The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-11
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN, Director.
Washington, D. @.
THE YACHT OF THE PRESIDENTS


presidents yacht is one of the most
attractive of his possessions, yet very
little has been written about 1t. The
presidents pets, his hobbies, his daily
program, his home, and taste in dress
are familiar topics to the people of the
United States. The Mayflower is
known simply as the presidential
yacht, tho because of its history and
| its associa tieR- with four presidents it
is one of the most interesting ships in
the navy.
of which any potentate of Europe
might be proud. Altho it is 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 furnish
ings and appointments and its picked
crew make it a comfortable little pal
ace.
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 dam
aged. Mr.. Wilson was not using the
Yacht and, as it is called for very little
| during the winter anyway, the ques-
| ton of redecorating the rooms was
| left to the incoming president and his
wife.
Mrs. Harding planned a new color
I
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
mink roses on the chests and dressing
tables, the staterooms of the yacht
are one of the most generally admired
features 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 am
mails and plants in bright colors- The
prevailing color here and in the white
pane1ed dining room is green.
Marble Baths Aboard Ship.
The baths of the Mayflower are OF
solid marble, very luxurious in ap-
pearance, but according to one offl-
I Ger. a trifIe chilly. There IS a story
that one of the Roosevelt boys once
brought his pet alligator apoaru 5ne
Mavflower on a family cruise, and de-
posted it in one of these marble TUBS.
Rv accident the water run into the tuD
was too hot even for a tropical reptile
and the alligator was discovered later
lin a parboiled condition, to the great
sorrow of the boys.
Fireplaces in which wood or coal
NAV be burned are an unusual feature
| boasted by the presidential yacht.
1t is a roomy, comfortable ship,
with cosy corners where tete-a-tetes
of importance to the nations destiny
| are rumOred to nave taken place al
various times.
One little nook between two passage
WAYS has been outfitted as a study.
A desk and a glass case filled with
| reference books makes it possible Tor
| the president to work aboard snip II
he wishes to do so. The study IS not
used to any great extent, however.
When the president travels on bust
ness or when affairs of state are
pressing he rarely orders out the Of
/ fetal yacht. Presidential cruises on
the Mayflower are mainly guest
parties and short pleasure trips
! weekend sails to Newport News, Long
Island, or on the Potomac. At such
times, the weary executive may sign
few papers or dictate important let
! ters, but he tries to rest.
/ Tea at Sea.
Mrs. Harding entertained frequently
aboard the Mayflower in the after
moons last summer. At such times
| the yacht is a festive place. Prompt
| " at the hour set Mrs. Harding comes
aboard with a group of representa-
tives of the official family. Mrs.
| Coolidge is there, perhaps several cab
met ladies, a sprinkling of senator
wives, and Miss Harlan, secretary to
! Mrs. Harding.
Alter 1lllOlIl1dl SICClAA5o ~ III
guests of the afternoon, Mrs. Harding
may pose for the camera men. Then
she gives orders and the yacht sails
out of the navy yard for an hour or
two down the river.
The Mayflower orchestra plays in
a corner of the deck, and the guests
dance with the ships officers, or sit
about in groups. If they have never
been aboard, officers show them the
| interesting parts of the ship. Mrs.
! Harding moves about among her
guests. talking with the different
groups
Later. she leads the way to the
dining room for tea. Filipino boys,
mess attendants of the Mayflower,
move about swiftly serving tea, sand
witches, and cake to the guests who sit
or stand around the room. There are
about twelve of these mess attendants.
The Mayf1ower, being a naval yes
sci, requires a much larger crew than
would a privately owned yacht. The
owner of a pleasure boat may dis
charge most of the crew when the
ship is not in use and hire men again
when they are needed. The May
flower has a crew of $50 which is kept
! at all times and is governed in every
detail by naval regulations.
Serving in the presidents yacht is
an honor priced by some navy men.
Others find it monotonous to be sta
toned in Washington practically all
the time. \They prefer a battleship in
foreign waters to the domesticated
Mayflower.
IN 1904, it IS true, the Mayf1ower
went with a squadron of the Atlantic
fleet to Europe. But for the most
part it rarely goes farther from its
base than the west Indies. Tradition
and business make most chief execu-
tiVes stay at home.
Has Interesting History.
Before it was detailed to serve the
president, the Mayflower had an ad-
venturous history. It was built in
Glasgow in 1896 for Ogden Goelet
New York millionaire. Mr.. Goelet
spent $1,250,000 on his yacht. and it
was pronounced masterpiece of lux
ury and elegance. It was reported
as a suggestion of the elaborate de-
tail of the fittings, that oriental rugs
were used for the floors, and that
Mrs. Goelet's suite of rooms had five
different kinds of hath this