The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-16


 from him.
 The only exception is the marine orderly who stands guard outside the door and brings in wireless messages from Washing ton. He goes into the Presidents room, places the message on the Presidents board" Ca file of messages) and goes out again.
 Otherwise Roosevelt is not in- terrupted. Neither the ships cap- tain nor the naval aide nor Sec retary Steve Early goes to the President unless summoned.
 This does not mean he leads 8 hermit's life. Two meals out of three are eaten with members of his staff, and the daily fishing plus motion picture programs bring him into contact with all members of the floating White House, down to the humblest man. But it does mean essentially that the President sees no one he does not want to see, does nothing he does not want to do.
 There Is a routine daily schedule on board which is fol- lowed with little variation when the ship is at sea. It consists of: breakfast, fishing, rest, lunch, fishing, siesta, dinner, movies, bed.
 As on shipboard everywhere, the practice is to go to bed early. On the USS Houston there is no one on deck after 10:30 save men on duty Similarly the rising hour is early.
 Official Protocol
 The President can never escape, however, from the intrusion of formality. The high tone of the Washington social code prevails during at least two evenings on board-when the Captain of the Houston, George N. Barker, gives a dinner for the President, and when the President, pursuant to the rules of the game, returns the dinner. On these two oc- casions, although there are no women to hold them to it, the men will wear evening dress.
 The President has a way of being informal in the midst of formalities, but certain rules from the social and sea-going blue- books will prevail. The captain, as host on board, will make the first gesture by inviting the Presi- dent and his party to dinner. He will not invite subordinate mem- bers of his staff unless the Presi- dent should indicate that the ex- ecutive officer or some other high ranking member would be well come.
 Though the Navy declares it has no Emily Post, there are unwritten rules for seating. The captain in this case will not take the head seat, as usual for the host, but will place the President, who is commanders -in- chief of the navy, in that posi- tion. This is practice fol- lowed in the British navy when ever the King is on board.
 The head place is not necessar- fly at the head of the table. Prob ably Captain Barker will give the President a chair at the mid- point of one side of the table, and himself take the chair directly op- posite. The one having priority is the chair facing the door.
 After proper lapse of time fol- lowing the captains dinner, the President will give a dinner for the captain, and this time a sub- ordinate officer or two is sure to be included.
 Sea AmusementS
 The President will not be among strangers aboard the Houston. The persons who actually see most of him are nine humble, silent, and watchful Filipino boys, who at tend the President whenever he goes to sea, or whatever ship. Regularly they are assigned to the Presidential yacht, Potomac. Now they are transferred to the Houston for the duration of this voyage.
 The President has three prin- cipal amusements on board reading, movies, and stamps, but the greatest of these is stamps. He brings with him from Wash ington a veritable library of stamp albums, his latest collec- ton of uncatalogued stamps, and his magnifying glass. In the silence of his cabin far out at sea, he sorts the stamps, scrutinizes them, fixes them in the proper places. When the President is absorbed with his stamps he seems to be com- pletely transported from the af- fairs of the world.
 A special library of books about 75 in number-is made up for the Presidents cabin when- ever he goes to sea. Yoeman James Learson got list in ad- vance of the best selling books OFF THE RECORD