Evening star., 1935-09-08
Served Many Presidents
Charles B Lee Put in 20 Years as Steward
on the Sylph.
BY HENRY A. LYON.

u he RSldQllSilcu WIldL tlS CiuAA1iS
~ to be the long-service record
on one vessel. The glory OF the
achievement, he declared yesterday. Is
heightened by the fact that his long
stretch was aboard the first presiden-
tial yacht, the Sylph.
Lee claims q number Of enviabie
"firsts" as a result of his 20 years
assignment as steward to the Com
mander in Chief on the Sylph. In the
first place, he confided yesterday at
his home, 942 s street, he is probably
the first and only man ever to have
held the rank while steward to the
Commander in Chief of both the Army
and the Navy. Cabin steward is now
the highest grade attainable for stew
ards in the Navy.
Lee is probably the first steward
ever to have attended a President on
foreign soil. and he Is certain he Is
the only one ever to serve two Presi-
dents on foreign soil-Theodore Roose-
velt in Panama, Colombia and Puerto
Rico, and woodrow Wilson In Paris.
Promoted In Three Days.
Lee rose to his rank of steward 20
the Commander in Chief in three days,
He enlisted when % years old as q
mess attendant. He had served as q
reading room attendant in the old
Army and Navy Club, and, just prior
to his enlistment, as head waiter at
the Logan Hotel-then known as the
Woodmont Hotel. Lee passed through
two higher naval grades as steward to
reach the top in his calling, where he
supervised meals and superintended
their service to Presidents Mckinley.
Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson.
Throughout his long term, during
which time he served at White House
formal affairs as we'll as at the table
Of the President aboard the Sylph.
Lee saw a vast panorama of oficial
life pass by. He was present at the
Roosevelt and Wilson White House
weddings. took part In the Taft silver
jubilee and unique of all in his
recollections. the divided" dinner
given for diplomats of the two war
ring factions by President Wilson just
prior to the United States entry into
the World War.
'Those were great days prior to the
war" said Lee There was less hurry
and pressure in diplomatic life. There
was time for the finer things and peo-
pie enjoyed simpler ways"
Was With Shipping Board.
After his term of service with the
Navy he went with the Shipping
Board for nine years as reception clerk.
resigning from his post in 1928. He is
proud of his work with the board. but
thinks most CT his record In the Navy.
He rejected an offer to become head
butler in the White House early in his
naval career in order to keep his
standing as a military man.
Lee believes his record Of 20 years
assignment on the Sylph is superior to
that of Chief Boatswain's Mate Charles
Small, who claims Is years continuous
sea duty aboard the Arkansas.
MY QutleS OlQ nOt Jake me lar 10
sea, as a rule. but I wouldn't trade
experiences with any man In the
Navy" Lee said. II have personal
letters from the men have served in
Guiding the members of the United
States Peace Commission, President
Theodore Roosevelt and the various
chairmen of the Shipping Board
records that I would not sell at any
price"
1t was Admiral w. S. Benson who
first championed Lee as reception clerk
of the Shipping Board; in fact, 1t was
Benson who noted Lees courteous.
efficient service on a special occasion
prior to the armistice and asked Presi-
dent Wilson to allow him to accom-
pany the Peace Commission to Eu-
rope.
Cut Wilson'S Hair.
"I cut Mr.. Wilson's hair in Paris"
Lee confided. He had a holy fear OF
French BARRIERS.
IT was with President Roosevelt on
the Louisiana when he went to inspect