Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-11-08
FLOATING WHITE HOUSE.
President and Mrs Harding GGfHacAi
Pleasure out o. Yaehl.
Boat Was Built in1sss--ssw Service
During spanish-Ansrieaa wsr--s
Dining Room Richly Furnished 81

During Spanish American, war
Dining Room Richly Furnished 81
(From the Dearborn independently
No president or mistress Of the
White House ever has had so much
rest and pleasure out Of Weekend
yachting as the HardIngs. Scarcely
a week goes by that they do not en-
bark on the beautiful government
owned boat, the Mayfiower, known.
everywhere as "the presidents yacht,"
and cruise down the historic Poto-
mac into Chesapeake bay. visiting. here
Of there as fancy dictates. ~ fw ~
There's nothing selfish nor exclusive
about these MayHower trips Neither
the president nor Mrs. Harding are
the sort of people who like to herd by
themselves in lonesome lQofness.
Being real, genuine, wholesouled hu-
man beings, they thoroughly enjoy the
good old fashioned art of being neigh
borly and sociable as practiced In. ty-
pical small American towns where
everybody knows each other by his
first name. In this delightfuisrespect
the Hardings haven't changed the
least bit since leaving the little town
of Marion, Ohio. The elevation TO the
position Of chief executive, and Amer
ica's first lady, has. not, in the least
wise, turned the heads of Mr. and Mrs.
Harding. They never dream OF start
ing out on yachting trip without ini
viting as many friends TO be their
guests as the boat viii comfortably
accommodate.
The frequent use Of the Mayhower
during the. past spring and summer
has given 1t unusual prominence In
the press OF the country. arousing the
curiosity of the public as to the his
tory, general appearance and details
of the noted craft.
The Mayfower. originally, was the.
property of Ogden Goelet, New York
business man of great wealth. 1t was
constructed for him at CIydebark.
Scotland, In 1895. Two years later
at the breaking out Of the Spanisll-
American war, the United States gov
ernment purchased 1t from the Goelef
estate for s4so,00o. During the excit-
ing days of our little scrap with Spain.
the Mayfower. in comrnand OF Cap
tain NJ. r. 8. Mackenzie, was one OF.
the busiest -yessels conhected with the
American navy.
It was during the days Of the
Roosevelt regime that the Mayfower
was converted into pleasure yacht
for the exclusive use OF the president
of the United States.
The boat is of fair size, the water
line being 275 feet. the breadth sss
feet, and draft. II feet 4 inches. Her
water displacement Is $3.50 tons. She
makes an average speed Of 142 knots
an hour. It requires q large crew OF
officers and. men to keep the May
flower in readiness for sailing. at any
hour of the day or night. It Is al
ways spick and span In appearance.
the decks and eyerx nook and cor
ner being as clean and shiny IS q,
brides kitchen or a nurses collar.
Many present day wife ecousd get
some valuable housekeeping points
in the way of neatness and cleanliness
from the sailor methods aboard the
Mayfiower. 1t Is quite evident that
there is never any stinginess in the
use of soap, water. scrub-brushes,
brooms and elbow grease. we ~ q
The reception room is as coy and
comfortable as any to be found In a
private home. There is an abundance
of big cushiony chairs and couehes.
It is quite evident, however, that the
HardIngs and their friends have lt-,
tie patience with the jazz junk with
which the world Is so sorely anlieted.
On a little table near the piano are
half dozen hymn books and a large
volume of old fashioned songs, such
as "Silver Threads Among the Gold"
.srhe Old Oaken Bucket" Dixie"
.Swanee River" annie Laurie"
Good Bye, My Lover. Good Bye"
my Old Kentucky Home" Home
Sweet Home" Both the hymnals and
the popular song volume, look very
much the worse for wear, clearly in-
dicating that many q happy after
noon and evening have been spent In
the reception room.
Just one glance at the dinins-room
is enough to make anyone feel as
though he had been mealless for a
week or more. 1t Is, by all odds, the
most fascinating part OF the boat.
This room extends the full width OK
the yacht and is as richly furnished
as the best hotel in the land. The
smoaking room is as comfortable and
palatial as the ones to be found on
popular ocean liners. ~
Taking it all in all, the MayhoHser
makes It possible for the president to
have n floating White House that Is
virtually as comfortable in its ap-
pointment as the celebrated mansion
in Washington.
The man who is responsible ior
keeping the Mayfiower in deep water
and away from jutting rocks or shoals
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