Hoover Home

"How do you spell 'plaguy'?"

"P-l-a-ummm-g-u-y," said President-Elect Hoover.

"How do you spell 'dessicate'?"

The President-Elect pondered s's and c's, and answered: "D-e-s-s-i-c-a-t-e."

"How do you spell 'rarefied'?"

Mr. Hoover glanced at the Atlantic ocean. Finally, "R-a-r-e-f-i-e-d," said he.

Thus, last week, progressed a spelling-bee held on the Utah to vary the monotony of the usual deck-games. Among other contestants were: Mrs. Hoover, Ambassador Fletcher, John R. Mott, of Montclair, N. J., Commander Augustin Beauregard and Captain C. R. Train of the Utah. Eighteen words chosen from a list containing such orthographic stumpers as "vilified," "picknicking," "Philippine," "harassed," were given to the contestants. The winners were Mr. and Mrs. Hoover. Their record: 14 right, four wrong.

Quiet was the final stage of the Utah's homeward journey. Correspondents filed endless wirelesses, but no event of real importance disturbed the word-painted ship upon its word-painted ocean. Concerning Cabinet Farm Relief, Navy Bill, Kellogg Pact, Extra Session, the President-Elect maintained an unbroken silence.

No bands played, no soldiers paraded, when President-Elect Hoover arrived back in Washington after leaving the Utah at Hampton Roads. Herbert Hoover Jr. met Mr. Hoover at the harbor, and Dr. Work, Senator Shortridge of California and a few minor statesmen were at the station. The President-Elect, arriving in Washington, went to the White House and was closeted with the President for a half hour. When they emerged, the President and President-Elect posed for photographs, and Mr. Hoover was plied with newsmen's questions. He declined to answer queries. "You will have to go to the fountain of news," he said, tossing his head in the direction of the President's office.

The President-Elect planned to remain in Washington for about a week, then to depart for Florida and a final pre-inaugural vacation. He has engaged a suite at the Mayflower Hotel, and will hold conferences at his home and at the hotel. One of the first S Street visitors was Assistant Attorney General William J. Donovan. . . . When President-Elect Hoover becomes President Hoover on March 4 his age will be 54 years, seven months. He will be three months older than the average of all Presidents at the time of their inaugurations.