Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-19

Dental yacht Mayfower and for that reason
received its name-PreSidents Band.
The invitations to the Presidents luncheons
and dinners were arranged 50 that during the
eight days at sea every correspondent, photog-
rapher and senior officer had the honor and
pleasure Of being guest at least once. The
meals were informal and enjoyable. The con-
Versations were general and not dominated by
Mr.. Hoover. Every one was. made to feel at
home and free to talk. Just because the Pres1-
dent happened to be speaking to the man be-
side him to another across the table, did not
mean that every one else must cease CONVERSE
ton and give attention to him. Such is not the
Hoover manner. OF course, 1T q state dinner
back ct the white House, presidential etiquette
must be Teligiously observed. but away from the
white House formal affairs. Mr.. Hoover ban
isl1eS all semblances Of presidential etiquette.
He h truly democratic IN this respect
FOLLOWING the lMncheons the President and
his company fingered over their cigars and
cigarettes and before separating sat for . while
in the lounging room adjoining. It was m TINS
large room that the President did his reading
and transacted what little business was laid be-
fore him On the trip Sometimes during the late
afternoons he would sleep in the big easy chair
or Teeline on the leather-covered couch. II was
only during these moments OF reading or mapping
that the President was alone, except as ne
slept ct night Peculiarly enough, he did very
little reading, although he had promised him
self o great deal Of it when he left the White
House. what he read was Of . light nature
mostly stories Of adventure and detective yarns.
Line everything else he does, Mr.. Hoover READS
rapidly. II does not take him long TO 90 through
q book. OF course, he read considerable about
Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. There Was
no newspaper reading during the voyage. Even
at Porto Rico there was no newspaper reading.
The journals there. with the exception Of
weekly, are printed in Spanish. 1t was not
until the bAttleship Arizona was passing the
Virginia Capes on the way back, the last day
Of the excursion, that an American newspaper
was received aboard, and this one happened 70 be
dAy-old copy Of q $50 edition Of The Evening
Star. It was included IN q pouch Of mail for
the President dropped aboard by an Army b1imp.
The President glanced quickly at the headlines
and then turned IL over to Secretary Wilbur,
who was nearest at the time. Several news
hungry members Of the press In the party closed
in about him 20 read 1t at the same time. Be-
fore the Arizona cast anchor an hour later ana
the presidential party went ashore 10 take
the train back to Washington this paper had
gone the rounds aboard and when finally dis
carded It's pages gave visible evidence Of is
handing.
me President and his party. however we're
not In entire ignorance Of all that was going On
in the world as their warship ploughed through
the waters Of the Atlantic and the Caribbean.
Every morning each member Of the party re-
reived ct his plate at breakfast an edition Of
the Arizona News, which contained q resume
printed aboard ship. In addition 10 this the
President personally received daily q radio mes
sage from Theodore q. Joslin, recently appointed
as secretary 10 succeed George AkersOn, IN which
he gave Q summary Of the more important news
Of the day. Some few matters Of Q business
nature were radioed to the President. but By
preArrangement only business Of the most I'M
poTtant and urgent nature was communicated TO
him. He was away for q rest from business
and he wanted to hear as little Is possible about
governmental or other affairs.
Unquestionably it was due to this freedom
from the cares Of ONCE that Mr.. Hoover was
50 successful In laying aside the burdens Of his
Ofnce and posing as loafer for the time being.
LOafing and loIling do not come easy to o man
Of the active life and temperament Of AEr.
Hoover, but, strangely enough. he managed TO
get into this strange role without any great
effort or delay. And, too, he seemed to love
1t. Some thought at first that the long days
Of idleneas and freedom would grow 1rksome,
but in this they were wrong.
TT was the first real rest and vacation Mr..
Hoover had had since he entered ONCE and
he made the most Of it while It lasted. It Is
true he went on . six-day fishing trip In the
Florida keys q year ago and another fishing
trip near Williamsport. Pa, last Spring, and has
spent . number Of week ends ct his fishing
camp en- the Rapidan River, In Virginia hut ea
all Of these occasions he had the cares Of once
with him. At least he was not wholly tree and
therefore was unable to relax like he did ON
his Caribbean trip
It was this freedom and lack Of worry and
the opportunity to relax and loaf that made
the vacation . complete success. It was be-
cause Of this rest and relaxation that he re-
turned to the White House after this voyage
looking so well and at.
Another contribution to the success Of the
Presidents little fling at leisure was the per-
sonnet Of his vacation party. It was quite
natural that he take along the Secretary Of
War and Secretary Of Interior because Of their
jurisdiction over the two insular possessions to
he visited In the West Indies. This was a for