The Washington times., 1934-06-23
Uses Cruiser To
Test Out Own
Inventions
BY BETSY CASWELL
WomGn'S Page Editor

Mr.. Chester A. Snow, jr.,
prominent in the real estate
business here in washington,
is the owner and navigator of
q lovely, graceful boat, moored
off the Corinthian Yacht Club
pier.
She Is a 35-foot raised-deck
cabin cruiser, manufactured by
the American Car and Foundry
Company, Of Wilmington, Del,
and upon her delivery, in 1927,
was christened the "Madelon"
by Mr.. Snow.
The origin of his choice Of
her name is amusing. Mr..
Snow, like all the other men
who fought in France, has
great and good reason to re-
member the CHEEKY strains of
the French song, "Madelon,"
and the charming qualities OF
its girlish heroine.
Lucky Omen
Therefore, in naming the boat
for this lady he conferred upon
her (the boat a high senti-
mental honor! Also, he tells
me that seven letters in a
boats name constitute a lucky
omen-"Madelon" has just the
required seven.
The "Madelon" is white, with
mahogany trim, having a buff
painted after deck comfortably
furnished with wicker easy
chairs, where one may relax
and rest, at peace with the
world, throughout long, hot
summer afternoon.
The interior equipment Of the
boat is we'll planned and ex-
cellently executed, everything
being trim and shipshape to a
degree, and plenty Of storage
space taking care of the extras.
There are four comfortable
hunks amidships, with conven'
lent lockers for slowing clothes.
The galley is adequately equip
ped with a gas stove, a large re-
frigerator, and a white porce-
lainenamel sink.
Compact Galley
Such a display Immediately
urges the domestically inclined
female to set up housekeeping
at once, and must admit, one
wonders why we tolerate so
much waste space in our kitchens
ashore when everything our
little hearts desire can be so
compactly and conveniently ar
ranged!
Powered by 75-horsepower
Hall7Scott engines, the Made
lon" has made many cruises in
nearby waters curing the years
in which Mr.. Snow has owned
her.
She has proved herself won
derfully seaworthy, and able to
take" the sudden squalls fire.
Quent in this part of the world.
For the most part her cruis-
ing area has extended only from
Wilmington as a northern limit,
to Norfolk as a southern boun-
dairy line-lack of time alone
having precluded further wan
behring's.
AlI-Weather Boat
Mr.. Snow says that he hopes
before long to really take her
on q trip that will take her
much further afield-or afloat,
I should say!
The boat has taken all
weather pretty much as it came,
and only had to run for cover
once, some years ago, when the
tail end of a Florida hurricane
passed this way-the one that,
some of you may remember,
tore down part of the Naval
Air Station.
Mr.. Shows use of the boat
falls into three classes; tea par
ties, sometimes followed by sup
per aboard, with an afternoon
or evening run down the river
for a short distance; cruises in
the bay of a week or ten days
with a stag amateur merchant
crew of four, complemented by
one general utility boy" to
wash dishes and polish brass,
etc. This amateur crew consists
Of three Army aviators, and a
young cousin of Mr.. Shows, a
Naval aviator. Mr.. Snow says
that the Army men are all good
navigatorS, but that the Navy
cousin runs them aground each
trip!
Hobby
The third use to which the
boat is put is most interesting.
Mr.. Snow uses her as a sort Of
floating laboratory, for practic-
ing with and testing several
various navigational methods
and "gadgets," the invention of
which is one Of his hobbies.
Last Wednesday, the Madelon,
manned by her skipper, and his
Army-Navy crew, slipped down
the river at dawn, on a cruise
for parts unknown" for an I'm
announced length Of time.
When she returns, doubtless she
will have added many more in
tereSting experiences to her
already colorful career.