Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-14
The HQskin Letter 81 t : asssz
THE YACHT OF THE PRESIDENTS.

Washington, D. c., Sept. 1.-THE
presidents yacht is one OF the most
attractive of his possessions, yet very
little has been written about it. The
presidents pets, his hobbies, his daily
program, his home and taste IN dress
are familiar topics to the people of ta@
United States. The Mayflower is
known simply as the presidential yacht,
though because of it's history and its
association with four presidents, it is
one of the most interesting ships in
the navy.
The U. s. S. Mayflower is a yacht of
which any ~potentate of Europe might
be proud. Although it is a quarter of
a century old it is still known as one
of the largest yachts afloat. and while
it is no longer a strictly modern vessel
of its type. its beautiful furnishings
and appointments and its picked crew
make it a comfortable little palace.
The Mayflower is not e~xtravagantly
fitted with antique furniture and art
treasures. It's attractiveness is in its
simplicity. From the shining decks
with their polished brass to. the music
room fitted out in %cretonne and cool
green, the yacht is a model pleasure
boat.
/ The ships rooms are mainly done
in blue and green now-Mrs. Harding's
selections. In December, just after
Mr.. Harding's election, the Mayflower
caught fire and was seriously damaged.
Mr.. Wilson was. not using the yacht
and. as it is called for very little during
the winter anyway, the question of re-
decorating the rooms was left to he
incoming president and his wife.
Mrs. Harding planned a new color
scheme for the ship. Before, rose had
been the favored color for the bed
rooms and salons. Mrs. Harding had
the bedrooms done in a soft shade of
blue. With blue silk covers on the
polished wood of the beds, and with
pink roses on the chests and dressing
tables, the staterooms of the yacht are
one of the most generally admired fea-
lures of the ship when it is shown to
guests.
The music room chairs and sofas are
covered with effective cretonne in black
with a pattern of marine animals and
plants in bright colors. The prevail
ing color here and in the white-paneled
dining room is green.
Marble Baths Aboard Ship
The baths of the Mayflower are of
solid marble, very luxurious in appear
~AiNN "a "NNV4uiLS " IN III Al
trifle chilly. There is a story that one
of the Roosevelt boys once brought his
pet alligator aboard the Mayflower on
a family cruise, and deposited it in one
of these marble tubs. BY accident. the
water run into the tub was too hot
even for a tropical reptile, and the
alligator was discovered later in a par
boiled condition, to the great sorrow
of the boys.
Fireplaces in which wood or coal may
be burned are an unusual feature boast
ed by the presidential yacht.
1t is a roomy. comfortable ship, with
cosy corners where tate-a-tates of i'm
| portance to the nations destiny are
rumored to have taken place at various
times.
One little nook between two passage
ways has been outfitted as a study. A
desk and a glass case filled with refer
ence books makes it possible for the
president to work aboard ship if be
wishes to do so. The study is not
used to any great extent, however.
When the president travels on business
or when affairs of state are pressing
he rarely orders out the official yacht.
Presidential cruises on the Mayflower
are mainly guest parties and short
pleasure trips-week-end sails to New
port News, Long Island or on the
Potomac. At such times. the weary
executive may sign a few papers or
dictate important letters, but he tries
to rest.
Tea at Sea
Mrs. Harding entertained fire.
q%uently aboard the Mayflower in the