Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-01
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, Mass, March l. Two
Presidents of the United States and a
plumber have made President elect
Hoover's Secretary Of the Navy, "Dea-
con" Charles Francis Adams, what he
is today gentleman Of distinguished
ancestry and Americas greatest anna
teur yachtsman.
The plumber Is Bill" Gavin of Quin-
cy and the Presidents were John Adams
and John Quincy Adams. also of Quincy.
nothing about him that isn't good"
says Bill Gavin. who taught the
Deacon" many a sailing trick in Quin-
cy Bay in the days when the little Dan
dellon skipped across the harbor waters
With Charles Francis, lad of II, at
the helm.
Since that day the Deacon" has
sailed many yachts and won many
races, but Bill Gavin remains his
friend, and when the plumber. now re-
tired, "ccmes up" to Boston he always
drops into Mr. Adams Office, opposite
the old statehouse.
Office Plain. Efficient.
There are no smart office boys or
cute young stenographers in Mr.. Adams
office. no ostentatious waiting room or
carpeted floors. A hard wooden bench
awaits all visitors. There is an old
fashioned roll-top desk. two or three
wooden chairs. bare walls and no type
writer is visible
When Mr.. Adams comes in he does
not hustle into his private office, but
stops before the wooden bench and says:
Il am Mr.. Adams. Do you wish to
see me?"
Photographs of Mr. Adams give an
incorrect impression of the man. His
domed forehead suggests, for some rea-
son. that he is taller man than he
actually is. AS matter of fact, the
Deacon" Is small man, of the con-
ventional slight and wiry build; neatly
dressed, and his face, appropriately
enough. Is tanned. His eyes are blue
A turn of his head, and one beholds
the famous Adams nose. as beaked and
naughty as a New England cliff. De-
spite his unaffected greetings, Mr.
Adams is not talking for publication to
newspaper men these days. He would
not even say why. since the DAYS of
the Dandelion. he has given his favor
lite boats names of seven letters. always
with double 'o"-Papoose, Gossoon,
Harpoon. Babboon, Rooster and Crooner
Neither will Mr.. Adams discuss his
nickname, reserved for chosen few of
his intimates. Yet the reasons for it
are simple. Up to couple of years ago
Mr.. Adams wore a stiff, standing collar
and until he smiles there is deacon
ish" look about him. But the truth is
Mr.. Adams. among his associates, is
famous for his humor and his enjoy
ment Of good time.
Wears Spectaeles Aboard Ship.
Aboard ship the deacon" always wore
white canvas hat pulled we'll down on
his head, nondescript trousers and an
old gray flannel shirt. In addition, he
wears specs" Although his appearance
may not be as nautical as that featured
in advertisements of what the we'll
dressed yachtsman should wear, the
fact remains that discipline on his
yachts Is strict.
Even his son, Charles, now a fresh
man at Harvard, calls his father mis-
ter" when they are sailing together.
Mr.. Adams father, John Quincy
Adams, also was an amateur sailor, and
there is story today indicating the
Adams fanily's love of the sea, about
the time the elder Adams held up the
activities Of the Massachusetts, Supreme
Court. Adams senior was chief coun-
sci in the case, but when court opened
he did not appear A sheriff traced
him to Quincy Harbor, and from there
hired rowboat and rowed one mile
out to Hangmans Island
Tell the Judge the smelts are biting
like thunder" the elder Adams is re-
ported to have said.
Rivalry With Brother Told.
Even TO a greater degree, his son loves
the sea. With his brother George he
grew up on Quincy Bay, and the broth
ers were known as the boys" A nat
ural rivalry arose between them, and to
settle who was the better sailor, their
father, "Smelter" Adams, put up a $40
bill as prize money. Charles won the
race.
Mr. uoover,s ossociafa-toha ", Yacht