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200 ' this group, -however, is recognized to be Francis R. or "Captain" Mayer, -as he is most frequently called, due to his interest in yachting and his ownership of private yachts. Captain Mayer is a human dynamo. His greatest success has come since 1914. Francis R. Mayer was born in Philadelphia in 1880, but received his education by private tutors and at Christ Church, Oxford, England. He - received the degree of M. A., Oxon. While typically an American, his as- sociations have brought him _ into contact with many types, varying from the nobility of Europe to the hospitable and warm friendships of southern aristocracy. He served in the Virginia National Guard and was _ subsequently commissioned a major in the Tennessee National Guard. Cap- ' tain Mayer also served as military secretary to General Wilson, who rep-. United: army of the coronation of 'resented the States. at the Edward VII. King Fond of Yachting Between 1906 and 1915, Captain Mayer was engaged largely in the financing and management of public works and utilities, both at home and in foreign countries. His various activities brought him a wide ac- quaintanceship. For a number of years he has been keenly interested in yachting and his schooner, NorseE- MARINE REVIEW is a rarity. This is one of the nota- ble characteristics of the man. He has a ruddy complexion and is im- maculately groomed. His hair is gray and his eyes are gray but that color- ing does not in the least detract from his vigor. During our inter- view he smoked a cigarette as though he enjoyed it and talked frankly and to the point. And, unlike many men of tremendous affairs, he did most of the talking. Fitted by Experience The manner of the man is a happy mixture of southern hospitality and northern aggressiveness. I had _ heard much of his warm entertainments aboard his yacht and after meeting him can easily realize why those entertain- ments are successful. His office in the Equitable building in New York -affords an admirable setting for his personality. The walls are gray and silver-blue draperies decorate the win- dows. A luxurious Oriental rug cov- ers the floor. The furniture of this office is somewhat out of the ordinary for a business man. The chairs and settee are upholstered in tapestry of striking design. Captain Mayer sits behind a huge desk. All the furni- ture is hand-carved mahogany. One of the most notable features of the decorations is a huge glass case sup- ported on hand-carved mahogany legs containing the model of a _ 6-mast June, 192} a most important bearing upon the great shipping enterprise which is he. ing undertaken. The picture of Cap- tain Mayer would be incomplete with- out them, and Captain Mayer js the U. S. Mail line. "Passenger ships are the dominat- ing spirit of any nation's merchant marine," he began once the prelim- inaries of the introduction were over. "The men who buy and sell in inter- national trade are the men who trayel on ships. If we get these men to travel on' our ships and. if we can demonstrate to them while they are aboard our ships that we can give them service, make them feel as though they are our honored guests, they will be predisposed to give us favorable consideration when we send an agent around to their offices to solicit their freight business." Why Line Was Aided In that concise way, Captain Mayer defined what all successful steamship men are wont to say, namely, that the success of their business is dependent upon the friends they make. But in the creation of the U. S. Mail line it was planned to create a typical Amer- ican passenger line, one that was 'un- dominated by foreign money or for- eign influence. It was hoped to ore- ate an outstanding example of Amer- icanism in ghipping, around which would 'be grouped the various smaller companies and lines operating ship- AMERICAN PASSENGER LINER OLD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LINE | MAN, well was known in Great Britain and on the continent, He is commodore of the Atlantic Yacht club and is one of the advisory com- mittee to King Albert of Belgium in connection with the forthcoming yacht race to Ostend in July of this year. Captain Mayer's present yacht, UNDAUNTED, is the largest and one of the fastest sailing yachts in the world. | Captain Mayer is not a seeker after publicity and an interview with him NORTH STATE WHICH IS schooner. Captain Mayer evidently loves the sailing vessel, as numerous rare colored prints of these --vessels adorn the walls of his office. In the Corner to the right of him reposes a large supported globe. On the desk and filling the large table along the wall are masses of books and papers. Prominent among these were treaties on the foreign re- lations of the United States. Such paraphernalia may be considered in- consequential by some, but they have OPERATING IN THE NEW YORK-LONDON SERVICE R PANHANDLE STATE ping board tonnage in various routes. Therein is uncovered the prime rea- son the shipping board agreed to charter the ex-enemy passenger fleet to the U. S. Mail. Anyone at all versed in affairs at Washington can readily see why the shipping board welcomed the offer of the U. S. Mail line. Congress has been flooded with reports designed to show that some great shipping companies, housed in New York, are actually foreign con- trolled although nominally American.