasion.
Secret Service men and newspaper
men had just got settled comfortably
in the surrounding scenery when the
front door popped open with eharac.
teristic Roosevelt. quickness and the
Colonel and Mr.. lBalfour started forth
on a stroll through the Roosevelt
estate.
Guards Reduced one-HaIf.
The Colonel and Mr.. Balfour walked
through the woods. while the Secret
Service men continued to make them
selves comfortable, only about half aI
many following as are usually deemed
necessary for the protection of the
distinguished British visitor. with
the Colonel along. and on the ColonePl
own estate, too. II didn't seem that
Mr.. Balfour needed any other protec-
ton. Sloane
ITS whoever monkeys with them
that'u need 1.-The protection" remarked
q sagacious Secret Service, man.
The Colonel spent perhaps half ar
hour showing Mr.. Balfour about the
estate. Their walk led them past the
tennis court, where Mr.. Balfour point
ed enthusiastically and the Co1one
nodded and waved HIS expressive
hands Just as enthusiastically-bu
shook his head-and then to the chop.
ping block. famous in song and story
There they fingered. probably wlshIns
II wasn't Sunday so the Colonel could
show Mr.. Balfour how to chop log
ana so tnAt Mr. bhlAOur Coulu Try Ms
hand with the Roosevelt ak
A Plain American Meal
SUPPER plain meal as American
as the Colonel himself-was server
shortly before 7 o'clock. and II wa!
over by or q few minutes after
Then the Colonel and Mr.. Balfour re
tired to tho Coloners library ans
talked until $3.50 o'clock. when the
appeared again on the porch, wher
IF. Balfours car stood waiting in tn,
driveway.
In front of the Balfour machine wa
a big touring car with a sign on I
saving 'JJ. S. Government" and carr