So ornamentally idle have been the lives of military aides to the President that Army and Navy he-men well have dreaded the assignments, right honorable though they are. The chief duties were: 1) to stand grandly by when the President received new foreign envoys; 2) to pass tea and sandwiches smilingly at White House at-homes; 3) to add splendor to the President's official trips.
When President Coolidge brought into Washington from the plains Col. Osmun Latrobe as his aide, that weather-bitten old soldier was so patiently bored that the President gave him an additional assignment as assistant to the Chief of Cavalry.
For idleness, even under the guise of official duty, President Hoover has no use. Last week he prepared to put his new military aides—Lieut. Col. Campbell B. Hodges, U.S.A. and Capt. Allen Buchanan, U.S.N.—to work. Col. Hodges reported for duty last week at the White House from West Point, where he was Commandant of Cadets. He found a shiny new desk awaiting him in the executive offices. Similar equipment will be ready for Captain Buchanan when he comes to the White House from the U. S. S. Omaha in a few weeks.
Precisely what office work the Hoover aides will do, Col. Hodges has yet to discover. In general, they will serve as special liaison officers between the White House and the War and Navy Departments. Military matters "of a secondary nature" will be placed before them for action. Special letters dealing with the Army and Navy will be prepared by them for the Hoover signature. A 9-to-5 working day will be observed.
¶ President Hoover left Washington last week for the first time since inauguration. He was gone eleven hours on an inspection of his Virginia fishing preserve in Shenandoah National Park. He rode a horse ten miles through mountain woods, tramped three miles more on foot, picked out three camping sites between Double-top and Fork Mountains on the Upper Rapidan. In a black riding habit, Mrs. Hoover accompanied him part way. Forbidden to follow, newsgatherers and cameramen had a holiday.
¶ For 53 years, baseball passes have been given to the President. The 54th was last week handed by John Heydler, President of the National League, to President Hoover. As usual, it was No. 1, bore the U. S. seal. Unlike all others, it was in an elephant hide case.*
¶ Around the corner of 13th and Irving streets, N. W. swing heavy blue double-decked buses. There they stop, to start up again with a splattering roar of the exhaust. At that corner stands the Friends Meeting House where President and Mrs. Hoover worship. So loud were the bus noises that the Public Utilities Commission of the District of Columbia ordered the vehicles to take another route on Sunday mornings. Last Sunday the President worshipped in peace.
¶ President Hoover last week put his first message to Congress in shape for the Public Printer. It is short, written mostly in the evenings of the last month. It recommends action on only two legislative subjects : Farm Relief, Tariff Revision.