Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-13
THE YACHT OF THE PRESIDENTS
BY Frederic J. Haskin

Mrs. Harding entertained frequent
Iy aboard the Mayfiower in the otter
moons last summer. AT such times tho
yacht IN a festive place. Promptly at
the hour sct Mrs. Harding comes
aboard with q group OF represents-
tiyes cf the 1oficial family. Mrs.
Coolidge Is Mere, perhaps several
Cabinet ladies, n sprinkling u Sem
ators wives, and Miss Harlan. secfo-
tary to Mrs. Harding.
After Informal greetings 20 ths
guests OF the afternoon. Mrs. Harding
may pore for tho camera men. Then
she gives orders and the yacht sails
out Of Navy Yard for an hour or Two
down the river.
4 The Mayfiowcr orchestra plays n =
corner OF the deck. and the suosf,
dance with tbe ships officers, or sit
about in groups. II they have never
been aboard, officers show them IN.
interesting parts Of the ship. Mr..
Harding moves about among her
guests, talking with the different
groups.
Later. she leads the way 10 The din
ing room for tea. Filipin6 boys. mess
attendants OK the Mayfowcr. NOV.
about swiftly serving tea. sandwiches,
and cake 70 the guests who ~ or
stand around tho room. There srA
about ~ Of these mess attondanfs
The Mayfover, being a naval ves-
sci. requires much larger crew thas
would a privately yacht. IN.
owner OF pleasure boat may Dis
: charge most OF the crew when the
! ship IS not In use and hire men egsir
! when they are needed. The MAJ
flower has a crew Of 100 whlch'is kfpt
at all times and II governed IN every
r detail By naval regulations
!, Serving in the Presidents yacht %
an honor priced by some navy men-
: Others find IL r1onotonou. 20 be s-s
: toned in Washington practically all
J the time. They prefer a bsttis.h'o ~
! foreign waters 20 the donevtica'ed
! Maynower.
2 In 1904, it &. true, the M.yro-ev
= went with n squadron OF the Atlantis
: Fleet 10 Europe. But for the mos,
part f. rarely goes farther from ft-
s base than the Wes. Indies, Tradition
n and business make mos. Chief Er-
: ecutives stay az home.
Has Interesting History.
Before Il vrs detailed 20 .ervs the
President. the Mayfower had an al
venturous history. II was bulk ia
u Glasgow, in 1925, for Ogden G,oei~s
; New York millionaire. Gr. Gosis'
: spent 81 ESQ 900 on his yacht. and Il
= was pronounced mssterpiecs Il
y luxury and elegance. II was reported
70 az a suggestion Of the elaborate dsssf
: Of the fittings, that oriental rugs vver.
e used for the floors and ths, Mrs
= Goelet's suite Of rooms had five dif.
u fereut kinds OF bath tubs
The Mayfiower sailed proudly ofr ol
d. her maiden voyage. but Il came bsol
sadly, for the owner was stricken sns
- died while cruising in the Med.ter
- ronean.
Then, when tho vvar with spai,
/" broke out, the government bought IN
J. Mayfower at bargain. paying bu
= 100000 Tor &C. and turned u into al
J. armed scout snip. The Mayfiow~r fol
lowed an adventurous career ia m.
) Spanish War and then lay ,dlo. Bu
a the need for a presidential Yacht wa
~ being agttated- While she Presder
q could always have a naval vessel i
80 which to travel. still II was srsue
~ that there should be a ship Of SUI
" dcient size and elegancs ready for N
on Executives use.
re So the Mayfiower wa. renovate
'l- again. stripped of her gray war pain
on and refinished inside. In two year
EST Of war duty the mahogany Ht-inr
- and the wall surfaces had been had.
VS.. damaged. In tn. summer -, raoa ~
AT YACHT steamed into Oyster Bay, wnei
az PRESIDENT Roosevelt was staying. an
mt entered upon its present work ot ser,
ing the Presidents.