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diff --git a/22352-h/22352-h.htm b/22352-h/22352-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c708722 --- /dev/null +++ b/22352-h/22352-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7556 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of American Boys' Life of Theodore Roosevelt, by Edward Stratemeyer. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt, by +Edward Stratemeyer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: American Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt + +Author: Edward Stratemeyer + +Release Date: August 18, 2007 [EBook #22352] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THEODORE ROOSEVELT *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from scans of public domain material +produced by Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus01.jpg" alt="Front Cover" /> +</p> + + + + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus03.jpg" alt="inscription" /> +</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE<br /> + +OF<br /> + +THEODORE ROOSEVELT</h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class='center'><small>EDWARD STRATEMEYER'S BOOKS<br /> + + +Old Glory Series<br /> + +<i>Six Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25.</i><br /> + + +UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.<br /> +A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.<br /> +FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.<br /> +UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.<br /> +THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.<br /> +UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.</small> +</p> + + +<p class='center'><small>Stratemeyer Popular Series<br /> + +<i>Ten Volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00.</i><br /> + + +THE LAST CRUISE OF THE SPITFIRE.<br /> +REUBEN STONE'S DISCOVERY.<br /> +TRUE TO HIMSELF.<br /> +RICHARD DARE'S VENTURE.<br /> +OLIVER BRIGHT'S SEARCH.<br /> +TO ALASKA FOR GOLD.<br /> +THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER.<br /> +BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN.<br /> +SHORTHAND TOM, THE REPORTER.<br /> +FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN.</small> +</p> + + +<p class='center'><small>War and Adventure Stories<br /> + +<i>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25.</i><br /> + + +ON TO PEKIN.<br /> +BETWEEN BOER AND BRITON.</small> +</p> + + +<p class='center'><small>American Boys' Biographical Series<br /> + +<i>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25.</i><br /> + + +AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.<br /> +AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.</small> +</p> + + +<p class='center'><small>Colonial Series<br /> + +<i>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25.</i><br /> + + +WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.<br /> +MARCHING ON NIAGARA.<br /> +AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.<br /> +ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.</small> +</p> + + +<p class='center'><small>Pan-American Series<br /> + +<i>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25.</i><br /> + + +LOST ON THE ORINOCO.<br /> +THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS.<br /> +YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.<br /> +YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.</small> +</p> + + +<p class='center'><small>Great American Industries Series<br /> + +<i>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00, net.</i><br /> + + +TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN.<br /> +<br /> +JOE, THE SURVEYOR. <i>Price, $1.00</i>.<br /> +LARRY, THE WANDERER. <i>Price, $1.00</i>.</small> +</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus02.jpg" alt="The Hero" /> +<a id="illus02" name="illus02"></a> +</p> + +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">Colonel Roosevelt at San Juan Hill</span></p> + + + + +<h2> +AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE</h2> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h1>THEODORE ROOSEVELT</h1> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>EDWARD STRATEMEYER</h3> + +<p class='center'><small>AUTHOR OF "AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY,"<br /> +"WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST," "OLD GLORY<br /> +SERIES," "PAN-AMERICAN SERIES," "SHIP<br /> +AND SHORE SERIES," ETC.</small></p> + +<p class='center'><i>ILLUSTRATED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS AND WITH<br /> +FRONTISPIECE BY CHARLES COPELAND</i></p> + + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus20.jpg" alt="illustration" /> +</p> + +<p class="center"><small>BOSTON<br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD<br /> +1904</small> +</p> + +<p class='center' style="margin-top: 5em;"><small><span class="smcap">Published, August, 1904.</span><br /> + +<i>Copyright, 1904, by Lee And Shepard.</i><br /> + +<i>All Rights Reserved.</i><br /> + +<span class="smcap">American Boys' Life of Theodore Roosevelt.</span><br /> + + + +Norwood Press<br /> +J.S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith Co.<br /> +Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.</small> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>The life of Theodore Roosevelt is one well worth studying by any +American boy who wishes to make something of himself and mount high on +the ladder of success.</p> + +<p>The twenty-sixth President of our country is a fine type of the true +American of to-day, full of vim and vigor, quick to comprehend, and +equally quick to act, not afraid to defend his opinions against all +comers when satisfied that he is in the right, independent, and yet not +lacking in fine social qualities, physically and morally courageous, and +with a faith in himself and his God that is bound to make for good so +long as he clings to it.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt comes from countless generations of fighting stock, +both in this country and abroad. And yet as a youth the future hero of +San Juan Hill was a delicate lad, and many fears were entertained that +he might not live to manhood. But life in the open air, with judicious +athletic exercise, accomplished wonders, and he became strong and hardy +to an astonishing degree.</p> + +<p>The boyhood days of the future President were spent in New York City and +at the family's country home, Oyster Bay, Long Island. From there he +went to Harvard College, from which he graduated with high honors. Still +somewhat delicate in health, he travelled in Europe, studied for a short +time at Dresden, and took to climbing the Alps and other noted +mountains.</p> + +<p>His mind had gravitated toward literature, and he was writing a naval +history of the War of 1812 when something prompted him to take up +politics, and almost before he knew it he was elected a New York State +assemblyman. He served in this capacity for three terms, and many are +the stories told of how he fought against corruption first, last, and +all the time.</p> + +<p>The death of his first wife and of his beloved mother were at this time +a great blow to him, and leaving his one little daughter with relatives, +he struck out for the great West, where, in the Bad Lands, so called, he +located as ranchman and hunter, filling in his spare hours by studying +and by writing on various outdoor subjects, works which have become +decidedly popular, and which show well his gifts as an author and as an +observer of nature.</p> + +<p>While still in great part a successful ranchman, he ran for mayor of New +York and was defeated. He now devoted himself with increased energy to +his literary labors until, soon after, he was appointed by President +Harrison a member of the Civil Service Commission. He served on this +commission with marked ability for six years, when he resigned to become +police commissioner of New York City.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt's work as a police commissioner will not be readily +forgotten. The whole tone of the service was at once raised, and for the +first time in many years the metropolis had "dry" Sundays, when every +saloon in the city was tightly closed. This strict compliance with the +law made him some enemies, but to these he paid no heed, for he was +doing only his duty.</p> + +<p>When William McKinley was nominated for the Presidency the first time, +Theodore Roosevelt was one of his most enthusiastic supporters. Upon the +election of McKinley, John D. Long was appointed Secretary of the Navy +and Theodore Roosevelt became the First Assistant Secretary. Ever since +writing his naval history the newly appointed assistant had made a close +study of naval matters, and now he applied himself with vigor to the +duties of his office; and it was primarily through his efforts that when +the war with Spain came, our war-ships and our coast defences were in +much better condition than they had been at any time previous in our +history.</p> + +<p>With the outbreak of the war, Theodore Roosevelt resigned. "My duty here +is done," he said. "My place is in the field." And without loss of time +he and his intimate friend, Dr. Leonard Wood, began the organization of +that body of troops which was officially designated as the First United +States Volunteer Cavalry, but which speedily became known everywhere as +the Rough Riders,—a body as unique as the world has ever seen, being +made up of men from all over the Union, but principally from four +Territories, and including hunters, cowboys, soldiers of fortune, +foot-ball and base-ball champions, college graduates, ex-policemen, with +American, Irish, Dutch, German, Mexican, and Indian blood in their +veins,—truly a remarkable collection, but every man and officer strong +and hardy, full of courage, a good horseman, and a fine shot.</p> + +<p>From the very start, the Rough Riders were anxious to get into the +fight, and the opportunity was not long in coming. From Florida the +command was transported to Daiquiri, on the southern coast of Cuba, and +then began the advance upon the city of Santiago, which brought on the +engagement at La Guasima, followed by the thrilling battle of San Juan +Hill, in which the Rough Riders distinguished themselves in a manner +that will never be forgotten. In the very thickest of this fight was +Colonel Roosevelt, urging his men forward to victory, regardless of the +shot and shell falling upon all sides. A hero truly, and such heroes are +not forgotten.</p> + +<p>Upon the close of the war Theodore Roosevelt thought to retire to +private life, but this was not to be. Arriving at New York, he was +hailed with delight by thousands, and at the next election was made +governor of the Empire State. As governor he made friends in both of the +leading political parties by his straightforwardness and his sterling +honesty. Men might differ with him politically, but they could never +accuse him of doing that which he himself did not firmly believe was +right.</p> + +<p>His term as governor had not yet expired when President McKinley was +nominated for a second term. Again the people at large clamored for +Roosevelt, and against his earnest protestations he was forced to accept +the nomination for the Vice-Presidency. He was elected, and at the +proper time took his seat as presiding officer of the Senate.</p> + +<p>It was at this time a blow fell upon our nation from which we have +scarcely yet recovered. President McKinley was struck down by the +cowardly hand of an assassin. The Vice-President was at this time off on +one of his favorite outings, but with all possible speed he came back +and was sworn in as President. It was a great responsibility, and many +feared that great changes in our government might result. But the fears +proved groundless. Young as he was,—and he is the youngest of all of +our Presidents,—he took upon himself the duty of carrying out the +intentions of his predecessor, and proving to the world once again that, +even though a President die, "the government at Washington still lives."</p> + +<p>There is another side to the character of our President which must not +be overlooked. He is of strong religious convictions and a member of the +Dutch Reformed Church. It is seldom that he is given to preaching, but +when he does his words have a sincerity that proves much for the +foundation of his character. He stands for what is honest and upright in +political and private life, and although, being but human, he may make +mistakes, he remains a Chief Magistrate well deserving the highest +honors our nation can bestow.</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 25em;"> +EDWARD STRATEMEYER.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">May 2, 1904.</span> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></h3> +<p class="center"> +Birthplace and Ancestry of Theodore Roosevelt—His Father's +Philanthropy—City and Country Home—Days at School—Religious +Training.</p> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></h3> +<p class="center"> +Nicknamed Teddy—Goes to Harvard College—Member of Many +Clubs—Death of Mr. Roosevelt—Anecdotes of College Life +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER II</a>I</h3> +<p class="center"> + +Marries Miss Alice Lee—Travels in Europe—Bold Mountain +Climbing—Elected to the Assembly—Personal Encounter with +the Enemy +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Theodore Roosevelt and Governor Cleveland—Good Work as an +Assemblyman—Some Measures pushed through—Birth of Alice +Roosevelt—Death of Mr. Roosevelt's Mother +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Theodore Roosevelt as a Ranchman and Hunter in the Bad +Lands—Bringing down his First Buffalo—Rattlesnakes +and a Wild Goose +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Grouse and Other Small Game—The Scotchman and the Skunk—Caught +in a Hailstorm on the Prairie—Bringing down Black-tail Deer +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> +Runs for Mayor of New York City—Marriage to Edith Kermit +Carew—Hunting in the Bighorn Mountains—A Wild Chase after +Three Elk +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Bringing down a Grizzly Bear—Back to New York—Appointed +a Civil Service Commissioner—The Work of the Commission +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +A Trip to the Shoshone Mountains—Caught in a Driving +Snowstorm—Back to Work—Resignation as Civil Service +Commissioner +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Appointed Police Commissioner of New York City—Corruptness +of the Department—Strenuous Endeavors to make Matters Better—A +"Dry" Sunday—Enforcing the Tenement House Law and Other Measures +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Appointed First Assistant Secretary of the Navy—The Condition +of Affairs in Cuba—Preparing for War—Theodore Roosevelt's +Resolve +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Destruction of the <i>Maine</i>—Dewey's Victory—Theodore +Roosevelt becomes a Soldier—Organizing the Rough +Riders—Various Men in the Command +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +In Camp at Tampa—To Port Tampa in Coal Cars—Theodore +Roosevelt's Quick Move to obtain a Transport—The Wait in +the Harbor—Off for Cuba at Last +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Life on the Transport—The Landing at Daiquiri—The March to +Siboney—The Trail through the Jungle—The Skirmish at La Guasima +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Along the Jungle Trail—Fording the River—Opening of the Battle +of San Juan Hill—Bravery of the Rough Riders—Personal +Experiences of Theodore Roosevelt during the Battle +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Results of the Fight—Life in the Trenches—The Spanish Fleet +in Santiago Harbor—Another Great Naval Victory—The Rough +Riders and the Spanish Guerillas +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Devotion of the Rough Riders to Theodore Roosevelt—His +Kindness to his Men—Last of the Fighting—The Truce and +Treaty of Peace +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Last Days in Cuba—The Departure for Home—Arrival at +Montauk—Caring for the Sick and Wounded—Presentation to +Theodore Roosevelt by his Men—Mustering out of the Rough +Riders +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Nominated for Governor of New York—A Rough Rider Way of +Campaigning—Elected Governor—Important Work at Albany—The +Homestead at Oyster Bay—Chopping down a Tree for Exercise +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Great Reception to Admiral Dewey—Governor Roosevelt's +Increased Popularity—Last Annual Message as Governor—Visit +to Chicago—Remarkable Speech on the Strenuous Life +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +The Convention at Philadelphia—Theodore Roosevelt seconds the +Nomination of William McKinley—Becomes Candidate for the +Vice-Presidency—Remarkable Tours through Many States +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Elected Vice-President of the United States—Presides +over the Senate—Tax upon Theodore Roosevelt's Strength—Starts +on Another Grand Hunting Tour +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +The Roosevelt Family in the Adirondacks—The Pan-American +Exposition at Buffalo—Shooting of President McKinley—The +Vice-President's Visit—Death of the President +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Theodore Roosevelt's Tramp up Mount Marcy—A Message of +Importance—Wild Midnight Ride through the Mountains—On +the Special Trains from North Creek to Buffalo +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Takes the Oath as President—The New Chief Magistrate at +the Funeral of President McKinley—At the White House—How +the First Real Working Day was Spent +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Continuing the Work begun by President McKinley—The +Panama Canal Agitation—Visit of Prince Henry of Prussia—The +President at the Charleston Exposition +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Destruction at St. Pierre—American Aid—The Great Coal +Strike—President Roosevelt ends the Difficulty—Tour through +New England—The Trolley Accident in the Berkshires—A Providential +Escape from Death +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +New Offices at the White House—Sends a Wireless Message to King +Edward of England—End of the Trouble in Venezuela—The Canadian +Boundary Dispute—Beginning of a Trip to the West—In Yellowstone Park +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a></h3> +<p class="center"> + +Dedication of the Fair Buildings at St. Louis—Continuation +of the Trip to San Francisco—Up in the Far Northwest—Back +in Washington—The Post-office Scandals—The New Republic +of Panama—A Canal at Last—Proclamation regarding the War +between Japan and Russia—Opening of the Great Fair +</p> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</a></h3> +<p class="center"> +Personal Characteristics of Theodore Roosevelt—The +President's Family—Life at the White House—Our Country +and its Future +</p> +<h3><a href="#APPENDIX_A">APPENDIX A.</a></h3> +<p class='center'> Brief Extracts from Famous Addresses delivered +by Theodore Roosevelt +</p> +<h3><a href="#APPENDIX_B">APPENDIX B.</a></h3> + <p class='center'> List of Theodore Roosevelt's Writings +</p> +<h3><a href="#APPENDIX_C">APPENDIX C.</a></h3> +<p class='center'> Chronology of the Life of Theodore Roosevelt +from 1858 to 1904 +</p> + + +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + +<p> +<a href="#illus02"><span class="smcap">Colonel Roosevelt at San Juan Hill</span> </a> <br /> + +<br /> +<a href="#illus04"><span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus05"><span class="smcap">House in which Theodore Roosevelt roomed while at Harvard</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus06"><span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt at Graduation, 1880</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus07"><span class="smcap">Miss Alice Lee Roosevelt</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus08"><span class="smcap">Edith Kermit Roosevelt</span> </a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus09"><span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt as a Rough Rider</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus10"><span class="smcap">Colonel Roosevelt at Montauk Point</span> </a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus11"><span class="smcap">The Roosevelt Homestead at Oyster Bay</span> </a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus12"><span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus13"><span class="smcap">President McKinley and Vice-President Roosevelt</span> </a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus14"><span class="smcap">President Roosevelt at his Desk</span> </a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus15"><span class="smcap">The White House, showing New Offices</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus16"><span class="smcap">President Roosevelt and Cabinet, 1903</span></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus17"><span class="smcap">President Roosevelt Speaking at the Unveiling of the +Statue of General Sherman</span> </a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#illus18"><span class="smcap">President Roosevelt and his Family</span> </a><br /> +</p> + +<h2>AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Birthplace and Ancestry of Theodore Roosevelt—His Father's +Philanthropy—City and Country Home—Days at School—Religious +Training</span></p> + + +<p>"Our country calls not for the life of ease, but for the life of +strenuous endeavor. The twentieth century looms before us big with the +fate of many nations. If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, +slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests +where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they +hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by and will +win for themselves the domination of the world. Let us therefore boldly +face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; +resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be +both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical +methods. Above all, let us not shrink from strife, moral or physical, +within or without the nation, provided that we are certain that the +strife is justified; for it is only through strife, through hard and +dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true +national greatness."</p> + +<p>These words, taken from President Roosevelt's remarkable speech on "The +Strenuous Life," show well the character of the man, his lofty ideals, +his sterling courage, his absolute honesty, and unwavering patriotism. +He is a typical American in the best sense of the word, and his life is +worthy of careful study. From it American boys of to-day, and in +generations to come, may gain lessons that will do them much good.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth President of our country, was born +in New York City, October 27, 1858. The place of his birth was the old +family mansion at 28 East Twentieth Street, in a neighborhood which, at +that time, was the abode of wealth and culture. The building is one +of a row, of a type to be seen in hundreds of other places, of brick and +stone, four stories and a basement high, the upper floor being an attic. +A heavy railing runs from in front of the basement up the broad front +steps to the doorway. Inside, the rooms are large and comfortably +arranged, and there was, in those days, quite a nice garden in the rear.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus04.jpg" alt="birthplace" /> +<a id="illus04" name="illus04"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace. 28 E. 20th Street, +New York City.</span></p> + +<p>It can truthfully be said that Theodore Roosevelt comes from a race of +soldiers and statesmen, and that Dutch, Scotch, French, and Irish blood +flows in his veins. This being so, it is no wonder that, when the +Spanish-American War broke out, he closed his desk as Assistant +Secretary of the Navy, saying, "My duty here is done; my place is in the +field," and went forth to win glory on the battle-field of San Juan +Hill.</p> + +<p>Five generations of Roosevelts lived in or near New York previous to the +birth of Theodore Roosevelt, the father of the President, in 1831. +Nearly all were well-to-do, and many served the city and the state as +aldermen and members of the legislature. During the Revolution they +followed under Washington's banner, and their purses were wide open to +further the cause of independence.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt the elder was a merchant and banker; a man broad in +his views and filled with the spirit of genuine philanthropy. He founded +one of the hospitals of the city and was at one time chairman of the +State Board of Charities. A story is told of him which is probably true. +One day Charles Loring Brace came to him for financial assistance in +establishing homes for the little waifs of the city.</p> + +<p>"I will see what I can do," said Mr. Roosevelt. "But you know that just +at present I am busy with other charitable works."</p> + +<p>"I know that," said Mr. Brace. "But what I ask for is very much needed. +The waifs and poor, homeless newsboys have no shelter."</p> + +<p>The next day, when returning from the establishment in which he was a +partner, Mr. Roosevelt came upon a newsboy sitting on a doorstep, crying +bitterly.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, my little man?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I lost me money; it dropped down into de sewer hole!" sobbed the ragged +urchin. "Every cent of it is gone."</p> + +<p>Mr. Roosevelt questioned the lad and found out that the boy had no home +and that his only relative was a longshoreman who was hardly ever sober. +He gave the lad some money to replace the amount lost, and the next day +sent word to Mr. Brace that he would do all he possibly could toward +establishing the waifs' shelters that were so much needed. The Newsboys' +Lodging House of New York City is one of the results of Mr. Roosevelt's +practical charities. He also did much to give criminals a helping hand +when they came from prison, stating that that was the one time in their +lives when they most needed help, for fear they might slip back into +their previous bad habits.</p> + +<p>In 1853 Theodore Roosevelt the elder married Miss Martha Bullock, of +Roswell, Cobb County, Georgia. Miss Bullock was the daughter of Major +James S. Bullock and a direct descendant of Archibald Bullock, the first +governor of Georgia. It will thus be seen that the future President had +both Northern and Southern blood in his make-up, and it may be added +here that during the terrible Civil War his relatives were to be found +both in the Union and the Confederate ranks. Mrs. Roosevelt was a strong +Southern sympathizer, and when a certain gathering, during the Civil +War, was in progress at the Roosevelt city home, she insisted upon +displaying a Confederate flag at one of the windows.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it will make trouble," said Mr. Roosevelt; and he was +right. Soon a mob began to gather in the street, clamoring that the flag +be taken down.</p> + +<p>"I shall not take it down," said Mrs. Roosevelt, bravely. "The room is +mine, and the flag is mine. I love it, and nobody shall touch it. +Explain to the crowd that I am a Southern woman and that I love my +country."</p> + +<p>There being no help for it, Mr. Roosevelt went to the front door and +explained matters as best he could. A few in the crowd grumbled, but +when Mrs. Roosevelt came to the window and looked down on the gathering, +one after another the men went away, and she and her flag remained +unmolested.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt, the future President, was one of a family of four. +He had a brother Elliott and two sisters. His brother was several years +younger than himself, but much more robust, and would probably have +lived many years and have distinguished himself, had he not met death in +a railroad accident while still a young man.</p> + +<p>In the years when Theodore Roosevelt was a boy, New York City was not +what it is to-day. The neighborhood in which he lived was, as I have +already mentioned, a fashionable one, and the same may be said of many +other spots near to Union Square, where tall business blocks were yet +unknown. The boys and girls loved to play in the little park and on the +avenue, and here it was that the rather delicate schoolboy grew to know +Edith Carew, who lived in Fourteenth Street and who was his school +companion. Little did they dream in those days, as they played together, +that one day he would be President and she his loving wife, the mistress +of the White House.</p> + +<p>Mr. Roosevelt was a firm believer in public institutions, and he did not +hesitate to send his children to the public schools, especially his +boys, that they might come in direct personal contact with the great +outside world. So to a near-by institution of learning Theodore and +Elliott trudged day after day, with their school-books under their arms, +just as thousands of other schoolboys are doing to-day. But in those +days there were few experiments being tried in the schools, and manual +training and the like were unknown. The boys were well grounded in +reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well as spelling, history, and +geography, and there was great excitement when a "spelling-bee" was in +progress, to see who could spell the rest of the class or the gathering +down.</p> + +<p>It is said upon good authority that Theodore Roosevelt was a model +scholar from the start. He loved to read Cooper's "Leatherstocking +Tales," and works of travel, and preferred books above anything else. +But when he found that constant studying was ruining his constitution, +he determined to build himself up physically as well as mentally.</p> + +<p>In the summer time the family often went to the old Roosevelt "out of +town" mansion on Long Island. This was called "Tranquillity," a fine +large place near Oyster Bay, set in a grove of beautiful trees. The +journey to "Tranquillity" was in those days a tedious one, but the +Roosevelt children did not mind it, and once at the old place they were +certain of a good time so long as their vacation lasted. Here it was +that Theodore Roosevelt learned to ride on horseback and how to handle a +gun. And here, too, the boys would go boating, fishing, and bathing, to +their hearts' content.</p> + +<p>Mr. Theodore Roosevelt the elder was a member of the Dutch Reformed +Church, and the religious teaching of his children was not neglected. At +an early age the future President became a member of that denomination +and has remained a member ever since. The church was on the East Side, +and had high-backed pews, and here were delivered sermons that were as +long as they were full of strength and wisdom. That these sermons had +their full effect upon the future President is shown by his addresses +delivered before the Young Men's Christian Association of New York City +and a church community of the West, years later. In addressing the +Young Men's Christian Association Mr. Roosevelt, who was then governor +of the State, said:—</p> + +<p>"The vice of envy is not only dangerous, but also a mean vice, for it is +always a confession of inferiority. It may provoke conduct which will be +fruitful of wrong to others; and it must cause misery to the man who +feels it. It will not be any the less fruitful of wrong and misery if, +as is often the case with evil motives, it adopts some high-sounding +alias. The truth is, gentlemen, that each one of us has in him certain +passions and instincts which, if they gain the upper hand in his soul, +would mean that the wild beast had come uppermost in him. Envy, malice, +and hatred are such passions, and they are just as bad if directed +against a class or group of men as if directed against an individual."</p> + +<p>Golden words, well worth remembering. A person who believes in them with +all his heart cannot go far wrong in his actions, no matter what his +station in life.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Nicknamed Teddy—Goes to Harvard College—Member of Many +Clubs—Death of Mr. Roosevelt—Anecdotes of College Life</span></p> + + +<p>The instincts of the hunter must have been born in Theodore Roosevelt. +His first gun was given to him when he was ten years of age, and for the +time being his books and his studies were forgotten, and he devoted his +whole time and attention to shooting at a target set up in the garden of +the country home and in going out with the older folks after such small +game as were to be found in that vicinity.</p> + +<p>The horses on the place were his pets, and he knew the peculiarities of +each as well as did the man who cared for them. Riding and driving came +to him as naturally as breathing, and the fact that a steed was +mettlesome did not daunt him.</p> + +<p>"My father often drove four-in-hand," he has said. "I liked very much to +go with him, and I liked to drive, too."</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt's schoolboy days were not far out of the ordinary. He +studied hard, and if he failed in a lesson he did his best to make it up +the next time. It is well said that there is no royal road to learning, +and even a future President must study just as hard as his classmates if +he wants to keep up with them. Sometimes he was absent from school on +account of sickness, and then it was a sharp struggle to keep from +dropping behind.</p> + +<p>"In those days nobody expected Teddy Roosevelt to amount to a great +deal," some one has said. "He was thin, pale, and delicate, and suffered +with his eyes. But he pulled through, and when he took to athletics, it +was wonderful how he got stronger."</p> + +<p>By his intimate companions, and indeed by nearly everybody who knew him, +he was called Teddy, and this nickname clung to him when he went forth +into the great world to become a governor and a president. How the +nickname came first into use is not known.</p> + +<p>Since those schoolboy days Mr. Roosevelt has been asked this +question:—</p> + +<p>"What did you expect to be, or dream of being, when you were a boy?"</p> + +<p>"I do not recollect that I dreamed at all or planned at all," was the +answer. "I simply obeyed the injunction, 'Whatever thy hand findeth to +do, do that with all thy might,' and so I took up what came along as it +came."</p> + +<p>In 1876, while the great Centennial Exhibition was being held at +Philadelphia in commemoration of one hundred years of national liberty, +Theodore Roosevelt took up his residence at Cambridge, Massachusetts, +and became a student at Harvard College. During the previous year his +health had been poor indeed, but now he had taken hold of himself in +earnest.</p> + +<p>"I determined to be strong and well, and did everything to make myself +so," he has said. "By the time I entered Harvard I was able to take part +in whatever sports I liked."</p> + +<p>As perhaps some of my readers know, Harvard College (now termed a +University) is the oldest and largest institution of learning in the +United States. It was founded in 1636, and among its graduates numbered +John Quincy Adams, sixth President of our country. The college proper is +located in Cambridge, but some of the attached schools are in Boston.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt was rich enough to have lived in elegant style while +at Harvard, but he preferred unostentatious quarters, and took two rooms +in the home of Benj. H. Richardson, at what was then No. 16 and is now +No. 88 Winthrop Street. The residence is a neat and comfortable one, +standing on the southwest corner of Winthrop and Holyoke streets.</p> + +<p>The young student had two rooms on the second floor,—one of good size, +used for a study, and a small bedroom. In the whole four years he was at +the college he occupied these rooms, and he spent a great deal of time +in fixing them up to suit his own peculiar taste. On the walls were all +sorts of pictures and photographs, along with foils and boxing-gloves, +and the horns of wild animals. On a shelf rested some birds which he had +himself stuffed, and books were everywhere.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus05.jpg" alt="harvard" /> +<a id="illus05" name="illus05"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">House in which Theodore Roosevelt Roomed while at +Harvard.</span></p> + +<p>"It was a regular den, and typical of Roosevelt to the last degree," a +student of those times has said. "He had his gun there and his +fishing rod, and often spoke of using them. He was noted for trying to +get at the bottom of things, and I remember him well on one occasion +when I found him with a stuffed bird in one hand and a natural history +in the other, trying to decide if the description in the volume covered +the specimen before him." When Roosevelt graduated from college, he was +one of a very few that took honors, and the subject of his essay was +natural history. How his love of natural history continued will be shown +later when we see him as a ranchman and hunter of the West.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt had decided to make the most of himself, and while at +Harvard scarcely a moment was wasted. If he was not studying, he was in +the gymnasium or on the field, doing what he could to make himself +strong. He was a firm believer in the saying that a sound body makes a +sound mind, and he speedily became a good boxer, wrestler, jumper, and +runner. He wrestled a great deal, and of this sport says:—</p> + +<p>"I enjoyed it immensely and never injured myself. I think I was a good +deal of a wrestler, and though I never won a championship, yet more +than once I won my trial heats and got into the final rounds."</p> + +<p>At running he was equally good. "I remember once we had a stiff run out +into the country," said a fellow-student. "Roosevelt was behind at the +start, but when all of the others got played out he forged ahead, and in +the end he beat us by several minutes. But he never bragged about it. +You see, it wasn't his style."</p> + +<p>With all his other sports, and his studying, the young collegian did not +give up his love for driving. He had a good horse and a fancy cart,—one +of the elevated sort with large wheels,—and in this turnout he was seen +many a day, driving wherever it pleased him to go. Sometimes he would +get on the road with other students, and then there was bound to be more +or less racing.</p> + +<p>With a strong love for natural history it was not surprising that he +joined the Natural History Club of the college, and of this he was one +of the most active members. He also joined the Athletic Association, of +which he was a steward, and the Art Club, the Rifle Corps, the O.K. +Society, and the Finance Club. In his senior year he became a member of +the Porcellian Club, the Hasty Pudding, and the Alpha Delta Phi Club, +and also one of the editors of a college paper called the <i>Advocate</i>. On +Sundays he taught a class of boys, first in a mission school, and then +in a Congregational Sunday school. It was a life full of planning, full +of study, and full of work, and it suited Theodore Roosevelt to the last +degree.</p> + +<p>As he grew older his love of natural history was supplemented by a love +for the history of nations, and particularly by a love of the history of +his own country. The war of 1812 interested him intensely, and before he +graduated he laid plans for writing a history of this war, which should +go into all the details of the memorable naval conflicts.</p> + +<p>It was while in his third year at Harvard that Theodore Roosevelt +suffered the first heavy affliction of his life. On February 9, 1878, +his father died. It was a cruel blow to the family, and one from which +the faithful wife scarcely recovered. The son at Harvard felt his loss +greatly, and it was some time before he felt able to resume his studies. +The elder Roosevelt's work as a philanthropist was well known, and many +gathered at his bier to do him honor, while the public journals were +filled with eulogies of the man. The poor mourned bitterly that he was +gone, and even the newsboys were filled with regret over his taking +away. In speaking of his parent, President Roosevelt once said: "I can +remember seeing him going down Broadway, staid and respectable business +man that he was, with a poor sick kitten in his coat pocket, which he +had picked up in the street." Such a man could not but have a heart +overflowing with goodness.</p> + +<p>While at college Theodore Roosevelt often showed that self-reliance for +which he has since become famous. To every study that he took up he +applied himself closely, and if he was not at the head of the class, he +was by no means near the foot. When he was sure of a thing, no amount of +argument could convince him that he was wrong, and he did not hesitate +at times to enter into a discussion even with some of the professors +over him.</p> + +<p>Although a close student, and also a good all-round athlete, Theodore +Roosevelt did not forget his social opportunities. Boston was but a +short distance from his rooms in Cambridge, and thither he often went to +visit the people he had met or to whom he had letters of introduction. +He was always welcome, for his manner was a winning one, and he usually +had something to tell that was of interest—something of what he had +seen or done, of the next foot-ball or base-ball game, of the coming +boat races, of his driving or exploring, or of how he had added a new +stuffed bird to his collection, or a new lizard, and of how a far-away +friend had sent him a big turtle as a souvenir of an ocean trip in the +South Seas. There is a story that this big turtle got loose one night +and alarmed the entire household by crawling through the hallway, +looking for a pond or mud-hole in which to wallow. At first the turtle +was mistaken for a burglar, but he soon revealed himself by his angry +snapping, and it was hard work making him a prisoner once more.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Marries Miss Alice Lee—Travels in Europe—Bold +Mountain-climbing—Studying Law in New York—Elected to the +Assembly—Personal Encounter with the Enemy</span></p> + + +<p>It was a proud and happy day for Theodore Roosevelt when, in the summer +of 1880, he was graduated from Harvard. He took scholarly as well as +social honors, and came forth a Phi Beta Kappa man. His fellow-students +wished him well, and his family greeted him most affectionately.</p> + +<p>Yet with it all there was just a bit of melancholy in this breaking away +from a place that had been as a second home to him for four long years. +The students were scattering to the four points of the compass, and he +might never see some of them again. But others were there whom he was to +meet later, and who were destined to march under him up the bullet-swept +slopes of San Juan in far-away Cuba. But at that time there was no +thought of war and carnage, only good-fellowship, with addresses and +orations, music, flying flags, and huge bonfires and fireworks at night. +Happy college days were they, never to be forgotten.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus06.jpg" alt="graduation" /> +<a id="illus06" name="illus06"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt at Graduation, 1880.</span></p> + +<p>While a student at Harvard, Theodore Roosevelt had become intimately +acquainted with Miss Alice Lee, of Boston, a beautiful girl who was a +member of an aristocratic family of that city. The young college student +was a frequent visitor at the home of the Lees, and on September 23, +1880, the two were married.</p> + +<p>It had been decided that Theodore Roosevelt should travel in Europe +after graduating. His father had left the family well provided for, so +there was no rush to get into something whereby a living might be +earned. Yet Theodore Roosevelt had long since determined not to be an +idler. He would travel and improve his mind, and then settle down to +that for which he seemed best fitted.</p> + +<p>To Europe then he went, accompanied by his bride, to study a little and +to visit the art galleries and museums, the palaces of kings and queens, +and the many great cities of that continent. He travelled through +Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, and the British Isles, taking note +of everything he saw and comparing it with what he had seen in his own +country. When in lower Europe, the spirit of adventure seized him, and +he climbed those lofty mountains of the Alps, the Jungfrau and the +Matterhorn, and for those deeds of daring was made a member of the +Alpine Club of London. It may be mentioned here that climbing the +mountains mentioned is a very difficult feat, and that more than one +traveller has lost his life in such attempts. The peaks are covered with +snow and ice; the path from one cliff to the next is narrow and +uncertain, and a fall into some dark and fearful hollow usually means +death. But the danger only urged Theodore Roosevelt on, and added zest +to the undertaking.</p> + +<p>He was intensely interested in all he saw, both in Europe proper and in +the British Isles, but wrote that he was glad to get back home again, +among his own people. To him there was no country like America, the land +of <i>Golden Opportunity</i>, as one of our most noted writers has called it. +In Europe there was more or less a lack of personal liberty; here a man +could try to make what he pleased of himself, be it cobbler or +President.</p> + +<p>The young college graduate had an uncle in New York, named Robert B. +Roosevelt, who was a well-known lawyer. On his return to this country +Theodore Roosevelt entered his uncle's office, and likewise took up the +study of law at Columbia University, attending the lectures given by +Professor Dwight. Here again his search after what he termed "bottom +facts" came to light, and he is well remembered as a member of the law +class because of the way he frequently asked questions and called for +explanations—accepting nothing as a fact until it was perfectly clear +in his own mind. The interruptions did not always suit the professor or +the other students, yet they were often the means of clearing up a point +that was hazy to many others who had not the courage to thrust forth +their inquiries as did Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>"He wants to know it all," said one student, in disgust.</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind; I wish I knew it all," answered another. "I guess he +knows what he is doing." And in this he was right; Theodore Roosevelt +knew exactly what he was trying to accomplish.</p> + +<p>The young man was now twenty-three years of age, broad-shouldered, and +in much better health than ever before. He had not abandoned his +athletic training, and would often run out to the old home at Oyster Bay +for a tramp into the woods or on a hunting tour.</p> + +<p>While still studying law, Theodore Roosevelt entered politics by taking +an active part in a Republican primary. He lived in the twenty-third +assembly district of the state. The district included a great number of +rich and influential citizens, and on that account was called the +"Diamond Back District."</p> + +<p>"Let us put up young Roosevelt for Assembly," said one of the +politicians. "He's a clever fellow."</p> + +<p>"That may be," said another. "But I don't know that we can manage him. +He seems a fellow who wants his own way."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he'll want his own way, but I reckon that way will be the right +way," put in a third speaker.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Theodore Roosevelt's name been mentioned as a possible +candidate than there was a storm of opposition from some politicians who +had in the past ruled the district with a rod of iron. It was a +Republican district, so that the contest for the place was entirely in +the primary.</p> + +<p>"If he is nominated and elected, our power will be gone," they told +themselves; and set to work without delay to throw the nomination into +the hands of somebody else.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt suspected what was going on, but he said nothing to +those who opposed him. With his friends he was very frank, and told them +that if he was nominated he would do his best to win the election and +serve them honestly in the legislature.</p> + +<p>His open-heartedness won him many friends, and when the primary was +held, those who had opposed him were chagrined to see him win the +nomination with votes to spare. Some at once predicted that he would not +be elected.</p> + +<p>"Those who opposed him at the primary will not vote for him," they +said. "They would rather help the Democrats."</p> + +<p>But this prediction proved false. At the election Theodore Roosevelt was +elected with a good majority. It was his first battle in the political +arena and if he felt proud over it, who can blame him?</p> + +<p>The State Capitol of New York is, as my young readers must know, at +Albany, on the Upper Hudson, and hither the young assemblyman journeyed. +The assemblymen poured in from all over the state, and were made up of +all sorts and conditions of men, including bankers, farmers, merchants, +contractors, liquor dealers, and even prize-fighters. Many of these men +were thoroughly honest, but there were others who were there for gain +only, and who cared little for the passing of just laws.</p> + +<p>The party to which Theodore Roosevelt belonged was in the minority, so +that the young assemblyman found he would have to struggle hard if he +expected to be heard at all. But the thoughts of such a struggle only +put him on his mettle, and he plunged in with a vigor that astonished +his opponents and caused great delight to his friends.</p> + +<p>"He is fearless," said one who had voted for him. "He will make things +warm for those who don't want to act on the square." And he certainly +did make it warm, until a certain class grew to fear and hate him to +such a degree that they plotted to do him bodily harm.</p> + +<p>"He has got to learn that he must mind his own business," was the way +one of these corruptionists reasoned.</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?" asked another. "He's as sharp on the floor of the +Assembly as a steel trap."</p> + +<p>"We'll get Stubby to brush up against him," said a third.</p> + +<p>Stubby was a bar-room loafer who had been at one time something of a +pugilist. He was a thoroughly unprincipled fellow, and it was known that +he would do almost anything for money.</p> + +<p>"Sure, I'll fix him," said Stubby. "You just leave him to me and see how +I polish him off."</p> + +<p>The corruptionists and their tool met at the Delavan House, an +old-fashioned hotel at which politicians in and around the capital were +wont to congregate, and waited for the young assemblyman. Roosevelt was +not long in putting in an appearance and was soon in deep discussion +with some friends.</p> + +<p>"Watch him, Stubby," said one of the young assemblyman's enemies. "Don't +let him get away from you to-night."</p> + +<p>"I have me eye on him," answered Stubby.</p> + +<p>Roosevelt was on the way to the buffet of the hotel when the crowd, with +Stubby in front, pushed against him rudely. The young assemblyman +stepped back and viewed those before him fearlessly.</p> + +<p>"Say, what do yer mean, running into me that way?" demanded Stubby, +insolently.</p> + +<p>As he spoke he aimed a savage blow at Theodore Roosevelt. But the young +assemblyman had not forgotten how to box, and he dodged with an agility +that was astonishing.</p> + +<p>"This fellow needs to be taught a lesson," Theodore Roosevelt told +himself, and then and there he proceeded to administer the lesson in a +manner that Stubby never forgot. He went down flat on his back, and +when he got up, he went down again, with a bleeding nose and one eye all +but closed. Seeing this, several leaped in to his assistance, but it was +an ill-fated move, for Roosevelt turned on them also, and down they +went, too; and then the encounter came to an end, with Theodore +Roosevelt the victor.</p> + +<p>"And that wasn't the end of it," said one, who witnessed the affair. +"After it was over young Roosevelt was as smiling as ever. He walked +straight over to some of his enemies who had been watching the mix-up +from a distance and told them very plainly that he knew how the attack +had originated, and he was much obliged to them, for he hadn't enjoyed +himself so much for a year. Phew! but weren't those fellows mad! And +wasn't Stubby mad when he learned that they had set him against one of +the best boxers Harvard ever turned out? But after that you can make +sure they treated Roosevelt with respect and gave him a wide berth."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt and Governor Cleveland—Good Work as an +Assemblyman—Some Measures pushed through—Birth of Alice +Roosevelt—Death of Mr. Roosevelt's Mother</span></p> + + +<p>The career of an assemblyman is not generally an interesting one, but +Mr. Roosevelt managed to extract not a little pleasure and also some +profit from it. The experience was just what he needed to fit himself +for the larger positions he was, later on, to occupy.</p> + +<p>One happening is of peculiar interest to note. While Theodore Roosevelt +was a member of the Assembly, Grover Cleveland became governor of the +state. Mr. Cleveland was a Democrat, while Mr. Roosevelt was a +Republican, yet the two future Presidents of the United States became +warm friends,—a friendship that has endured to the present day.</p> + +<p>It is said that the friendship started in rather a peculiar manner. +There was at the time a measure before the Assembly to reduce the fare +of the elevated roads in New York City from ten cents to five cents. +After a great deal of talking, the bill passed the Assembly and then the +Senate, and went to the governor for his signature. Much to the surprise +of the general public Governor Cleveland vetoed the bill, stating that +when the capitalists had built the elevated roads they had understood +that the fare was to be ten cents, and that it was not right to deprive +them of their profits. At once those who wanted the measure to become a +law decided to pass it over the governor's head. When this attempt was +made, Theodore Roosevelt got up boldly and said he could not again vote +for the bill—that he was satisfied that Governor Cleveland's view of +the matter was correct.</p> + +<p>"These people would not have put their money in the elevated railroads +had they not been assured that the fare was to be ten cents," said he. +"We are under obligation to them, and we must keep our promises." And so +the bill fell through. It was not in itself right that the fare should +be ten cents, and it has long since been reduced to five cents, but it +shows that Theodore Roosevelt was bound to do what was right and just, +according to the dictates of his own conscience, and this won for him +many friends, even among those who had opposed him politically.</p> + +<p>In a work of this kind, intended mainly for the use of young people, it +is not necessary to do more than glance at the work which Theodore +Roosevelt accomplished while a member of the New York Assembly.</p> + +<p>He made a close study of the various political offices of New York +County and discovered that many office-holders were drawing large sums +of money in the shape of fees for which they were doing hardly any work. +This he considered unfair, and by dint of hard labor helped to pass a +law placing such offices on the salary list, making a saving to the +county of probably half a million dollars a year.</p> + +<p>One of the best things done by Theodore Roosevelt at that time was the +support given by him to a civil service law for the state. Up to that +time office-holding was largely in the hands of the party which happened +to be in power.</p> + +<p>"This is all wrong," said the young assemblyman. "A clerk or anybody +else doing his duty faithfully should not be thrown out as soon as there +is a political change." The new law was passed, and this was the +beginning of what is commonly called the merit system, whereby a large +number of those who work for the state are judged solely by their +capabilities and not by their political beliefs. This system has since +been extended to other states and also to office-holding under the +national government.</p> + +<p>Another important measure pushed through the Assembly by Theodore +Roosevelt was what was known as the Edson Charter for New York City, +giving to the mayor certain rights which in the past had rested in the +board of aldermen. This measure was defeated during Roosevelt's second +term of office, but in 1884 he pressed it with such force that it +overcame all opposition and became a law. Many have considered this +victory his very best work.</p> + +<p>By those who knew him at this time he is described as having almost a +boyish figure, frank face, clear, penetrating eyes, and a smile of +good-natured friendship and dry humor. When he talked it was with an +earnestness that could not be mistaken. By those who were especially +bitter against him he was sometimes called a dude and a silk stocking, +but to these insinuations he paid no attention, and after the encounter +at the Delavan House his opponents were decidedly more careful as to how +they addressed him.</p> + +<p>"Take him all the way through he was generally even tempered," one has +said who met him at that time. "But occasionally there was a flash from +his eye that made his opponent draw back in quick order. He would stand +a good deal, but there were some things he wouldn't take, and they knew +it. One thing is certain, after he was in the Assembly for a few months +everybody knew perfectly that to come to him with any bill that was the +least bit shady was a waste of time and effort. Roosevelt wouldn't stand +for it a minute."</p> + +<p>In those days Theodore Roosevelt did not give up his habits of athletic +exercise, and nearly every day he could be seen taking long walks in the +country around Albany. In the meantime his "Naval War of 1812" was well +under way, but he could spare only a few hours occasionally to complete +his manuscript.</p> + +<p>His married life had thus far been a happy one, and its joy was greatly +increased by the birth of his daughter Alice. As will be seen later, Mr. +Roosevelt is what is called a family man, and he took great comfort in +this new addition to his little household. But his happiness was +short-lived, for in 1884, when the daughter was but a baby, the beloved +wife died, and the little one had to be given over to the care of the +grandparents in Boston. Not many months later Mr. Roosevelt's mother +died also, heaping additional sorrow upon his head.</p> + +<p>With the conclusion of his third term in the Assembly Theodore +Roosevelt's work as a member of that body came to an end. If he had made +some enemies, he had made more friends, and he was known as an ardent +supporter of reform in all branches of politics. In recognition of his +ability he was chosen as a delegate-at-large to the Republican +convention brought together to nominate a candidate to succeed +President Arthur.</p> + +<p>At that time James G. Blaine from Maine had served many years in the +United States Senate, and it was thought that he would surely be both +nominated and elected. But many were opposed to Blaine, thinking he +would not support such reform measures as they wished to see advanced, +and among this number was Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>"We must nominate Mr. Edmunds," said the young delegate-at-large, and +did his best for the gentleman in question.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be done," said another delegate.</p> + +<p>The convention met at Exposition Hall in Chicago, and Mr. Roosevelt was +placed on the Committee on Resolutions. It was a stormy convention, and +ballot after ballot had to be taken before a nomination could be +secured. Blaine led from the start, with Senator Edmunds a fairly close +second.</p> + +<p>"If Blaine is nominated, he will be defeated," said more than one.</p> + +<p>At last came the deciding vote, and James G. Blaine was put up at the +head of the ticket, with John A. Logan for Vice-President.</p> + +<p>At once Blaine clubs were organized all over the country, and the +Republican party did all in its power to elect its candidate. He was +called the Plumed Knight, and many political clubs wore plumes in his +honor when on parade. In the meantime the Democrats had nominated Grover +Cleveland.</p> + +<p>The fight was exceedingly bitter up to the very evening of election day. +When the votes were counted, it was found that Blaine had been defeated +by a large majority, and that Grover Cleveland, Roosevelt's old friend, +had won the highest gift in the hands of the nation.</p> + +<p>His work at the convention in Chicago was Theodore Roosevelt's first +entrance into national affairs, and his speeches on that occasion will +not be readily forgotten. It was here that he came into contact with +William McKinley, with whom, sixteen years later, he was to run on the +same ticket. The records of that convention show that on one occasion +McKinley spoke directly after Roosevelt. Thus were these two drawn +together at that early day without knowing or dreaming that one was to +succeed the other to the Presidency.</p> + +<p>But though Theodore Roosevelt was disappointed over the nomination made +at Chicago, he did not desert his party. Instead he did all he could to +lead them to victory, until the death of his mother caused him to +withdraw temporarily from public affairs.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus07.jpg" alt="Alice" /> +<a id="illus07" name="illus07"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> Alice Lee Roosevelt</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt as a Ranchman and Hunter in the Bad +Lands—Bringing down His First Buffalo—Rattlesnakes, and a Wild +Goose</span></p> + + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt had now published his "Naval History of the War of +1812," and it had created a decidedly favorable opinion among those +critics who were best able to judge of the production. It is an +authoritative work, and is to-day in the library of nearly every +American war-ship afloat, as well as in numerous government libraries in +this country, as at Washington, West Point, and Annapolis, and also in +leading libraries of England.</p> + +<p>Being out of politics the young author thought of taking up his pen once +more. But he was restless by nature, and the loss of his wife and his +mother still weighed heavily upon him. So he took himself to the West, +to where the Little Missouri River flows in winding form through what +are called the Bad Lands of North Dakota.</p> + +<p>Here, on the edge of the cattle country, Theodore Roosevelt had become +possessed of two ranches, one called the Elkhorn and the other Chimney +Butte. Both were located by the river, which during the dry season was +hardly of any depth at all, but which during the heavy rains, or during +the spring freshets, became a roaring torrent.</p> + +<p>At one of these ranches Theodore Roosevelt settled down for the time +being, to rough it in hunting and raising cattle. When the weather would +not permit of his going abroad, or when the mood of the author seized +him, he wrote. As a result of these experiences he has given us a +delightful work called "The Hunting Trips of a Ranchman," first +published in 1885, giving his adventures among the cattle and while on +the hunt, sometimes alone and sometimes in company with the rude but +honest cow punchers and plainsmen who surrounded him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Roosevelt has described the ranch at which he lived for the greater +part of his time as a long, low, story-high house of hewn logs, clean +and neat, and with many rooms. It faced the river, and in front was a +long, low veranda, where one might idle on a clear, warm day to his +heart's content. Inside, the main room contained a shelf full of the +owner's favorite outdoor books and the walls half-a-dozen pet pictures. +Rifles and shot-guns stood handy in corners, and on pegs and deer horns +hung overcoats of wolf or coon skin and gloves of otter or beaver.</p> + +<p>That Theodore Roosevelt was a close observer of all that occurred around +him is proved by his writings. With great minuteness he has described +his life at the ranch home and while in the saddle, both in winter and +summer, telling of his experiences while rounding up cattle and while +bringing down waterfowl and larger game of various kinds. He likewise +describes the trained hunters he has met at different seasons of the +year, and tells of what they have done or were trying to do.</p> + +<p>At this time his favorite horse was a steed called Manitou. But when on +a round-up of cattle, many ponies were taken along, so that a fresh +mount could be had at any time. It was a breezy, free life, and to it +our President undoubtedly owes the rugged constitution that he possesses +to-day.</p> + +<p>His observations led him to make many investigations concerning the +smaller wild animals near his ranches and the larger beasts to be found +farther off. The tales which were told to him by other ranchmen and +hunters he always took "with a grain of salt," and he soon reached the +conclusion that many of the so-styled mighty hunters were only such in +name, and had brought down quantities of game only in years gone by when +such game was plentiful and could be laid low without much trouble. Once +when a man told him he had brought down a certain beast at four hundred +yards, Roosevelt measured the distance and found it to be less than half +that.</p> + +<p>"You couldn't fool him on much," said one of the persons who met him +about that time. "He would take precious little for granted. He wanted +to know the how of everything, and he wasn't satisfied until he did +know."</p> + +<p>Regarding his own powers as a hunter at that time, Mr. Roosevelt is very +modest. He says his eyesight was rather poor, and his hand not over +steady, so that "drawing a bead" on anything was not easy. Yet he went +into the sport with much enthusiasm, and if at times he came back at +nightfall empty-handed, he did not complain, and he was almost certain +to have something interesting to tell of what he had seen.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt had been in this territory before, although not to +remain any great length of time. Once he had come out to hunt buffalo, +no easy thing to do, since this game was growing scarcer every day. He +had a guide named Ferris, who was not particularly struck with the +appearance of the pale young man, plainly dressed, whom he met at the +railroad station.</p> + +<p>"I sized him up as not being able to endure a long trip after a +buffalo," said the guide, in speaking afterward of the meeting. "He was +well mounted, but he looked as if he might play out before the sun went +down."</p> + +<p>But in this the guide was mistaken. Roosevelt proved that he could ride +as well as anybody. The first night out found the hunters about thirty +miles from any settlement. They went into camp on the open prairie, +tethering their horses with ropes fastened to their saddles, which they +used as pillows.</p> + +<p>All went well for an hour or two, when the improvised pillow was jerked +from beneath Theodore Roosevelt's head, and he heard his horse bounding +away in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Wolves!" cried the guide. "They have frightened our horses!"</p> + +<p>So it proved; and the hunters lost no time in reaching for their +firearms. But the wolves kept their distance, and soon Theodore +Roosevelt was running after the horses, which, after a good deal of +trouble, he secured and brought back. After that the guide no longer +looked on him as a "tenderfoot."</p> + +<p>"A tenderfoot," said he, "would have been scared to death. But Teddy +Roosevelt was as cool as a cucumber through it all—as if the happening +wasn't in the least out of the ordinary."</p> + +<p>For several days the hunters remained on the prairie looking for +buffalo, but without success. They were on the point of turning back +when the guide noticed that the horses were growing uneasy.</p> + +<p>"Some big game at hand," he announced. "Come on to yonder washout and +see if I am not right."</p> + +<p>With great caution the hunters advanced to the washout the guide had +mentioned. Dismounting, they crept forward in the shelter of the +brushwood, and there, true enough, resting at his ease was a great +buffalo bull.</p> + +<p>"Hit him where the patch of red shows on his side," whispered the guide, +and Roosevelt nodded to show that he understood. With care and coolness +he took aim and fired, and the buffalo bull leaped up and staggered +forward with the blood streaming from his mouth and nose.</p> + +<p>"Shall I give him another?" was the question asked, but before it could +be answered the buffalo bull gave a plunge and fell dead.</p> + +<p>Rattlesnakes are rather unpleasant reptiles to deal with, and Theodore +Roosevelt has shown his bravery by the way in which he speaks of them in +his accounts of outdoor life. He says to a man wearing alligator boots +there is little danger, for the fang of the reptile cannot go through +the leather, and the snake rarely strikes as high as one's knee. But he +had at least one experience with a rattlesnake not readily forgotten.</p> + +<p>He was out on a hunt for antelope. The sage-brush in which he was +concealing himself was so low that he had to crawl along flat on his +breast, pushing himself forward with hands and feet as best he could.</p> + +<p>He was almost on the antelope when he heard a warning whirr close at his +side, and glancing hastily in that direction, saw the reptile but a few +feet away, coiled up and ready to attack.</p> + +<p>It was a thrilling and critical moment, and had the young hunter leaped +up he might have been dangerously if not fatally struck. But by instinct +he backed away silently and moved off in another direction through the +brush. The rattlesnake did not follow, although it kept its piercing +eyes on the hunter as long as possible. After the antelope stalk was +over, Roosevelt came back to the spot, made a careful search, and, +watching his chance, fired on the rattlesnake, killing it instantly.</p> + +<p>In those days Theodore Roosevelt met Colonel William Cody, commonly +known as "Buffalo Bill," and many other celebrated characters of the +West. He never grew tired of listening to the stories these old +trappers, hunters, scouts, and plainsmen had to tell, and some of these +stories he afterward put into print, and they have made excellent +reading.</p> + +<p>During many of his hunting expeditions at that time Theodore Roosevelt +was accompanied by his foreman, a good shot and all-round ranchman named +Merrifield. Merrifield had been in the West but five years, but the life +fitted him exactly, and in him Roosevelt the ranchman and hunter found a +companion exactly to his liking, fearless and self-reliant to the last +degree.</p> + +<p>As perhaps most of my young readers know, wild geese are generally +brought down with a shot-gun, but in the Bad Lands it was not unusual to +bring them down with a rifle, provided the hunter was quick and accurate +enough in his aim. One morning, just before dawn, Theodore Roosevelt was +riding along the edge of a creek when he heard a cackling that he knew +must come from some geese, and he determined if possible to lay one low.</p> + +<p>It was easy work to dismount and crawl to the edge of the creek. But a +fog lay over the water, and he could see the geese but indistinctly. +Leaving the creek bank, he ran silently to where the watercourse made a +turn and then crawled forward in the brush. Soon the fog lifted once +more, and he saw the geese resting on the water close to the bend. He +fired quickly and brought down the largest of the flock, while the +others lost no time in disappearing. It was a good fat goose and made +excellent eating.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Grouse and Other Small Game—The Scotchman and the Skunk—Caught in +a Hailstorm on the Prairie—Bringing down Black-tail Deer</span></p> + + +<p>It cannot be said that Theodore Roosevelt's venture as a ranchman was a +very successful one, and it is doubtful if he expected to make much +money out of it. He lost nothing in a financial way, and there is no +doubt but that the experience was of great benefit to him. In this +semi-wilderness he met all sorts and conditions of men, and grew to know +them thoroughly. In the past his dealings had been almost entirely with +people of large cities and towns, and with men of learning and large +business affairs; here he fell in with the wildest kind of cowboys and +frontiersmen. Some he soon found were not fit to be associated with, but +the majority proved as honest and hard-working fellows as could be met +with anywhere. Many of these loved the young "boss" from the start, and +when, years later, the war with Spain broke out, and there was a call +to arms, not a few of them insisted upon joining the Rough Riders just +to be near Theodore Roosevelt once more.</p> + +<p>Around the ranches owned by Theodore Roosevelt there were more or less +grouse of the sharp-tailed variety. As this sort of game made excellent +eating, ranchmen and regular hunters did not hesitate to bring them down +at every opportunity.</p> + +<p>One afternoon Theodore Roosevelt left his ranch to visit the shack of +one of his herders, about thirty-five miles down the river. It was a +cold, clear day, and he was finely mounted on a well-trained pony. He +writes that he was after grouse, hoping to get quite a number of them.</p> + +<p>He had trusted to reach the shack long before sundown, but the way was +bad, over bottoms covered with thin ice and snow, and soon darkness came +on, leaving him practically lost in the cottonwoods that lined the +watercourse.</p> + +<p>What to do the young ranchman did not know, and it is safe to say that +he wished himself heartily out of the difficulty. It was so dark he +could not see three yards ahead of him, and it was only by the merest +accident that he struck the shack at last, and then he found it empty, +for the herder had gone off elsewhere on business.</p> + +<p>So far Roosevelt had seen no game, so he was without food, and what made +matters worse, the larder of the shack proved to be empty. All he had +with him was a little package of tea.</p> + +<p>It was a dismal outlook truly, and especially on such a cold night. But +firewood was at hand, and after turning his pony loose to shift for +itself, the future President of our country started up housekeeping for +himself by lighting a fire, bringing in some water from under the ice of +the river, and brewing himself a good, strong cup of tea! It was not a +very nourishing meal, but it was all he had, and soon after that he went +to sleep, trusting for better luck in the morning.</p> + +<p>He was up almost before daybreak, and my young readers can rest assured +that by that time his appetite was decidedly keen. Listening intently, +he could hear the grouse drumming in the woods close by.</p> + +<p>"I must have some of them, and that directly," he told himself, and +rifle in hand lost no time in making his way to the woods. By keeping +out of sight behind the brushwood he managed to get quite close to the +game, and so brought down one after another until he had five. Such +success was a great satisfaction to him, and returning to the shack he +fixed himself a breakfast of broiled sharptails, to which he did full +justice.</p> + +<p>It was not all play at the ranches, and sometimes Theodore Roosevelt +went out with his men to round up the cattle and help "cut out" what was +his own. This was hard work, for frequently the cattle did not want to +be separated from the beasts belonging to another ranchman. More than +once an angry cow or a bull would charge, and then there would be a +lively scramble on pony-back or on foot to get out of the way. +Sometimes, too, the cattle would wander off and get lost, and then a +long and hard hunt would be necessary in order to find them again.</p> + +<p>But there was fun as well as hard work, and Mr. Roosevelt has told one +story about a skunk that is sure to be remembered. He says that skunks +were very numerous, and that they were more feared than larger animals +by the cowboys because the bite was sure to bring on hydrophobia.</p> + +<p>One night a number of the cowboys and Mr. Roosevelt were sleeping in a +hut. A skunk came along, and after a time worked its way into the hut. +It got among the pots and pans and made a noise which quickly awoke a +Scotchman named Sandy.</p> + +<p>Thinking something was wrong, Sandy struck a light, and seeing the eyes +of the skunk, fired. But his aim was bad, and the animal fled.</p> + +<p>"What were you firing at?" asked half a dozen of the other cowboys.</p> + +<p>The Scotchman explained, and, satisfied that it had been a skunk, the +others told him he had better leave the animal alone or there would be +trouble.</p> + +<p>Nobody thought the skunk would come back, but it did, and again Sandy +heard it among the pots and pans. This was too much for his Scotch +blood, and taking aim once more, he fired and gave the skunk a mortal +wound. At once the hut was filled with a powerful odor that made all +the inmates rush for the open air.</p> + +<p>"Now see what you have done!" cried several, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Hoot mon!" answered the Scotchman, holding his nose tightly, "A didna +ken 'twould cause sec' a tragedee!"</p> + +<p>And after that we may be sure that Sandy let skunks severely alone.</p> + +<p>Hunting in the summer time, or when the weather was but moderately cold, +was well enough, but hunting in the dead of winter was quite a different +thing. Then the thermometer would frequently drop to thirty and forty +degrees below zero, and there would be a cutting "norther" fit to freeze +the very marrow in one's bones. Seldom was there much snow, but when it +came, it caused a veritable blizzard, during which neither man nor beast +felt like stirring out.</p> + +<p>It was during such weather that Theodore Roosevelt once had the tip of +his nose and one cheek frozen—something that caused him not a little +pain and trouble for a long time afterward.</p> + +<p>It was in those dreary days that the logs were piled high in the broad +fireplace of the ranch home, and Theodore Roosevelt spent his days in +reading and studying, in writing letters to his friends and relatives, +and in penning some of the hunting sketches that have won him literary +fame.</p> + +<p>One day, early in the winter, Theodore Roosevelt and his foreman went +out to see if they could not bring in two white-tail deer which had been +seen in the vicinity of the ranch the day before. One of the deer, a +large buck, had been shot in the ankle by the foreman, so the beginning +of the trail was easy to follow. The buck and his mate had gone into a +thicket, and it was likely that there the pair had spent the night.</p> + +<p>"We'll have our own trouble finding the tracks again," said the foreman. +And so it proved; for during the night some cattle and other animals had +passed in and out of the thicket, which covered a large extent of +territory.</p> + +<p>At last the hunters hit upon the right trail, and the foreman went +ahead, leaving Roosevelt to keep somewhat toward the outside of the +cover. Both were wide-awake and on the alert, and presently the foreman +announced that he had found the spot where the wounded buck had passed +the night.</p> + +<p>"He is not very far from here," said the foreman, and hardly had he said +this than Theodore Roosevelt heard a cracking of fallen twigs and a +breaking of the brush and lower limbs of the trees as the buck rushed +through the thicket. He ran with all speed in the direction and took +station behind a large tree.</p> + +<p>Only a few seconds passed, and then the buck showed his head and antlers +among the brushwood. He was gazing ahead anxiously, no doubt trying to +decide if it would be safe to leap into the open and run up the trail. +Then he turned his gaze directly toward where Theodore Roosevelt was +crouching, rifle in hand.</p> + +<p>Another instant and it would have been too late. But just as the buck's +head was turned and he sniffed the air suspiciously, the young ranchman +pulled the trigger.</p> + +<p>"He turned his head sharply toward me as I raised the rifle," says Mr. +Roosevelt, in writing of this adventure, "and the bullet went fairly +into his throat, just under the jaw, breaking his neck, and bringing +him down in his tracks with hardly a kick."</p> + +<p>The buck proved to be an extra fine one, and the two hunters lost no +time in dressing the game and taking it to the ranch. Not wishing to go +back for their horses, the two dragged the game over the snow, each +taking hold of an antler for that purpose. It was intensely cold, so +that each of the hunters had to drag first with one hand and then with +the other for fear of having his fingers frozen.</p> + +<p>This was one of the times when the young ranchman and hunter was +successful in his quest. But Mr. Roosevelt has not hesitated to tell of +the many times he has gone out on the hunt only to return empty-handed +and glad enough to get back to a warm shelter and where he was sure of a +good meal.</p> + +<p>"Ranching and hunting was no bed of roses," some one who knew him at +that time has said. "Many a time he came back utterly fagged out and not +a thing to show for his labor. But he never complained, and on the +contrary could generally tell a pretty good story about something he had +seen or had taken note of. In the summer he would examine the nests of +birds and waterfowl with great care, and I have seen him with a horned +frog before him, studying every point of the creature."</p> + +<p>Once while on the prairie the young ranchman was caught in a heavy +hailstorm. He was out with a number of others, when, with scarcely any +warning, the sky began to grow dark, and the wind came up in fitful +gusts.</p> + +<p>"We must get out of this, and quick too," said a companion. And all +pushed onward as fast as they could. But soon the heavy fall of hail +overtook them, and they were glad enough to seek even the slight shelter +of a deep washout, where men and horses huddled close together for +protection. The hailstones came down as large as marbles, causing the +horses to jump around in a fashion that was particularly dangerous to +themselves and to their owners. The time was August, yet the air grew +very cold, and when the storm was over, some cattle were found +completely benumbed. A few had been killed, and there had likewise been +great slaughter among a flock of lambs that had been driven into the Bad +Lands the year previous.</p> + +<p>Mr. Roosevelt tells us that the greatest number of black-tailed deer he +ever killed in one day was three. He is a true sportsman in this respect +and does not kill for the mere sake of killing. Those who go out just to +slaughter all they possibly can are not sportsmen, but butchers. To be +sure, a hunter may have to play the butcher at times, when the meat is +needed, but not otherwise.</p> + +<p>On the occasion when the three black-tails were laid low the young +ranchman and his foreman started on the hunt very early in the morning, +when the bright moon was still in the sky. It was late in November and +stinging cold, so they allowed their horses to take their own pace, +which was far from slow.</p> + +<p>The course of the hunters was up the bed of a dry creek, along which +they passed the still sleeping cattle and also a drove of ponies. Then +they reached a spot where they left their own steeds, and, rifles in +hand, hurried silently toward a great plateau which lay some distance +before them. Signs of deer could be seen on every hand, and both were +certain that the day's outing would prove a grand success.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt had separated from his companion when of a sudden he +caught sight of a beautiful doe. It was a fair shot, and dropping on one +knee he took aim and fired. But to his intense chagrin the doe bounded +off and disappeared in the brushwood.</p> + +<p>"Hit anything?" sang out the foreman.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; better luck next time." And then both sank down behind a +rock where they could get a good view of a hollow ahead of them.</p> + +<p>They had been behind the rock but a short time when they heard a +cracking of twigs, and a fine black-tail buck came cautiously into view. +Both fired, and the buck rolled over, never to rise again. Then another +deer came into view and both fired again, but the game was not struck +and lost no time in disappearing.</p> + +<p>"Never mind; one isn't so bad," said Theodore Roosevelt, and his +companion agreed with him.</p> + +<p>The hunters now decided to go forward into the hollow and look for the +doe Theodore Roosevelt had missed. This was done, and soon the foreman +pointed to some drops and splashes of blood.</p> + +<p>"Must have hit her, after all," said the foreman. "We can take our time +about following her up. We'll be sure to get her sooner or later."</p> + +<p>But locating the wounded doe proved not so easy, after all. The trail +was followed for some time, but was lost on the hard ground higher up; +and at last the two hunters agreed to look for new game. They had lunch, +and then started out nearly as fresh as before when suddenly the foreman +called out:—</p> + +<p>"There's your game all right!"</p> + +<p>He pointed to a clump of bushes, and running forward, both saw the doe +stretched out, stiff and cold. She had been mortally wounded, after all, +much to both hunters' gratification.</p> + +<p>So far the hunting had been on foot, but now the hunters took again to +their steeds. Mr. Roosevelt says he was wishing for just one more shot, +to see if he could not do better than before, when his wish was +gratified. Just ahead a yearling black-tail buck leaped into view and +cantered away. After the buck went both hunters, but Theodore Roosevelt +was in the lead, and this time determined to make no miss or poor shot. +He waited until the buck turned its side to him, then fired with +especial care. The game staggered on, then fell. The bullet had gone +clean through its body, and in a few seconds it breathed its last.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Runs for Mayor of New York City—Marriage to Edith Kermit +Carew—Hunting in the Bighorn Mountains—A Wild Chase after Three +Elk</span></p> + + +<p>Although Theodore Roosevelt was devoting himself to ranching, hunting, +and literary work in North Dakota he had by no means given up his +residence in New York or at Oyster Bay. More than this, he still +continued his connection with the Republican party in spite of the +set-back at the last National Convention.</p> + +<p>In 1886, while Grover Cleveland was still President of the United +States, there was an exceedingly sharp and bitter fight in New York City +over the office of mayor. There was great discontent both in the +Republican and the Democratic party, and nobody could tell what was +going to happen on election day.</p> + +<p>"Let us put up Teddy Roosevelt," said some of the Republicans, and +shortly after this Theodore Roosevelt was nominated for mayor of New +York. His regular opponent was Abram Hewitt, while the Independents put +up Henry George, the "single tax" man, well known as the author of a +book entitled "Progress and Poverty."</p> + +<p>From the very start the campaign was an exceedingly hot one, and there +was a good deal of parading and speech-making. Many clubs were organized +in behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, and clubs were likewise formed to +support the other candidates. The supporters of Henry George came from +both regular parties, so political matters became very much mixed up.</p> + +<p>"There is no show for Roosevelt unless George withdraws," said more than +one old politician.</p> + +<p>"And George won't withdraw," added others. And so it proved. Henry +George was exceptionally strong with the poorer classes, and on election +day he polled over 68,000 votes; 90,552 votes were cast for Hewitt, +while Roosevelt received 60,435 votes.</p> + +<p>It was certainly a disheartening defeat, and many a man would have +retired from the political field, never to show himself again. But +Theodore Roosevelt was made of sterner stuff. He held his ground and +went his way as before, resolved to do his duty as it should present +itself.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that his intimacy with Miss Edith Kermit Carew +was renewed. It will be remembered that she had been his playmate during +his earlier days around Union Square. In the years that had followed she +had been graduated from a young ladies' seminary and had travelled +abroad, visiting London, Paris, and other large cities. Now she was home +again, and on December 2, 1886, she became Mr. Roosevelt's wife.</p> + +<p>Mr. Roosevelt's second marriage has been a very happy one. Mrs. +Roosevelt is a loving wife and a gracious mistress of the White House. +Five children have come to bless their union, of which more will be said +later. Mrs. Roosevelt at once took Mr. Roosevelt's daughter Alice to her +heart, and from that time to this the two have been as mother and +daughter.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt had already produced his "Naval War of 1812" and his +"Hunting Trips of a Ranchman," both spoken of in previous pages. A +short while after he was married the second time he brought out a "Life +of Thomas Benton," and a year later a "Life of Gouverneur Morris." In +addition to this he wrote a number of articles for the magazines, and +also some short stories for young folks. All were well received and +added not a little to his literary reputation.</p> + +<p>But the desire to be out in the open, to roam the prairie and to hunt, +was in his veins, and again and again he visited his ranches in the Bad +Lands, and took hunting trips in other directions. Sometimes he cared +little or nothing for the game brought down, and at others he went on +the hunt with great deliberation, for "something worth while," as he +expressed it.</p> + +<p>How careful he could be on the latter occasions is shown by his printed +views on hunting, in which he discusses the best rifles, shot-guns, and +pistols to use, the best knives to carry, how to dress with comfort, and +how to follow up game, on horseback and on foot, in the open and when in +the woods or in the short brush. He has also told us much about the +habits of the beasts and birds that he has hunted, showing that he +followed the sport intelligently and not in the haphazard fashion of +many who go out merely to get a big bagful of game.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus08.jpg" alt="Edith" /> +<a id="illus08" name="illus08"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> Edith Kermit Roosevelt</p> + +<p>Hunting was not all fun in those days. We have already related how +Theodore Roosevelt was caught in a heavy hailstorm. At another time he +and his companions were caught in a three-days' rain-storm, during which +the wind blew a hurricane. They were miles away from the ranch home, and +it was utterly impossible to move in any direction.</p> + +<p>"Reckon we are booked to stay here," said one of the cowboys, a fellow +from the South. "It's a right smart storm, and it's going to stay by +us." And stay by them it did, until the party were almost out of +provisions. They got what shelter they could in something of a hollow +overhung with trees and brush, but this was not very satisfactory, and +all were soaked to the skin, and the blankets in which they rolled +themselves at night were both wet and muddy.</p> + +<p>"Teddy Roosevelt didn't like that wetting, and I know it," one of the +cowboys has said since. "But he didn't grumble near as much as some of +the others. We had to take our medicine, and he took his like a man."</p> + +<p>There were no elk in the immediate vicinity of Theodore Roosevelt's +ranches, nor were there many bears or buffaloes. But all of these +animals were to be met with further westward, and the young ranchman had +been after them during a previous year's hunting while on a trip to +Montana and Wyoming.</p> + +<p>At that time the destination of the party was the Bighorn Mountains, +which were reached only after a painful and disheartening journey over a +very uncertain Indian trail, during which one of the ponies fell into a +washout and broke his neck, and a mule stuck fast in a mud-hole and was +extricated only after hours of hard work.</p> + +<p>"It was on the second day of our journey into the mountains that I got +my first sight of elk," says Mr. Roosevelt. The party was on the trail +leading into a broad valley, moving slowly and cautiously along through +a patch of pine trees. When the bottom of the valley was gained, Mr. +Roosevelt saw a herd of cow elk at a great distance, and soon after +took a shot at one, but failed to reach his mark.</p> + +<p>"I'm going after that herd," he said. And as soon as the party had +pitched camp, he sallied forth in one direction, while his foreman, +Merrifield, took another.</p> + +<p>As Theodore Roosevelt had supposed, the elk had gone off in a bunch, and +for some distance it was easy to follow them. But further on the herd +had spread out, and he had to follow with more care, for fear of getting +on the wrong trail, for elk tracks ran in all directions over the +mountains. These tracks are there to-day, but the elk and the bears are +fast disappearing, for ruthless hunters have done their best to +exterminate the game.</p> + +<p>After passing along for several miles, Theodore Roosevelt felt he must +be drawing close to the herd. Just then his rifle happened to tap on the +trunk of a tree, and instantly he heard the elk moving away in new +alarm. His hunting blood was now aroused, and he rushed forward with all +speed, but as silently as possible. By taking a short cut, the young +ranchman managed to come up beside the running elk. They were less than +twenty yards away, and had it not been for the many trees which were on +every side, he would have had an excellent shot at them. As it was he +brought low a fine, full-grown cow elk, and hit a bull calf in the hind +leg. Later on he took up the trail of the calf and finished that also.</p> + +<p>Of this herd the foreman also brought down two, so that for the time +being the hunters had all the meat they needed. But Theodore Roosevelt +was anxious to obtain some elk horns as trophies of the chase, and day +after day a watch was kept for bull elk, as the hunters moved the camp +from one place to another.</p> + +<p>At last the long-looked-for opportunity arrived. Three big bulls were +seen, and Roosevelt and his man went after them with all possible speed. +They were on foot, and the trail led them over some soft ground, and +then through a big patch of burnt timber. Here running was by no means +easy, and more than once both hunters pitched headlong into the dirt and +soot, until they were covered from head to foot. But Theodore Roosevelt +was bound to get the elk, and kept on until the sweat was pouring down +his face and neck. Shot after shot was fired, and all three of the +animals were wounded, but still they kept on bounding away.</p> + +<p>"One is down!" shouted Roosevelt at last. And the news proved true; the +smallest of the bulls had rocked unsteadily for a few seconds and gone +to earth. Then on and on after the remaining game sped the hunters, +panting and sweating as before.</p> + +<p>"The sweat streamed down in my eyes and made furrows in the sooty mud +that covered my face, from having fallen full length down on the burnt +earth," writes the dauntless hunter, in relating this story. "I sobbed +for breath as I toiled at a shambling trot after them, as nearly done +out as could well be."</p> + +<p>But he did not give up; and now the elk took a turn and went downhill, +with Theodore Roosevelt pitching after them, ready to drop from +exhaustion, but full of that grit to win out which has since won the +admiration of all who know the man. The second bull fell; and now but +one remained, and this dashed into a thicket. On its heels went the +daring hunter, running the chance of having the elk turn on him as soon +as cornered, in which case, had Roosevelt's rifle been empty, the +struggle for life on both sides would have been a fierce one.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the thicket the hunter had to pause, for the elk was now +out of sight, and there was no telling what new course had been taken by +the game. At a distance he saw a yellow body under the evergreen trees, +and, taking hasty aim, fired. When he came up, he was somewhat dismayed +to learn that he had not brought down the elk, but a black-tail deer +instead. In the meantime, the elk got away, and it proved impossible to +pick up the trail again.</p> + +<p>There is a valuable lesson to be learned from this hunting trip, and one +that all young readers should take to heart. It shows what sticking at a +thing can accomplish. Mr. Roosevelt had determined to get at least a +portion of that game, no matter what the labor and hardship involved. +Many a hunter would have given up in disgust or despair after the first +few shots were fired and it looked as if the elk were out of range and +intended to keep out. But this determined young man did not give up +thus easily. Hard as was that run up hill and down, and regardless of +the tumbles taken, and that he was so tired he could scarcely stand, he +kept on until two elk were brought down, and it was firmly settled that +the third could not be captured.</p> + +<p>The way to accomplish anything in this life is to <i>stick at it</i>. +Theodore Roosevelt understood this truth even when he went to college, +for in the Harvard journal of which he was an editor he wrote, speaking +of foot-ball practice, "What is most necessary is that every man should +realize the necessity of faithful and honest work, <i>every afternoon</i>." +He put "every afternoon" in italics himself, and he meant that every +foot-ball player who hoped to win in the inter-collegiate foot-ball +games should <i>stick at it</i> until he had made himself as perfect a player +as possible. A victory worth gaining is worth working for, and usually +the hardest-earned victories are the sweetest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bringing down a Grizzly Bear—Back to New York—Appointed a Civil +Service Commissioner—The Work of the Commission</span></p> + + +<p>It was while in the Bighorn Mountains that Theodore Roosevelt got his +first shot at a bear. He had been wanting such a chance for a good many +years, but up to that date the bears had kept well out of his sight.</p> + +<p>In his writings he has said much about bears, both common and grizzly, +and told of their habits, and how they have been tracked down and shot +at various times of the year. He holds to the opinion that the average +bear would rather run away than fight, yet he tells the story of how one +bear faced the hunter who had shot him, and gave the man one blow with +his powerful paw that proved fatal.</p> + +<p>One day his companion of the hunt came riding in with the carcass of a +black bear killed in a network of hollows and ravines some miles from +their present camp.</p> + +<p>"The hollows are full of bear tracks," said Merrifield. "I am sure, if +we go up there, we'll get one or more black bears and perhaps a +grizzly."</p> + +<p>"Then let us go by all means," responded Theodore Roosevelt. And no time +was lost in moving to the new locality.</p> + +<p>The hunters had been out nearly all of the next day, when, on returning +through the forest toward nightfall, Roosevelt came across the footmarks +of a large bear. He tried to follow them, but night closed in on him, +and he had to return to camp. That very night the bear came around the +camp, looking for something to eat.</p> + +<p>"Let us try to bring him down," cried Roosevelt, seizing his rifle, +while his companion did the same. But outside it was pitch dark.</p> + +<p>"Do you see him?" questioned Merrifield.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Neither do I."</p> + +<p>"Listen."</p> + +<p>Both listened, and at a distance heard the bear lumbering off slowly +through the woods. They went forward a short distance, then came to a +halt.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to give it up for the present," said Theodore Roosevelt. +"But I am going to have him, sooner or later, if the thing is possible."</p> + +<p>Early the next morning both of the hunters sallied forth and discovered +that the bear had been at the carcasses of some game left in the forest. +The tracks were fresh.</p> + +<p>"He has been here, no doubt of it," said Merrifield. "Shall we wait for +him to come again?"</p> + +<p>"We might as well," was the answer. "He'll get hungry again, sooner or +later."</p> + +<p>So the pair sat down to watch. But the bear was shy, and kept his +distance. Then it grew dark once more, so that but little could be seen +under the trees.</p> + +<p>"He knows enough to keep away," said Roosevelt's companion.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" was the reply and both strained their ears. There was a faint +crackling of twigs, and they felt certain it was the bear. But it was +too dark to see anything; so both shouldered their rifles and walked +back to camp.</p> + +<p>Here was another illustration of Theodore Roosevelt's method of sticking +at a thing. Two days had been spent in trying to get that bear, and yet +he did not give up. On the following morning he sallied forth once more, +as full of hope as before.</p> + +<p>The bear had been at the carcass again, and the trail was now one to be +followed with ease.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to hunt him down to his lair," said Theodore Roosevelt, and +stalked off with his companion beside him. Soon they were again deep in +the woods, walking perhaps where the foot of white man had never before +trod. Fallen trees were everywhere, and over these they often had to +climb.</p> + +<p>"Getting closer," whispered Roosevelt's companion, and pointed to some +fresh claw scratches on the bark of fallen trees.</p> + +<p>They now moved forward as silently as Indians, sure that the bear could +not be far off. Suddenly Merrifield dropped on his knee as if to take +aim. Roosevelt sprang to the front, with rifle raised. The bear was +there, standing upright, only a few paces away. Without hesitation +Theodore Roosevelt fired. His aim was true, and the great beast fell +with a bullet straight between the eyes. The leaden messenger had +entered his brain, and he died with scarcely a struggle.</p> + +<p>"The whole thing was over in twenty seconds from the time I caught sight +of the game," writes Mr. Roosevelt, in his book "Hunting Trips on the +Prairies" (Part II of "Hunting Trips of a Ranchman"). "Indeed it was +over so quickly that the grizzly did not have time to show fight at all +or come a step toward me. It was the first I had ever seen, and I felt +not a little proud as I stood over the great brindled bulk which lay +stretched out at length in the cool shade of the evergreens. He was a +monstrous fellow, much larger than any I have seen since, whether alive +or brought in dead by hunters. As near as we could estimate he must have +weighed about twelve hundred pounds."</p> + +<p>There is a bear story for you, boys. And the best of it is, it is every +word true. In later years Theodore Roosevelt brought down many more +grizzlies, but I doubt if he was as proud of them as he was of that +first capture.</p> + +<p>While Theodore Roosevelt was spending a large part of his time in +hunting and in literary work, and in studying political economy, Grover +Cleveland's first term as President came to an end, and Benjamin +Harrison was inaugurated to fill the office of Chief Magistrate.</p> + +<p>At that time the question of Civil Service was again being agitated. +Theodore Roosevelt was a warm advocate of the merit system, and knowing +this, President Harrison appointed him, in 1889, a Civil Service +Commissioner, and this office he held for six years, until his +resignation in 1895. When Benjamin Harrison's term of office was up, and +Grover Cleveland was reëlected to the Presidency, it was thought that +Roosevelt would have to go, but his friend, the newly elected President, +wished him to remain as a commissioner, and he did so for two years +longer, thus serving both under a Republican and a Democratic +administration.</p> + +<p>To some of my young readers the term Civil Service, as applied here, may +be a bit perplexing. For the benefit of such let me state that civil +service here applies to the thousands of persons who work for the +government, such as post-office clerks, letter carriers, clerks in the +various departments at Washington, like the Treasury, the Congressional +Library, the Government Printing Office, the War Department, and the +hundred and one other branches in which Uncle Sam needs assistance.</p> + +<p>For seventy or eighty years these various positions had been under what +is commonly called the "spoils system." "To the victor belong the +spoils," had been the old motto, which generally meant that the party +happening to be in power could do as it pleased about dealing out +employment to those under it. A worker might have been ever so faithful +in the discharge of his duties, but if the administration was changed, +he ran the risk of losing his position without any notice.</p> + +<p>Statesmen of both great political parties had long seen the injustice of +the spoils system, but few cared to take the matter up for fear of +offending their political friends. But as matters grew worse, those who +were honest said they would stand such a system no longer, and they +began to advocate the merit plan, whereby each worker for our +government should stand on his merit, so that he could not be removed +from his position without just cause. This merit system is in operation +to-day and is a most excellent thing, only becoming dangerous when +extended too far.</p> + +<p>There were two other commissioners besides Mr. Roosevelt on the +Commission, but all worked together in harmony, although in many moves +taken Mr. Roosevelt was the leader. About this work he has written a +notable essay called "Six Years of Civil Service Reform," in which he +reviews much of the work done. In this essay, among many other things, +he says:—</p> + +<p>"No republic can permanently endure when its politics are corrupt and +base; and the spoils system,—the application in political life of the +degrading doctrine that to the victor belong the spoils,—produces +corruption and degradation. The man who is in politics for the offices +might just as well be in politics for the money he can get for his vote, +so far as the general good is concerned." Certainly wise words and well +worth remembering.</p> + +<p>The work of the Commission was by no means easy, and the members were +often accused of doing some things merely to benefit their own +particular party or friends. Politicians of the old sort, who wanted +everything they could lay hands on, fought civil service bitterly, and +even those who might have been expected to help often held back, fearing +they would lose their own popularity. Yet on the other hand, some +members of Congress upheld the Commission nobly, and when President +Garfield was assassinated by a half-crazy office-seeker many more came +forward and clamored to put public offices on the merit system by all +means.</p> + +<p>Part of the work of the Commission was to prosecute the head of any +bureau or department where an employee had been discharged or had +suffered without just cause. Such cases came up in large numbers and +were prosecuted with all the vigor of which the Commission were capable.</p> + +<p>"We were not always successful in these trials," says Mr. Roosevelt. +"But we won out in the majority of cases, and we gave the wrong-doing +such a wide publicity that those who were guilty hesitated to repeat +their actions." And he goes on to add that during his term of service +not over one per cent. of those who worked for Uncle Sam were dismissed +purely for political reasons. This was certainly an excellent record, +and our government will do well to maintain such a high standard in the +future.</p> + +<p>To give a further idea of the work required in the way of examinations +for positions under our government, let me state that during the year +from July 1, 1890, to July 1, 1891, 5251 applicants were examined for +the departments service, 1579 for the customs service, 8538 for the +postal service, 3706 for the railway mail service, making a total of +nearly 20,000, of which about 13,000 passed and the balance failed. +Since our war with Spain, the work of the government has been vastly +increased, and the places to be filled every year run up into figures +that are startling.</p> + +<p>One of the best and wisest acts of the Commission was to place the +colored employees of the government on an equal footing with the white +employees. In the past the colored employees had occupied their places +merely through the whim or goodwill of those over them. Now this was +changed, and any colored man who could pass the examination, and who was +willing to attend strictly to his labor, was as safe in his situation as +anybody.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Trip to the Shoshone Mountains—Caught in a Driving +Snowstorm—Back to Work—Resignation as Civil Service Commissioner</span></p> + + +<p>Notwithstanding the great amount of labor involved as a Civil Service +Commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt did not forego the pleasures of the +hunt, and in 1891 he made an extended trip to the Shoshone Mountains in +Wyoming, going after elk and such other game as might present itself.</p> + +<p>On this trip he was accompanied by his ranch partner, a skilled shot +named Ferguson, and two old hunters named Woody and Hofer. There was +also in the party a young fellow who looked after the pack-horses, +fourteen in number.</p> + +<p>The start was made on a beautiful day in September, and the party +journeyed along at a gait that pleased them, bringing down everything +that came to hand and which could be used as meat. Two tents were +carried, one for sheltering their packs at night and the other for +sleeping purposes.</p> + +<p>In his book called "The Wilderness Hunter," Mr. Roosevelt has given many +of the details of this grand hunt, which he says was one of the most +exciting as well as most pleasurable undertaken. With an interest that +cannot be mistaken, and which betrays the true sportsman at every turn, +he gives minute descriptions of how the tents were erected, how +everything in camp was put in its proper place, and how on wet days they +would huddle around the camp-fire in the middle of the larger tent to +keep warm and dry. He also tells how the packs on the horses were +adjusted, and adds that the hunter who cannot take care of his outfit +while on the hunt, or who must have all his game stalked for him, is a +hunter in name only;—which is literally true, as every genuine +sportsman knows.</p> + +<p>The young Civil Service Commissioner went out garbed in a fitting +hunting costume, consisting of a buckskin shirt, with stout leggings, +and moccasins, or, when occasion required, alligator-leather boots. +Heavy overcoats were also carried and plenty of blankets, and for extra +cold nights Theodore Roosevelt had a fur sleeping-bag, in which, no +doubt, he slept "as snug as a bug in a rug."</p> + +<p>The horses of a pack-train in the wild West are not always thoroughly +broken, and although the majority rarely do anything worse than lag +behind or stray away, yet occasionally one or another will indulge in +antics far from desired. This was true on the present occasion, when at +different times the pack-beasts went on a "shindy" that upset all +calculations and scattered packs far and wide, causing a general alarm +and hard work on the part of all hands to restore quietness and order.</p> + +<p>For two days the hunters pushed on into the mountains with but little +signs of game. Then a rain-storm set in which made the outlook a dismal +one.</p> + +<p>"Going to have a big storm," said one of the old hunters.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, we'll have to take it as it comes," was Mr. Roosevelt's +philosophical answer. "We can't expect good weather every day."</p> + +<p>It was almost noon of that day when all heard the call of a bull elk, +echoing over the hills. The sound came from no great distance, and in +the face of the rain, Theodore Roosevelt and the hunter named Woody set +off on foot after the beast, who was still calling as loudly as ever.</p> + +<p>It was not long before the hunters could hear the bull plainly, as he +pawed the earth, a challenge to another bull who was answering him from +a great distance.</p> + +<p>"We are gettin' closer to him," said Woody. "Got to go slow now, or +he'll take alarm and be off like a flash."</p> + +<p>The timber was rather thin, and the ground was covered with moss and +fallen leaves, and over this the pair glided as silently as shadows, +until Woody declared that the bull was not over a hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>"And he's in a tearing rage, on account of that other bull," he added. +"Got to plug him fair and square or there will be trouble."</p> + +<p>Without replying to this, Theodore Roosevelt took the lead, keeping eyes +and ears wide open for anything that might come to hand. Then through +the trees he caught sight of the stately horns of the elk, as he stood +with head thrown back, repeating his call in trumpet-like tones.</p> + +<p>As the hunters came closer, the elk faced around and caught sight of his +human enemies. Up went his antlers once more, as if to defy them.</p> + +<p>"He's coming!" shouted Woody. And scarcely had he spoken when Theodore +Roosevelt took aim and fired at the animal. There was a snort and a +gasp, and the elk turned to run away. Then Roosevelt fired a second +shot, and over went the monarch of the forest in his death agony. It was +a fine bit of game to bring down, the antlers having twelve prongs. The +head was cut off and taken back to camp, along with a small part of the +best of the meat.</p> + +<p>After that the forward march was resumed in the face of a sweeping rain +that wet everybody to the skin. On they went until, just as the rain +ceased, they reached a bold plateau, overlooking what is called +Two-Ocean Pass, a wild and wonderful freak of nature, surrounded by +lofty mountains and watered by streams and brooks flowing in several +directions. Far up the mountains could be seen the snow-drifts, while +lower down were the heavy forests and underbrush, the haunts of the game +they were seeking.</p> + +<p>In this Wonderland Theodore Roosevelt hunted to his heart's content for +many days—bringing down several more elk and also a fair variety of +smaller game. It was now growing colder, and knowing that the winter +season was close at hand, the hunters decided to strike camp and return +homeward.</p> + +<p>The movement was made none too soon. The snow was already filling the +air, and one morning, on coming from his tent, Theodore Roosevelt found +the ground covered to a depth of a foot and a half. To add to his +discomfort the pony he was riding began to buck that day and managed to +dislocate his rider's thumb. But Theodore Roosevelt stuck to him and +showed him who was master; and after that matters went better. The snow +continued to come down, and before the end of the journey was reached, +at Great Geyser Basin, the hunters almost perished from the cold.</p> + +<p>Such pictures as the above give us some idea of the varied life that +Theodore Roosevelt has led. Even at this early age—he was but +thirty-three years old—he had been a college student, a traveller, an +author, an assemblyman, a ranchman and hunter, and a Civil Service +Commissioner. He had travelled the length and breadth of Europe and +through a large section of our own country. He had visited the palaces +of kings and the shacks of the humble cowboys of the far West, he had +met men in high places and in low, and had seen them at their best and +at their worst. Surely if "experience is the school wherein man learns +wisdom," then the future President had ample means of growing wise, and +his works prove that those means were not neglected.</p> + +<p>As already mentioned, when Grover Cleveland became President a second +time, he requested Theodore Roosevelt to retain his place on the Civil +Service Commission. This was a practical illustration of the workings of +the merit system, and it made for Mr. Cleveland many friends among his +former political enemies. By this movement the workings of the +Commission were greatly strengthened, so that by the time Theodore +Roosevelt resigned, on May 5, 1895, the Commission had added twenty +thousand places filled by government employees to those coming under the +merit system. This number was larger than any placed under the system +before that time, and the record has scarcely been equalled since.</p> + +<p>"He was a fighter for the system, day and night," says one who knew him +at that time. "He was enthusiastic to the last degree, and had all sorts +of statistics at his fingers' ends. If anybody in the government employ +was doing wrong, he was willing to pitch into that person regardless of +consequences. Some few politicians thought he was a crank on the +subject, but the results speak for themselves. Some politicians, who +wanted the old spoils system retained, were often after him like a swarm +of angry hornets, but he never got out of their way, and when they tried +to sting, he slapped them in a way that soon made them leave him alone. +And more than that, he was very clever in the way that he presented his +case to those representatives and senators who understood the real +value of Civil Service reform. He made them appreciate what he and his +fellow-commissioners were trying to do, and when the Commission was +attacked in Congress it always had, as a consequence, a support that +could not be easily overthrown."</p> + +<p>When Theodore Roosevelt resigned, President Cleveland wrote as follows +to him:—</p> + +<p>"You are certainly to be congratulated upon the extent and permanency of +civil service reform methods which you have so substantially aided in +bringing about. The struggle for its firm establishment and recognition +is past. Its faithful application and reasonable expansion remain, +subjects of deep interest to all who really desire the best attainable +public service." It was high praise for the retiring commissioner, and +it was well deserved.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Appointed Police Commissioner of New York City—Corruptness of the +Department—Strenuous Efforts to make Matters Better—A "Dry" +Sunday—Enforcing the Tenement House Law and Other Measures</span></p> + + +<p>During the time that Theodore Roosevelt was a Civil Service Commissioner +there were several important political changes made in New York City.</p> + +<p>In the past there had been a great deal of what is familiarly called +"machine politics," and matters had been going from bad to worse. But +now there was an upward turn by the election of William S. Strong to the +office of mayor. Mr. Strong was a man of high character, and was elected +by a vote that combined the best elements of all the political parties.</p> + +<p>It was at a time when New York City was in urgent need of reform. Those +in power were doing but little to stop the corruption that was stalking +abroad upon every hand. Bribes were given and taken in nearly all +departments, clerks were being paid large salaries for doing practically +nothing, and contracts were put out, not to those who could do the best +work, but to those who would pay the political tricksters the most money +for them.</p> + +<p>The record of the police department was perhaps the blackest of the lot. +It was to this department that the citizens looked for protection from +crime, yet it was known that many in the department winked at all sorts +of vice, providing they were properly paid for so doing. Saloons and +worse resorts were kept open in defiance of the law, and wickedness +flaunted itself in the face of the public in a manner that was truly +shocking. Occasionally a private citizen would try to do something to +mend matters, but his complaint was generally "pigeon-holed," and that +would be the end of the matter. The rottenness, as it was well called, +extended from the highest places in the department to the lowest, so +that it was said not even a policeman could secure his appointment +without paying several hundred dollars for it, and this he was, of +course, expected to get back by blackmailing those who lived or did +business on his beat. And get it back the policeman would, even if he +had to make an Italian fruit dealer pay him a dollar a month for having +a stand on the sidewalk, where the walk was supposed to be free from +obstruction.</p> + +<p>When William Strong came into office, the first thing he did was to cast +his eyes about him for reliable men who might aid him in purifying the +city. He already knew of Theodore Roosevelt's work as an assemblyman and +a Civil Service Commissioner.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Roosevelt is just the man to take the office of Police Commissioner +and put the department on an honorable basis," said the newly elected +mayor, and he lost no time in tendering the office to Mr. Roosevelt. The +tender was accepted, and Theodore Roosevelt was sworn into his new +position on May 24, 1895.</p> + +<p>The appointment of Mr. Roosevelt to the office of Police Commissioner +was a great shock to nearly the entire police department. He was known +for his sterling honesty, and it was felt that he would not condone +crime in any shape or form.</p> + +<p>"There will be a grand shaking up," said more than one. "Just you wait +till he gets to the bottom of things. He'll turn the light on in a way +that will make more than one officer tremble in his boots."</p> + +<p>On the Board with Mr. Roosevelt were Andrew D. Parker, Avery D. Andrews, +and Frederick D. Grant, the latter the son of former President Grant. +Theodore Roosevelt was chosen president, and the Board lost no time in +getting to work.</p> + +<p>"The new Board found the department in a demoralized condition," says +Mr. Roosevelt, in his report on the matter. "A recent grand jury had +investigated the records of many officers, and many indictments had been +found; 268 vacancies existed in the department, and 26 officers, +including one inspector and five captains, were under suspension on +account of indictment for crime." This was truly a sad state of affairs, +and a horrible example to the other large cities of our Union.</p> + +<p>The Commissioners went to work with a will, and Theodore Roosevelt was +the leading spirit in every move made. Every branch of the police +department was given an overhauling, and those who would not do their +duty were promptly dismissed, while minor offences were met with heavy +fines. By an act of the legislature the force of men was increased to +eight hundred, to keep pace with the growth of the metropolis. The men +who were particularly faithful in the discharge of their duties were +rewarded by honorable mention, engrossed certificates, medals of honor, +and by promotions. More than this, they were given to understand that if +they did their duty faithfully they need not fear trouble from those +over them, no matter what changes were made. No officer was allowed to +accept blackmail money from those lower in the service; and above all, +no politics were to interfere with the fair and square running of the +whole department.</p> + +<p>It was a gigantic task, and it cannot be said that it was totally +successful, for the opposition in some quarters was strong. More than +once Mr. Roosevelt was threatened with violence, but, as when an +assemblyman, he paid but scant attention to these mutterings.</p> + +<p>His habits of personally investigating matters still clung to him, and +it is well remembered how he went around at odd hours of the day and +night, and on Sundays, seeing if the policemen were really doing their +duty. There had been a boast that all policemen were at their posts at +night. Mr. Roosevelt went out once and found just two out of an even +dozen where they should be. Then began that "shaking up" that has +resulted in better police service in New York to this day.</p> + +<p>The effect of the new vigor in the police department was felt in many +other ways. There was a tenement-house law regarding buildings which +were unfit for human habitations. New York City was crowded with such +buildings, but nobody had ordered them torn down, because either nobody +wanted to bother, or the owners paid blackmail money to keep them +standing for the rent they could get out of them.</p> + +<p>"Those tenements must come down," said Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>"If you order them down, the owners will fight you to the bitter end," +said another officer of the department.</p> + +<p>"I don't care if they do. The houses are a menace to life and health. +They are filthy, and if a fire ever started in them, some would prove +regular traps. They have got to go." And shortly after that about a +hundred were seized, and the most destroyed.</p> + +<p>The enforcement of the Sunday liquor law was another thing that +occasioned great surprise during Mr. Roosevelt's term as Police +Commissioner. In the past, saloons had been almost as wide open on +Sundays as on week days. On account of the cosmopolitan character of the +population it was thought that to close up the saloons on Sundays would +be impossible. But the police force was given strict orders, and on one +Sunday in June, 1895, New York City had the first "dry" Sunday that it +could remember in many years.</p> + +<p>This "dry" Sunday provoked a new storm of opposition, especially from +many of foreign birth, who were used to getting liquor as easily on that +day as on any other. More threats were made against the vigorous +commissioner, and on two occasions dynamite bombs were placed in his +desk, evidently with the hope that they would explode and blow him to +pieces. But the bombs were found in time, and no damage was done, and +Theodore Roosevelt paid scant attention to them.</p> + +<p>After that he was attacked in a new way. Some of the politicians laid +traps for him whereby they hoped to bring discredit to his management of +the department. The fight grew very hot and very bitter, and he was +accused of doing many things, "just for the looks of them," rather than +to benefit the public at large. But he kept on his way, and at last the +opposition were silenced to such an extent that they merely growled +behind his back.</p> + +<p>For many years a large number of shiftless and often lawless men, and +women too, were attracted to the metropolis because of the "Tramps' +Lodging Houses" located there. These resorts were continually filled by +vagrants who would not work and who were a constant menace to society at +large.</p> + +<p>"We must get rid of those lodging houses," said Mr. Roosevelt. "They +simply breed crime. No respectable man or woman, no matter how poor, +will enter them."</p> + +<p>"But we'll have to have some sort of shelter for the poor people," said +others.</p> + +<p>"To be sure—for those who are deserving. The others should be driven +off and discouraged," answered Mr. Roosevelt. And one by one the tramps' +lodging places were abolished. In their place the Board of Charities +opened a Municipal Lodging House, where those who were deserving were +received, were made to bathe, and given proper shelter and nourishment.</p> + +<p>A story is told that, during the excitement attending the closing of +saloons on Sunday, a friend came to Mr. Roosevelt and told about hearing +some saloon-keepers plotting to harm him.</p> + +<p>"What can they do?" demanded the Police Commissioner.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid they can do a good deal," was the answer. "Each of those +men has a barkeeper who has been in jail for various crimes. They may +attack you some dark night and kill you."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I won't give them the chance," answered the man who had been on +many a dangerous hunt in the wild West. "If they can shoot, so can I."</p> + +<p>"But they may sneak up behind you and knock you out," insisted the +visitor.</p> + +<p>"Well, if they do that, I shall have died doing my duty," was the calm +answer made by the future hero of the Rough Riders.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Appointed First Assistant Secretary of the Navy—The Condition of +Affairs in Cuba—Preparing for War—Theodore Roosevelt's Resolve</span></p> + + +<p>While Theodore Roosevelt was serving as Police Commissioner of the city +of New York, William McKinley ran for the Presidency of the United +States the first time and was elected.</p> + +<p>The young commissioner was a firm upholder of McKinley, for he did not +believe in "free silver" as it was called, but in "sound money," which +meant that in the future, as in the past, all national indebtedness +should be made payable in gold, instead of in gold and silver, as many +desired.</p> + +<p>As soon as the new President was inaugurated, March 4, 1897, he +appointed Hon. John D. Long to be Secretary of the Navy. Mr. Long knew +Theodore Roosevelt well, and also knew of the "History of the Naval War +of 1812," which the energetic author and commissioner had written.</p> + +<p>"He is just the man we need here," said Mr. Long to President McKinley. +"He has made a study of the navy, and he is not afraid of work," and +without further delay Theodore Roosevelt was asked to resign his +position in the metropolis and come to Washington, where he was duly +installed as First Assistant Secretary of the Navy.</p> + +<p>In his new position, certainly a high one for such a young man to +occupy, Mr. Roosevelt had much to do. As first assistant, nearly the +whole responsibility of the real workings of the department fell upon +his shoulders. He took up these responsibilities manfully, and how well +he succeeded in the work, history has abundantly proved.</p> + +<p>"It was Roosevelt's work that made Dewey's victory at Manila possible," +one who knew of the inner workings of the department has said, and +another has said that the victory off Santiago Bay was also due in part +to Roosevelt's watchfulness over the ships that took part in that +conflict.</p> + +<p>At Washington the Assistant Secretary found an era of extravagance equal +to that which he had discovered in New York. The Navy Department was +paying dearly for almost everything it bought, and many laborers and +others were drawing high wages for doing little or no work. Against this +Theodore Roosevelt set his face uncompromisingly, so that inside of a +year the actual saving to our government was twenty-five per cent. When +it is remembered that the Navy Department spends each year millions of +dollars, something of what such a saving means can be realized.</p> + +<p>For many years our country had been at peace with the whole world, but +now a war cloud showed itself on the horizon, scarcely visible at first, +but gradually growing larger and larger. Those at Washington watched it +with great anxiety, wondering if it would burst, and what would be the +result.</p> + +<p>Cuba had been fighting for liberty for years. It was under Spanish rule, +and the people were frightfully oppressed. To Spain they paid vast sums +of money and got but little in return. Money that should have gone into +improvements—that should have supplied good roads and schools—went +into the pockets of the royalty of Spain. When a Cuban tried to +remonstrate, he could scarcely get a hearing, and this state of affairs +went from bad to worse until, in sheer desperation, the Cubans declared +war on the mother-country, just as in 1776 our own nation threw off the +yoke of England.</p> + +<p>As my young readers know, Cuba lies only a short distance from the +southeast coast of Florida. Being so close, it was but natural that our +people should take an interest in the struggle at hand. Everybody +sympathized with the Cubans, and some made offers of assistance. Then, +when many Cubans were on the verge of starvation, we voted to send them +relief in the way of something to eat.</p> + +<p>The action of the United States was viewed with suspicion by Spain. The +people of that country were certain we wanted to help Cuba only in order +to "gobble her up afterward," as the saying went. Such was not our +intention at all, and total Cuban liberty to-day testifies to that fact.</p> + +<p>Not knowing how far matters might go, President McKinley and his +advisers deemed it wise to prepare for the worst. This meant to put the +army and navy on the best possible footing in the least possible time.</p> + +<p>It was felt that should war come, it would be fought largely on the sea, +and nobody realized this more than did Theodore Roosevelt. He was active +day and night in the pursuit of his duty, seeing to it that this ship or +that was properly manned, and this fortification and that put in proper +order to resist attack. Our ships were in all parts of the world, on the +Atlantic and the Pacific, in the far north and the far south, in +European waters and Hong Kong Harbor. Each had to be supplied with coal +and ammunition and with provisions. Those that were "out of commission," +that is, laid up, generally for repairs, were put into commission with +all speed. A thousand contracts had to be inspected, judged, and passed +upon. Outwardly the Navy Department at Washington was moving along as +peacefully as ever, internally it was more active than it had been at +any time since the great Civil War.</p> + +<p>"War may come at any moment," said Mr. Roosevelt to his friends. "And if +it does come, there is nothing like being prepared for it."</p> + +<p>About one thing Theodore Roosevelt was very particular. In the past, +gun practice on board of our war-ships had been largely a matter of +simply going through the motions of handling the guns.</p> + +<p>"This will not do," said the Assistant Secretary. "Our gunners will +never make good marksmen in that way. They must practise with powder and +ball, shot and shell." And after that they did. Such practice cost a +round sum of money, and the department was criticised for its +wastefulness in this direction; but the worth of it was afterward proven +when Commodore Dewey sank the Spanish ships in Manila Bay, and the +Atlantic Squadron likewise destroyed the enemy's ships that were trying +to escape from Santiago Harbor.</p> + +<p>In those days at Washington, Theodore Roosevelt made a warm, personal +friend of Dr. Leonard Wood. Dr. Wood was an army surgeon, who had seen +considerable active service while under General Miles in the campaigns +against the Apache Indians. Mr. Roosevelt has himself told how he and +Dr. Wood would often, after office hours, take long walks out of the +city, or play foot-ball, or go snow-skating when the weather permitted, +and during such pastimes their conversation was invariably about the +situation in Cuba, and what each intended to do should war break out.</p> + +<p>"If war actually comes, I intend, by hook or by crook, to get out into +the field," said Dr. Wood.</p> + +<p>"I shall go with you," answered Theodore Roosevelt. "No more office work +for me if there is any fighting to be done."</p> + +<p>In the meantime, as already mentioned, matters in Cuba were rapidly +approaching a crisis. Spain could not send a large enough army to the +island to conquer the people while they were at liberty to roam through +the jungles and mountains, and so began to drive men, women, and +children into various cities or camps, where they were kept, under +penalty of death if they tried to escape. Thus large numbers were torn +from their homes, and sent miles and miles away, with no money, and +nothing with which to support themselves. Food became scarce and high in +price, and many grown folks and children were literally starved to +death.</p> + +<p>To help these starving people the Congress of our country voted to +expend fifty thousand dollars from the national treasury. This excited +Spain more than ever, and we were accused of trying to prolong the +rebellion. But the deed was done, and many would have had us go farther, +and recognize Cuba as a free and independent nation. This desire was +overruled on the ground that our government could not with propriety +endanger the peace of the world by taking so serious a step at that +time. But the strength of popular sympathy with an oppressed people was +shown by the fact that many Americans at grave personal risk went to +Cuba, and joined the army in one capacity or another, fighting as +bravely as if for their own individual rights.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Destruction of the <i>Maine</i>—Dewey's Victory—Theodore Roosevelt +becomes a Soldier—Organizing the Rough Riders—Various Men in the +Command</span></p> + + +<p>"The <i>Maine</i> has been blown up!"</p> + +<p>Such was the awful news which startled this whole nation in the middle +of February, 1898, and which caused the question of war with Spain to +crystallize without further deliberation.</p> + +<p>The <i>Maine</i> was a battleship of large size, that had been sent down to +the harbor of Havana, Cuba, on nothing more than a friendly visit. The +explosion that destroyed this noble vessel occurred about ten o'clock at +night, and was heard for miles around. Soon after the explosion, the +war-ship began to sink, and over two hundred and fifty sailors and +officers lost their lives.</p> + +<p>The entire nation was now aroused, and many wanted to go to war with +Spain immediately. But the Spaniards professed to be ignorant of the +cause of the explosion, and said it must have come from the <i>inside</i> of +the ship and not the <i>outside</i>. Without delay a Board of Inquiry was +established, and it was settled that the explosion had come from the +outside, probably from a mine set by the Spaniards in Havana Harbor.</p> + +<p>"This means war, and nothing but war," said even the wisest of our +statesmen. And so it proved. Without hesitation the whole nation sprang +forward to uphold the administration, and in a few days Congress passed +an appropriation of fifty millions of dollars "for national defence." It +may be added that this appropriation was passed unanimously, regardless +of party politics and regardless of the differences which, in the past, +had existed between the North and the South.</p> + +<p>We have already learned what had been done to prepare the navy for the +conflicts to follow. Now there was even more work on hand, to get the +army into shape for service in Cuba and on other foreign soil.</p> + +<p>The regular army at that time consisted of about twenty-five thousand +men, scattered all over the United States,—on the frontier, at the +Indian reservations, and along the sea-coasts. Many of these troops were +hurried to camps in the southeast portion of our country, leaving but +small garrisons in the far West.</p> + +<p>It was realized by President McKinley that our regular army could not +cope with the troubles at hand, and soon came a call for one hundred and +twenty-five thousand volunteers. These volunteers were to come from the +various States and Territories, each furnishing its proportion of +soldiers according to its population. These soldiers were quickly +collected and marched to the various state camps, there to be sworn into +the service of the United States.</p> + +<p>The "war fever" was everywhere, and many private parties began to raise +companies, while all sorts of independent commands, Grand Army, +Confederate Veterans, Italian-American Guards, German Singing Societies, +Colored Guards, and the like, offered their assistance. Even the +colleges caught the fever, and men went forth from Yale, Harvard, +Princeton, and other institutions of learning to battle for Uncle Sam.</p> + +<p>The first blow struck at Spain was a most effective one. Commodore, +afterwards Admiral, Dewey was at Hong Kong when the trouble began, and +he was directed by the War Department to hunt for a Spanish fleet +somewhere among the Philippine Islands and engage it. On Sunday, May 1, +came the news that the gallant commodore had reached Manila Bay, fought +the Spanish fleet and sunk every hostile ship, and come out of the +battle with all of his own ships safe and not a single man killed!</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that shows what our navy can do!" cried many citizens. And they +were justly proud. In the past, foreign nations had looked with +something akin to scorn on our vessels and the way they were manned. Now +such criticism was silenced; and this result was, in a certain measure, +due to the work of Theodore Roosevelt, while First Assistant Secretary +to Secretary Long.</p> + +<p>But Theodore Roosevelt was no longer in the department. He resigned and +closed his desk, saying, "My duty here is done; my place is in the +field." With such an active nature, it was impossible for him to remain +a private citizen while stern war was a reality.</p> + +<p>In his own excellent work, "The Rough Riders," and in his sworn +testimony before the Commission of Investigation of the Spanish War, Mr. +Roosevelt has given us graphic pictures of how the First United States +Volunteer Cavalry, commonly called the Rough Riders, happened to be +organized, and what it tried to do and did, and this testimony is +supplemented by many who know the facts, and who took part in the +battles which made the organization famous throughout the length and +breadth of our land.</p> + +<p>At first Theodore Roosevelt thought to attach himself to the militia of +New York, but found every place taken.</p> + +<p>"Let us try one of my Massachusetts regiments," said Dr. Wood. And this +was also done, with a like result.</p> + +<p>"We could fill every place, did we want five times as many men," said +one colonel. "Everybody seems crazy to go." This shows how truly +patriotic our nation can become when the occasion arises for going to +the front.</p> + +<p>While Theodore Roosevelt and his intimate friend were wondering what to +do next, Congress authorized the raising of three cavalry regiments, to +be composed of the daring riflemen and riders of New Mexico, Oklahoma, +Arizona, and Indian Territory.</p> + +<p>"There, that will just suit me," said Theodore Roosevelt. "I know many +of those men, and I know we can raise a regiment in no time."</p> + +<p>And without delay he sought out Secretary of War Alger and told him of +his hopes.</p> + +<p>"I am perfectly willing to give you command of one of those regiments," +said the war secretary. "I know you are something of a rough rider +yourself, and a good marksman to boot."</p> + +<p>This was certainly flattering, but Theodore Roosevelt's head was not +turned by the offer.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I am quite ready to take command," said he. "I know that +I can learn, and that quickly, but it will be precious time wasted."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you wish, Mr. Roosevelt?" asked the Secretary of War, +curiously.</p> + +<p>"What I should like best of all is for Dr. Wood to become colonel of the +regiment, and for myself to become lieutenant-colonel."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I will consult President McKinley on the subject," said the +secretary. The request was granted, and in a few days more Colonel Wood +and Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt sallied forth to organize the Rough +Riders, and fit them for service in Cuba.</p> + +<p>Leaving his family, which now consisted of his wife and six children, +the lieutenant-colonel made his way to San Antonio, Texas, where the +regiment was to gather. Previous to going he spent a full week in +Washington, seeing to it that arrangements were completed for supplying +the command with uniforms, carbines, saddles, and other articles which +were needed. This was in itself quite a task, for all of the departments +at the Capitol were more than busy, and it took a great amount of +"hustling" to get what one wanted.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was known that Theodore Roosevelt was going to help +organize the Rough Riders, offers from everywhere began to pour in upon +him. Not alone did the men of the plains and ranch who knew him want +to go, but likewise his old college chums at Harvard. These men, of +wealth and good families, were willing to serve in any capacity, if only +they could be mustered in. There were crack base-ball and foot-ball +players, yachtsmen, all-round athletes and men of fortune, all mixed in +with hunters, cowboys, men who had served as sheriffs in the far West, +where fighting was an everyday occurrence, some policemen who had served +under Roosevelt when he was a Police Commissioner in New York, and even +some Indians. Nearly every nationality was represented when it came to +blood, and the men ran from the best educated to the most ignorant.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus09.jpg" alt="The Hero" /> +<a id="illus09" name="illus09"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> Theodore Roosevelt as a Rough Rider<br /> (<small><i>Photograph by Pach +Bros., N.Y.</i></small>)</p> + +<p>But there were three tests which every man, private or officer, had to +pass. He had to be in perfect health, he had to know how to ride, and he +had to know how to shoot. To these conditions were afterward added two +more: each man had to learn his duty as quickly as he could and had to +learn to obey his superiors.</p> + +<p>In such a collection of soldiers it was but natural that the real +leaders soon asserted themselves. Several of the captains had served in +the United States army before; two were former famous western sheriffs; +and all were full of that pluck and energy which is bound to command +success.</p> + +<p>In this regiment were some men who had hunted with Theodore Roosevelt on +more than one occasion. They knew him well and loved him, and did their +best to serve him. To them he was really their commander, although they +officially recognized Colonel Wood. They were preëminently "Roosevelt's +Rough Riders," and the great majority of the people of our nation call +them such to this day.</p> + +<p>The majority of the command were rather young in years, although a few +were of middle age. But all were tough and hardy, either from athletic +training or from years spent in the open air of the great West. Some of +them could ride almost any kind of a horse, and "bronco busting," that +is, breaking in a wild steed, was common sport among them. Some had +spent nearly their entire lives in the saddle, and some could exhibit +remarkable skill with their firearms while riding at full speed.</p> + +<p>When the men began to come into San Antonio, they found but little in +the way of accommodations. But soon tents and blankets were procured. It +is said that good shoes were scarce, but some of the soldiers did not +mind going without them. The regiment was supplied with good rifles, but +the cartridges were not made of smokeless powder, which was a bad thing, +for smoke sometimes enables an enemy to locate the shooter, when, if +smokeless powder were used, nothing could be seen. Each man had also a +six shooter, and was to have had a machete, but the long knives did not +come.</p> + +<p>"On to Cuba!" was the cry. And it was taken up every day. The Rough +Riders were eager for the fray. Alas! little did many of them realize +that, once in the "bloody isle," they would never see their native land +again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">In Camp at Tampa—To Port Tampa in Coal Cars—Theodore Roosevelt's +Quick Move to obtain a Transport—The Wait in the Harbor—Off for Cuba +at Last</span></p> + + +<p>That the path of the soldier is not always one full of glory can easily +be proven by what happened to the Rough Riders when, late in May, they +were ordered to Tampa, Florida, where a part of the army was gathering +in readiness to be transported to Cuba.</p> + +<p>"We were just wild to go," says one of the number, in speaking of that +time. "We were tired of staying at San Antonio and drilling day in and +day out, rain or shine. I guess everybody felt like hurrahing when we +piled on to the cars.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Roosevelt—he was only Lieutenant-Colonel then—had six troops +under him, and he did all he could to make the boys comfortable. But the +cars were crowded, and travelling was so slow it took us four days to +reach Tampa. Then when we got there, we found everything in confusion. +The railroad yard was chock-a-block with freight and passenger cars, and +nobody was there to tell us where to go or where to find provisions.</p> + +<p>"The boys were hungry and tired out, for sleeping on the railroad had +been almost out of the question. There wasn't a sign of rations in +sight, and it looked as if we would have to stay hungry. But Teddy +Roosevelt just put his hand into his own pocket and bought us about all +we wanted. Then he scurried around and found out where we were to go, +and in another twenty-four hours we were settled in camp." Even in camp +the Rough Riders had to put up with continued discomfort. The weather +was warm, flies and mosquitoes were numerous, and the drinking water was +not of the best. The rations were plain, but the Rough Riders did not +mind this, for many of them had often fared worse on the plains.</p> + +<p>Although it was now a regular military camp that the Rough Riders were +in, it was rather difficult to control some of the men, especially +those who had been used to an unusually rough life. But they were held +in check as much as possible by their commanders, and on Sunday all +attended a church service held by Chaplain Brown, who spoke to them in a +manner that soon claimed their attention.</p> + +<p>After but a few days spent in the camp at Tampa, within walking distance +of many of the fashionable hotels, the command was ordered to Port +Tampa, there to board a transport to sail for some destination not +revealed. But the soldiers knew they were going to Cuba, to fight the +Spaniards and to aid in freeing Cuba, and again there was a loud +hurrahing.</p> + +<p>But immediately on top of this came one of the hardest blows the Rough +Riders had to endure, and one which some of them will probably never +forget.</p> + +<p>As already stated, volunteers from all over our nation were anxious to +get into the fight, and it was no easy matter for the authorities at +Washington to decide who should go and who should be left behind.</p> + +<p>"Only eight troops of seventy men each of the Rough Riders will embark +on the transport," was the order sent to Colonel Wood. More than this, +it was ordered that the command should be on board of the transport by +the following morning, otherwise it could not go.</p> + +<p>"Four troops to be left behind!" exclaimed Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>"Too bad," returned Colonel Wood. "Every man expects to go, and wants to +go."</p> + +<p>It was a hard task to tell some of the men that they could not go. Mr. +Roosevelt tells us that many of them actually cried at the news. They +were willing to go under any conditions. They did not want any pay, they +did not want any pensions if they were disabled, and some, who had +money, even offered to pay their way, just for the privilege of fighting +for Uncle Sam. After such an exhibition, let nobody dare to say that +true patriotism is dying out in this country.</p> + +<p>But orders were orders, and as quickly as possible those to go were +selected. Then the command marched to the railroad tracks to await the +cars. None came, and they were given orders to march to another track. +This they also did; but still no train appeared.</p> + +<p>"We'll be left, that is certain," said Colonel Wood, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"It certainly looks like it, unless we march the boys down to the port."</p> + +<p>"Here comes a train!" was the cry.</p> + +<p>It was a train, but only of empty coal cars. It was about to pass by +when the Rough Riders halted it.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with riding down to the port in the coal cars?" was +the question asked by several.</p> + +<p>"Good enough!" came the answer. "Into the cars, boys, and don't waste +time!" And into the dirty coal cars they piled, and persuaded the +engineer of the train to take them down to Port Tampa as quickly as he +could.</p> + +<p>If there had been bustle and confusion up at Tampa, it was far worse at +the port. Everybody was in a hurry, and ten thousand soldiers stood +around, not knowing what to do with their baggage, and not knowing which +of the many transports to board.</p> + +<p>At last the Rough Riders were told to go aboard the <i>Yucatan</i>, and +started to do so.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Yucatan</i>?" exclaimed a member of another command. "That is our +transport."</p> + +<p>"No, she has been allotted to us," put in an officer belonging to still +another command.</p> + +<p>"How many men will she hold?" questioned a captain of the Rough Riders.</p> + +<p>"About a thousand."</p> + +<p>"Then she can't take the three commands."</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt overheard this talk, and at once made up his mind +that it would be a question of what command got aboard of the transport +first. Without the loss of a moment he ran back to where his men were in +waiting.</p> + +<p>"Double-quick to the dock!" was his order. And forming quickly, the +troops made their way to the wharf with all possible speed. In the +meantime, Colonel Wood had gone out to the transport in a steam-launch +and gotten the vessel to come up to the wharf. On board went the Rough +Riders pell-mell, and not a minute too soon.</p> + +<p>"This is our boat!" cried an officer, as he came up with his command a +minute later.</p> + +<p>"Sorry for you, sir, but it is our boat," was Colonel Wood's firm +answer.</p> + +<p>Then the third command loomed up, and a three-handed dispute arose. But +the Rough Riders remained aboard of the transport, taking four companies +of another command in with them.</p> + +<p>I have told of the particulars of this affair to show my young readers +what was needed at this time, and how well Theodore Roosevelt performed +his duties. He had been a soldier and officer only a few weeks, yet he +realized that army life on paper and army life in reality were two +different things. He felt that an officer must do much besides leading +his men in the field: that he must look after them constantly, see that +their health was provided for, see that they got their rations, see that +transportation was ready when needed, and even see to it that some were +kept away from the temptations of drink, and that they did not quarrel +among themselves.</p> + +<p>When going on board of the transport, the Rough Riders were supplied +with twelve days' rations each. The most of the food was good, but the +canned beef was very bad, just as it was found to be very bad in many +other quarters, and it made a great number sick. Added to this, somebody +had forgotten to issue salt to the soldiers; so much had to be eaten +without this very necessary seasoning.</p> + +<p>"But we took matters good-naturedly," said one of the number, in +speaking of the trip that followed. "Many of the boys were out for a +lark, and when they growled, they did it good-naturedly. We had all +sorts of men, and all sorts of nicknames. An Irishman was called Solomon +Levi, and a nice young Jew Old Pork Chop. One fellow who was +particularly slow was called Speedy William, and another who always +spoke in a quick, jerky voice answered to the hail of 'Slow-up Peter.' +One cowboy who was as rough as anybody in the command was christened The +Parson, and a fine, high-toned, well-educated college boy had to answer +to the name of Jimmy the Tramp. Some of the boys could sing, and they +organized the Rough Rider Quartette; and others could play, and they +gave us music on the mouth harmonicas and other instruments they had +managed to smuggle along."</p> + +<p>The War Department had expected to send the troops to Cuba without +delay, but now came in a report that some Spanish war-ships were +hovering around, ready to sink the transports as soon as they should +show themselves, and for five days the vessels remained in Port Tampa +Harbor, until it was ascertained that the report was untrue.</p> + +<p>Those five days were important to Theodore Roosevelt and to the men +under him. Every day the young officer spent a certain portion of his +time in studying military tactics and in drilling his soldiers. Much had +still to be learned, and the officers had their school of instructions +as well as did those under them.</p> + +<p>The weather was broiling hot, and some were already suffering from fever +or its symptoms. Fortunately bathing was good, and many went in once or +twice a day. Bathing in the ocean was great sport to some of the +plainsmen who had never seen anything larger than a river or creek, and +they frolicked around like children, and got up races, with prizes for +the best swimmers.</p> + +<p>At last came the orders for the transports to set sail for Cuba. They +numbered thirty-two in all, including a schooner which was towed along +filled with drinking water, for water must be had, and that was the only +place where it could be stowed. To protect the transports from a +possible attack by the enemy, they were accompanied by five war-ships at +first, and later on by fourteen. All told, there were on the transports +eight hundred officers and sixteen thousand enlisted men. Of the +commands, the most were from the regular army, the volunteers numbering +but three—the Rough Riders, the Seventy-first New York Infantry, and +the Second Massachusetts Infantry.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Life on the Transport—The Landing at Daiquiri—The March to +Siboney—The Trail through the Jungle—The Skirmish at La Guasima</span></p> + + +<p>While the army was preparing to invade Cuba, matters so far as they +concerned the navy had been moving along rapidly. Commodore Dewey had +sunk the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay; Havana and the adjacent coasts +were being blockaded, so no ships could pass in or out without running +the risk of capture; and a large fleet of war-ships under Admiral +Cervera, of the enemy's navy, had been "bottled up" in Santiago Harbor.</p> + +<p>It had been decided that the United States troops should be landed on +the southeast coast of Cuba, not far from the entrance to Santiago Bay, +and from that point should make an advance on Santiago, which is the +second city of importance in the island.</p> + +<p>Day after day the flotilla of transports kept on its way, spread out in +a broad column during the time it was light, and coming in close +together during the night. The war-ships hovered near, and at night +swept the ocean with their powerful search-lights, rendering a surprise +by the enemy impossible.</p> + +<p>The trip to the southeast coast of Cuba lasted seven days. It was very +hot, even for this time of the year, and those who could, slept on deck +during the voyage. There was but little to do, and when not drilling, +the men took it easy in the shade,—sleeping, chatting, or playing +games. Sometimes they would talk of the future and wonder how much of +real fighting lay before them.</p> + +<p>"We didn't know even then where we were going," said one, in speaking of +the trip. "I don't believe Wood or Roosevelt knew either. First we +thought it might be Havana, then we imagined it might be Porto Rico, but +when we turned southward and ran around the eastern end of the island, +we all knew we were bound for Santiago."</p> + +<p>As the transports swept up toward the mouth of Santiago Bay, they came +within sight of the American war-ships that were keeping Admiral +Cervera's fleet "bottled up" in the harbor. A shout of recognition went +up, and one of the bands struck up a patriotic air that was truly +inspiring.</p> + +<p>The landing of the Rough Riders and many other commands was made at +Daiquiri, a small settlement on the coast east of Santiago Harbor. The +<i>Yucatan</i> got closer to the shore than most of the other transports, and +the men lost no time in disembarking, taking with them two Colt's +automatic guns and a dynamite gun of which they had become possessed. As +there had not been transports enough, only the officers' horses had been +brought along. These were thrown into the water and made to swim ashore. +Theodore Roosevelt had two horses, but one was drowned.</p> + +<p>It was important that the landing should be guarded, and the war-ships +sent in some shot and shell to dislodge any Spaniards who might be in +the vicinity. But none showed themselves, and soon nearly all of the +soldiers were ashore, either at Daiquiri or at a landing a short +distance farther westward. No enemy was in sight, and the only persons +who appeared were some Cubans, soldiers and civilians, who wanted but +one thing, food.</p> + +<p>The Rough Riders had been put into a brigade commanded by General S.B.M. +Young. There were two of these brigades, and it is worth noting that +they formed a division under the command of Major-General Joseph +Wheeler, who had in years gone by fought so gallantly on the side of the +Confederacy. Now, as brave as of old, he was fighting for Old Glory, the +one banner of the North and the South alike.</p> + +<p>As the Rough Riders landed, they were marched up the beach, and here +they went into temporary camp,—an easy matter, since each soldier +carried his outfit with him, or, at least, as much as he could get of +what belonged to him. Theodore Roosevelt had his weapons and ammunition, +a mackintosh and a toothbrush, certainly much less than he had carried +even when roughing it in the Bad Lands of the West.</p> + +<p>As soon as the larger portion of the army was landed, General Lawton—he +who was afterward to give his life for his flag in the Philippines—threw +out a strong detachment on the Santiago road to the westward, and also +detachments on the roads to the north and east.</p> + +<p>"On to Santiago!" was the cry. And many were for pushing forward without +delay. But the transports had still to unload their baggage, and word +did not reach the Rough Riders to move on until the afternoon of the day +after landing.</p> + +<p>It was a rocky, uneven country, with much brushwood and jungles of trees +and vines. It had rained, but now the sun came out fiercely, and the +Rough Riders (riders in name only, for only the officers were on +horseback) suffered greatly through being clad in winter uniform.</p> + +<p>"It was a tough and tiresome march," said one who was there. "The air +just quivered with heat, and many of the boys felt like throwing half of +their clothing away. Whenever we reached a drinking place, the crowd +would swarm around for water like a lot of bees.</p> + +<p>"General Lawton had his outposts pretty well advanced. Our commander, +old General Wheeler, was just as anxious to make a showing, and he +ordered General Young to push on with the Rough Riders and some other +troops. So away we went, with Colonel Wood at our head, and +Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt in command of one squadron and Major Brodie +in command of the other. In some spots the road was frightful, full of +mud-holes, with big land crabs crawling around in all directions, and +with the trailing vines full of poisonous spiders. We didn't know but +that the woods might be full of Spaniards, and we were on the alert to +give the Dons as good as they sent, should they show themselves."</p> + +<p>By nightfall the Rough Riders reached the little village of Siboney +without having met the enemy. Here they went into camp in the midst of a +heavy thunder-storm in which every soldier and officer was drenched to +the skin. Fires could scarcely be lighted, and it was not until the +storm had partly cleared away that the cooks could prepare anything to +eat. Surely being a soldier was not all glory after all.</p> + +<p>It had been learned that a portion of the Spanish army was less than +four miles away, and General Young was ordered by General Wheeler to +move forward at daybreak and engage the enemy. Colonel Wood received +orders to move the Rough Riders by a trail over a hill, beyond which the +country sloped toward the bay and the city of Santiago.</p> + +<p>The first encounter with the enemy occurred at a place called La Guasima +(or Las Guasimas), so called on account of trees of that name growing in +the vicinity. Here the Spaniards had rifle-pits and mounds of earth to +shelter them and had likewise the sugar-house of a plantation. They had +been watching for the coming of the <i>Americanos</i> eagerly, and were +determined to give our soldiers a lesson not to be forgotten. They knew +that our army had not been in active warfare for years, and felt certain +that they would soon be able to make the "paper" soldiers retreat.</p> + +<p>The Rough Riders found the way led up a steep hill, and the pace was so +fast that before the firing line was reached some men fell out from +exhaustion. Theodore Roosevelt was at the head of the first squadron and +did his best to urge those under him forward. There was an advance +guard, led by some men under Sergeant Hamilton Fish, and Captain +Capron's troop, and soon a crash of firearms notified all that a fight +was on.</p> + +<p>Orders were at once issued to fill the magazines of the guns, and this +was done. Then, while some troops moved to the left of the trail, +Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt was ordered to take three troops to the +right. Here the jungle was heavy, and no sooner had the Rough Riders +advanced than the Spaniards opened fire upon them. In speaking of the +opening of this fight, Mr. Roosevelt himself writes:—</p> + +<p>"The effect of the smokeless powder (used by the enemy) was remarkable. +The air seemed full of the rustling sound of the Mauser bullets, for the +Spaniards knew the trails by which we were advancing, and opened heavily +on our position. But they themselves were entirely invisible. The jungle +covered everything, and not the faintest trace of smoke was to be seen +in any direction, to indicate from whence the bullets came."</p> + +<p>It was certainly a trying time—to stand up and be shot at without being +able to return the compliment. Roosevelt and all the other leaders knew +that this would not do, and at a great risk they continued to advance, +until some Spaniards were at last discovered across a valley to the +right of where the troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt were +located.</p> + +<p>"There they are!" was the cry. "Forward and at 'em, boys! Down with the +Dons!" Without delay some sharpshooters fired on the Spaniards, and then +the regular troops opened up, and at last the Spaniards ran from cover.</p> + +<p>Bullets were now flying in all directions, and both sides were making +their shots tell. The Americans had but scant protection, and it was not +long before a number of them fell. Some bullets came close to Theodore +Roosevelt, and one hit a palm tree near where he was standing, filling +his left eye and ear with the dust and splinters. Had that Mauser bullet +come a few inches closer, the man who was destined to become the future +President of our country might have been killed on the spot.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the skirmish—for the conflict proved to be nothing +more—there was a report that Colonel Wood was dead, and Theodore +Roosevelt took it upon himself to restore the fighting line of Rough +Riders to order. But happily the report proved false; and a little while +after this the skirmish came to an end, and both Spaniards and Americans +betook themselves to positions of greater safety. In this skirmish, +brief as it was, the Rough Riders lost eight men killed and nearly forty +wounded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Along the Jungle Trail—Fording the River—Opening of the Battle of +San Juan Hill—Bravery of the Rough Riders—Personal Experiences of +Theodore Roosevelt during the Battle</span></p> + + +<p>Taken as a whole, the skirmish at La Guasima was quite an important one, +for it showed the Spaniards that our soldiers were bound to advance upon +Santiago, be the cost what it might.</p> + +<p>More than this, it showed that Theodore Roosevelt was brave under fire. +During the skirmish he paid but scant attention to his own personal +safety. He went wherever he thought he was needed, and the fact that +Mauser bullets were flying about in all directions did not daunt him.</p> + +<p>"He was about as cool a man as I ever saw in a fight," said one old +soldier. "He did all he could to encourage the men, and had a kind word +for every man he ran across who was wounded. Once, in the thickest of +the brush, he grabbed up a gun and began to shoot with us, and I reckon +he fired as straight as anybody there, for he had had lots of practice +while hunting."</p> + +<p>The Spaniards had been driven from their pits and from the sugar-house +of the plantation, and now took good care to keep out of sight. +Picket-guards were thrown out by the officers of the army, and those who +had been in the fight took a much-needed rest, and looked after the dead +and wounded. There was certainly a touching scene at the temporary +hospital, where one soldier started to sing "My Country, 'tis of Thee," +and many others joined in. On the following morning the dead were +buried, the men gathering around the one common grave to sing "Rock of +Ages" in a manner that brought tears to the eyes of many.</p> + +<p>From La Guasima the Rough Riders moved to the bank of a small stream in +the neighborhood. Part of the army was ahead of them and the rest +behind, and for several days nothing unusual occurred. But during that +time General Young caught the fever, whereupon Colonel Wood had to take +charge of the brigade, and Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt took command of +the Rough Riders.</p> + +<p>It was now the end of June, and the weather was anything but agreeable. +When the rain did not come down in torrents, the sun shone with a glare +and a heat that was terrific. As said before, the uniforms of the Rough +Riders were heavy, and much clothing had to be cast aside as unfit for +use. To add to the discomfort, rations that were promised failed to +appear, so that a good square meal was almost unknown.</p> + +<p>"This will not do; the men must have enough to eat, even if I have to +buy it for them," said Acting Colonel Roosevelt, and made two trips down +to the seacoast in search of beans, tomatoes, and other things to eat. +Here he was informed that he could only buy stuff meant for the +officers.</p> + +<p>"All right; I'll buy the things for the officers," he answered, and +purchased as much as they would allow. When he got back, he turned the +food over to the officers, but saw to it that they gave their men a fair +share.</p> + +<p>"It was a kindness none of his men ever forgot," said a soldier who was +there. "It wasn't any of his business to buy the grub,—the commissary +department had to supply it free,—but he knew we might starve while +the department was getting itself straightened out and ready to do the +right thing. Before he went on a hunt for food, all we had was salt +pork, hardtack, and coffee, and some of the stuff wasn't fit to put in +your mouth." And this testimony was the testimony of scores of others.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards were strongly intrenched upon the outskirts of Santiago, +and as it was a rough, hilly country, with many shallow streams and much +jungle, it was hard for the American army to advance. It was General +Shafter's idea to form a grand semicircle around Santiago, starting from +El Caney on the north, and running in an irregular line to Aguadores on +the south. Throughout this territory the Spaniards had done everything +possible to hinder the advance of our troops. Barbed wire was strung in +many directions, and often the brushwood would conceal dangerous +pitfalls, so that any advance had to be made with great caution.</p> + +<p>The attack upon the Spanish lines began on July 1, and the fighting took +place in several quarters at once, but was unusually heavy at El Caney +and at San Juan Hill. At El Caney the heroic General Lawton was in +command, and fought as gallantly as he afterward did in the Philippines. +Some of the charges were terrific, and will ever be remembered by those +who participated in them.</p> + +<p>The Rough Riders struck camp and moved along the trail on the last day +of June. It was as hot as ever, with no sign of rain. The trail was +filled with troops and provision wagons, and the progress, consequently, +was slow.</p> + +<p>"Let us get into the fight!" was the cry heard on every side. "Don't +keep us waiting any longer."</p> + +<p>"Keep cool," said one of the officers. "You'll get all the fighting you +want soon." And so it proved.</p> + +<p>At a little after eight o'clock in the evening the Rough Riders found +themselves on El Poso Hill, and here the whole brigade to which they +were attached went into camp.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't much of a camp," said one who was there. "We just threw out a +strong picket-guard and went to sleep on our arms, and glad of it, after +that day in the broiling sun. We had had to ford some pretty muddy +streams, and all of us were water and mud up to our knees. But everybody +was as enthusiastic to fight as ever."</p> + +<p>At sunrise the battle opened at El Caney, and the Rough Riders could +hear the booming of cannon. At once all was activity, and the men +prepared to move ahead at a moment's notice.</p> + +<p>Acting Colonel Roosevelt was with Colonel Wood at the time, and both +were listening to the roar of the artillery.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could move—" began Colonel Wood, when, of a sudden, both he +and Theodore Roosevelt heard a strange humming sound in the air. Then +came the explosion of a shrapnel shell over their heads, and both leaped +to their feet.</p> + +<p>"This is getting warm!" cried Theodore Roosevelt, and ran toward his +horse, when boom! came another explosion, and one of the bullets fell +upon his wrist, making, as he himself says, "a bump about as big as a +hickory nut." This same shell, he adds, wounded four of the men under +him and two or three regulars, one of whom lost his leg. Certainly +another providential escape on the part of the future President.</p> + +<p>Without loss of time Theodore Roosevelt ordered his troops into the +underbrush, and here, for the time being, they were safe. On account of +the smokeless powder they used, the Spanish batteries could not be +precisely located, so our own artillery were at a slight disadvantage.</p> + +<p>But now the blood of the Americans was fully aroused, and soon came an +order for a general advance,—something that was hailed with wild +delight by the Rough Riders.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah, now we'll show 'em what the Yankees can do!" was the cry. "Down +with the Dons! Three cheers for Uncle Sam!"</p> + +<p>The Rough Riders had to ford the river, and while they were doing this, +a balloon that had been used for observations came down in that vicinity +and attracted the attention of the Spanish sharpshooters. The firing was +now heavy on all sides, and many a gallant soldier went down to rise no +more.</p> + +<p>Then came another wait of an hour, during which the Rough Riders rested +in a hollow leading up from the river. Again there was grumbling. With +so much fighting on all sides, why could they not advance?</p> + +<p>"We'll get our turn," said Theodore Roosevelt. And soon after a staff +officer dashed up with orders to move forward and support the cavalry of +the regular army on the hills in front.</p> + +<p>"Now to the front!" was the cry. "Down with the Dons!" And away went +troop after troop on the double-quick, with Acting Colonel Roosevelt +leading them. Shot and shell were hurling themselves through the air in +all directions, and on all sides could be heard the shrieks and groans +of the dead and the dying. It was a time long to be remembered. Men went +down in all directions, and with them not a few officers. It was so hot +that Roosevelt's orderly was prostrated from the heat and afterward +died. Roosevelt summoned another Rough Rider, and had just finished +giving the man some orders when the soldier pitched forward upon his +commander, killed by a bullet through the throat.</p> + +<p>As the troops advanced, Theodore Roosevelt urged his men forward and +told them to do their best, to which they responded with a cheer. He was +on horseback at the time, and soon came across a man lying in the shade, +probably overcome by the heat. He started to speak to the Rough Rider +when a bullet hit the fellow and killed him on the spot.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that bullet was meant for me," says Mr. Roosevelt, in writing +of this incident. "I, who was on horseback in the open, was unhurt, and +the man lying flat on the ground in the cover beside me was killed."</p> + +<p>The fight had now centred around the possession of San Juan Hill, upon +which was located a Spanish blockhouse. The bullets were flying as +thickly as ever, when Roosevelt was ordered to advance in support of +another regiment. As the Rough Riders reached the spot where the other +regiment was, they found the men lying down awaiting orders.</p> + +<p>"I am ordered to support your regiment," said Theodore Roosevelt to the +first captain he met.</p> + +<p>"We are awaiting orders to advance," answered the captain of the +regulars.</p> + +<p>"In my opinion we cannot take these hills by firing at them," returned +the commander of the Rough Riders. "We must rush them."</p> + +<p>"My orders are to keep my men where they are."</p> + +<p>"Where is your Colonel?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Well, if he isn't here, then I am the ranking officer, and I give the +order to charge," came quickly and positively from Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir,—I—I have orders from our Colonel—" began the captain of +the regulars.</p> + +<p>"If you won't charge, let my men pass through, sir," cut in the Acting +Colonel of the Rough Riders, and he ordered his men to move to the +front. This was too much for the regulars, and up they sprang with +shouts and yells, and Rough Riders and regulars went up San Juan Hill +together. Roosevelt was on horseback as before, but at a barbed-wire +fence he leaped to the ground, swung his hat in the air, and joined his +men on foot.</p> + +<p>The fight was now at its fiercest, and men were being mowed down in all +directions. But the fever of battle was in the veins of all the American +soldiers, and nothing could stop them. Up the hill they went, loading +and firing at random, and making as many shots as possible tell. The +Spaniards were in retreat, and soon Old Glory was planted in several +places. Some of the leading officers had been shot, and Theodore +Roosevelt found himself at one time in command of five regiments, and +doing his best to keep them in military order. Strange as it may seem, +with bullets flying all around him, he remained unharmed, saving for +some slight scratches which, he tells us, "were of no consequence."</p> + +<p>With the top of the hill gained, the American soldiers could get a +distant glimpse of Santiago, several miles away, and some wanted to move +still farther forward. But the Spaniards had strong intrenchments to +fall back upon, and it was deemed best to "let well enough alone." +Accordingly the American line was made as strong as possible, and by +nightfall the battle was at an end, and the Rough Riders were told to +hold the hill and intrench, and they did so. In the blockhouse they +found some food belonging to some Spanish officers, and upon this they +feasted after their well-earned victory.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Results of the Fight—Life in the Trenches—The Spanish Fleet in +Santiago Harbor—Another Great Naval Victory—The Rough Riders and the +Spanish Guerillas</span></p> + + +<p>The fight had been a hard and heavy one. The Rough Riders had gone into +the engagement just 490 strong, and of that number 89 were killed or +wounded. The total loss to the Americans was 1071 killed and wounded. +The loss to the Spanish was also heavy, but the exact figures will +probably never be known.</p> + +<p>Utterly tired out with their marching and fighting, the Rough Riders +intrenched as best they could, cared for their wounded and dead, and +then dropped down to get a well-earned rest. The night was misty and +cold, and many who had been bathed in perspiration suffered accordingly. +Theodore Roosevelt had a blanket taken from the Spanish, and in this he +rolled himself, and slept with others of his command.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock in the morning came an unexpected alarm. The Spanish +skirmishers were out in force, trying to drive the Americans back. But +there was no heavy attack, and presently all became as quiet as before.</p> + +<p>"They'll not give up yet," said one of the officers of the Rough Riders. +"They mean to retake this hill if they can."</p> + +<p>Just at daybreak the Spaniards opened the attack on San Juan Hill once +more. Theodore Roosevelt was resting under a little tree when a shrapnel +shell burst close by, killing or wounding five men of the command. He at +once ordered the eight troops under him to a safer position, where the +Spanish battery and the sharpshooters could not locate them so readily.</p> + +<p>If the fight had been hard, guarding the trenches was almost equally so. +The sun beat down fiercely, and the newly turned up earth made many of +the Rough Riders sick. Added to this, provisions were, as usual, slow in +arriving. Those in the trenches were kept there six hours, and then +relieved by the others who were farther to the rear.</p> + +<p>"Running from the cover of brush to the trenches was no easy matter," +says one Rough Rider who was there. "We had dug the trenches in a hurry, +and had no passages from the rear leading to them. All we could do was +to wait for a signal, and then rush, and when we did that, the Spaniards +would open a hot fire and keep it up for perhaps fifteen minutes. The +sun was enough to turn a man's brain, and more than one poor fellow +caught a fever there that proved fatal to him."</p> + +<p>Through the entire day the firing continued, but no advances were made +upon either side. The Americans were waiting for reinforcements, and the +Spaniards were doing likewise. On our side a dynamite gun and two Colt's +guns were used, but with little success. But the Gatling guns proved +very effective, and caused a great loss to the enemy.</p> + +<p>The city of Santiago lies on the northeast coast of a large bay of the +same name. This bay is shaped somewhat like a bottle, with a long neck +joining it to the Caribbean Sea.</p> + +<p>In the harbor, at the time of the battles just described, the Spaniards +had a fleet of war-ships under the command of Admiral Cervera, an old +and able naval commander. In the fleet were four large cruisers and two +torpedo-boats. Three of the cruisers were of seven thousand tons burden +each, and all could make from eighteen to nineteen knots an hour. Each +carried a crew of about five hundred men, and all were well supplied +with guns and ammunition.</p> + +<p>To keep this fleet "bottled up," our own navy had a fleet of its own +just outside of the harbor, where it had been stationed ever since +Admiral Cervera had been discovered within. The American fleet consisted +of the cruiser <i>Brooklyn</i>, which was Commodore Schley's flag-ship, the +battleships <i>Texas</i>, <i>Iowa</i>, <i>Indiana</i>, and <i>Oregon</i> (the latter having +sailed all the way from the Pacific coast around Cape Horn to get into +the fight), and the converted yachts <i>Gloucester</i> and <i>Vixen</i>. There +were also close at hand, but not near enough to get into the fight, the +cruiser <i>New York</i>, Admiral Sampson's flag-ship, and several other +vessels of lesser importance.</p> + +<p>For a long time it had been thought that Cervera would try to escape +from the harbor, in which he could not be reached because of the strong +forts that protected the entrance. To bottle him up more effectively, +the Americans tried to block up the harbor entrance by sinking an old +iron steamboat, the <i>Merrimac</i>, in the channel. This heroic work was +undertaken by Lieutenant Hobson with a crew of seven daring men, but the +plan failed, for the <i>Merrimac</i>, instead of sinking where intended, +swung to one side of the main channel.</p> + +<p>When it was reported to him that the Americans had taken the heights of +El Caney and San Juan and were strongly intrenched in their positions, +Admiral Cervera concluded that Santiago Bay might soon become too hot to +hold him. The capture of the city would be followed by the taking of the +forts at the harbor entrance, and then there would be nothing left for +him to do but to surrender.</p> + +<p>San Juan and El Caney had been taken on Friday, and all day Saturday +occurred the shooting at long range, as already described. In the +meantime the war-ships outside of the harbor kept up a close watch on +the harbor entrance, lying well out during the day, but coming in closer +at night, and using their powerful search-lights from sundown to +sunrise.</p> + +<p>Sunday dawned bright and clear, and for the time being all was quiet +both ashore and afloat. In the trenches the Rough Riders and other +soldiers were still on guard, doing what they could for their wounded, +and trying to get the rations which were still delayed.</p> + +<p>Presently, those on board of the American fleet noticed a thick cloud of +smoke hanging over the harbor, coming from the funnels of the Spanish +war-ships. Then one of the enemy's vessels showed itself, quickly +followed by the others, and all turned westward, to escape up the coast.</p> + +<p>"The enemy is escaping!" was the signal hoisted. And then one cannon +after another boomed out, giving the signal to all our ships in that +vicinity. The booming of the cannon was heard away eastward at Siboney, +whither Admiral Sampson had gone with his ship to confer with General +Shafter, and without delay the <i>New York</i> raced madly back to get into +the fight that followed.</p> + +<p>"Remember the <i>Maine!</i>" was the cry. "Down with the Spanish ships! Give +'em what Dewey did!" And this cry, "Give 'em what Dewey did!" was heard +on every hand.</p> + +<p>The first vessel to go down was a torpedo-boat, sunk by the +<i>Gloucester</i>, and this was quickly followed by the sinking of the second +torpedo-boat. In the meantime the larger vessels were pouring in their +rain of steel upon the Spanish cruisers with deadly effect, knocking +great holes into the ships and killing scores of those on board.</p> + +<p>The Spanish cruiser <i>Teresa</i> was the first to succumb to the heavy +attack, and soon she turned in to shore to save her crew from drowning. +Then the <i>Oquendo</i> caught fire in several places, and burning fiercely +from stem to stern, she, too, turned in.</p> + +<p>But two ships were now left to Admiral Cervera, the <i>Vizcaya</i> and the +<i>Colon</i>, and each had suffered much. Both were doing their best to get +out of reach of our guns and the marvellous accuracy of our gunners.</p> + +<p>"Don't let 'em get away!" was the cry. "Give 'em what Dewey did!" +Forward went the war-ships of Uncle Sam, the powerful <i>Oregon</i> leading, +with the <i>Brooklyn</i> and <i>Texas</i> not far behind. The rain of steel +continued, and at last, burning like her sister ships, the <i>Vizcaya</i> +turned shoreward, and many of her crew leaped overboard to save their +lives.</p> + +<p>Only the <i>Colon</i> now remained. She was still in fair condition, and it +was the Spaniards' ardent hope to save at least one ship from the dire +calamity that had overtaken them. But this was not to be, and after a +run of a few miles, during which the <i>Oregon</i> and <i>Brooklyn</i> continued +to pound her with shot and shell, the Spanish flag was lowered, and the +<i>Colon</i> also ran ashore.</p> + +<p>It was assuredly a mighty victory, a fitting mate to the great victory +won by Admiral Dewey, and when the news reached our country there was +such a Fourth of July celebration everywhere as will never be forgotten. +Twice had our navy met the ships of Spain, and each time we had sunk +every vessel without losing any of our own. More than this, while the +Spaniards had lost many men through shot and fire and drowning, our +total loss was but one man killed and a handful wounded.</p> + +<p>The loss of her second fleet was a bitter blow to Spain, and many +predicted that the war would not continue much longer, and this +prediction proved correct.</p> + +<p>During the rush made by the Rough Riders and our other soldiers, they +had gone right through several bodies of Spanish guerillas who were +secreted in the trees of the jungle. These guerillas, really lawless +fellows belonging to no particular command, could not get back into +Santiago because of the strong American guard at the intrenchments, and +consequently they contented themselves with remaining out of sight and +peppering our soldiers whenever the opportunity offered.</p> + +<p>"This will not do," said Theodore Roosevelt. "They are shooting down our +men without giving them a chance to fire back. We'll have to get after +them." And without delay he sent out a detachment of the best Rough +Rider shots to be found. These sharpshooters searched the jungle back of +the intrenchments thoroughly, and as a result killed eleven of the +guerillas and wounded many more. After that the guerillas kept their +distance, satisfied that the Yankees could beat them at their own game.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Devotion of the Rough Riders to Theodore Roosevelt—His Kindness to +His Men—Last of the Fighting—The Truce and Treaty of Peace</span></p> + + +<p>With the defeat of Admiral Cervera's fleet, a flag of truce was sent +into Santiago by the commander of our army, demanding the surrender of +the city. While these negotiations were pending, all fighting came to an +end, and the Rough Riders had but little to do outside of making +themselves comfortable and caring for the many who were getting sick +because of the lack of shelter and proper food. Food was now coming in +more rapidly, and soon all were supplied with tents and blankets. During +this time Theodore Roosevelt's personal baggage appeared, and he +celebrated the arrival by treating himself to a shave and a change of +linen, something impossible to do since the fighting had begun.</p> + +<p>In his own writings, Mr. Roosevelt has spoken at great length of the +devotion which all of the Rough Riders displayed toward him. They were +anxious to wait on him at all hours of the day and night. Some would +pitch his tent, others would clean his weapons, and still others would +go hunting and bring in such game as the vicinity afforded. When ordered +to do anything, there was rarely a grumble. Those in the hospital bore +their sufferings with remarkable fortitude.</p> + +<p>In return for this, Theodore Roosevelt did all he could to make life +less hard for those under him. The game that was brought to him he sent +to the hospital, that the wounded might have proper nourishment; and he +either went himself or sent somebody to the seacoast, to purchase food +which the commissary department possessed, but which, through lack of +organization, it was slow in distributing. When no shelter was to be +had, he slept on the ground with his men, and when they had to work on +the trenches at night, he was up and around superintending the labor.</p> + +<p>"He was one of us, and he let us know it," was said by one of the Rough +Riders. "He ate the same food we did, and he was mighty good to the +sick and the wounded. He paid for lots of things out of his own pocket, +and I don't believe he has ever asked Uncle Sam to pay him back."</p> + +<p>There was no telling how soon the truce would come to an end and +fighting would begin again, and night after night the Rough Riders were +kept on guard. There was a standing order that each fourth man should +keep awake while the others slept, and no matter how dark or rainy the +night, Theodore Roosevelt tramped around from one trench to another, +seeing to it that this order was obeyed. He also visited the +intrenchments of other commands, to compare them and make certain that +the grade of service was equally high among the Rough Riders. This shows +distinctly that he was a natural-born military commander.</p> + +<p>The truce lasted a week, and while all operations were supposed to have +come to an end, both the Americans and the Spaniards spent the time in +strengthening their positions. At one time the Americans constructed a +fairly good defence, in which they placed two Gatling guns and two +automatic Colt guns, and this was named Fort Roosevelt, in honor of the +Rough Rider commander.</p> + +<p>On the tenth of July the fighting began once more, and again the +batteries on both sides sent shot and shell into the camps of the enemy. +It was largely fighting at long range, and the only Rough Riders who +took part were those who manned the Colt's guns, and a small body of +sharpshooters stationed in a trench well to the front.</p> + +<p>On the next day the Rough Riders were ordered northward, to guard the +road running from Santiago to El Caney. Here some fighting was in +progress, and the troopers expected to get into battle once more. But +the skirmish came to an end before they arrived, very much to their +disappointment.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the Rough Riders settled in their new position than a storm +came up which proved to be the heaviest yet experienced during the +campaign. While Theodore Roosevelt was sleeping in his tent, the shelter +was blown down and away, and all of his personal effects were scattered +in the mud and wet. As best he could, he donned his clothing, saw to it +that his men were safe, and then betook himself to a kitchen tent, +where he finished the sleep of that night on a rude table recently taken +from an abandoned Spanish home in that vicinity.</p> + +<p>"On that night it rained cats and dogs and hammer-handles," said one of +the soldiers afterward. "It was inky dark—darker than I have ever known +it to be anywhere on the plains. The water made a muddy pond of the +whole camp, and the trenches were half filled in no time. Everything was +blown helter-skelter by the furious wind, and some of our outfits we +never recovered. In the midst of the confusion some fellows reported +that the Spaniards were trying to break through our lines, but the +report was false,—the outsiders were starving Cubans who had come in +looking for shelter and something to eat. We gave them what we +could—which was precious little, for we had next to nothing +ourselves—and then got them to help us get things together again. One +of the Cubans was an old man, who could speak a little English. He said +he had lost two daughters and three grandchildren by starvation since +the war between Spain and Cuba had started. He himself was little more +than a skeleton."</p> + +<p>That Theodore Roosevelt was warmhearted enough to look out for other +soldiers besides those of his own command is proven by what took place +on the day following the big storm. Next to the Rough Riders were +located a regiment of Illinois Volunteers. Because of the muddy roads +and swollen streams, they could get no rations, and scant as were their +own supplies, Colonel Roosevelt had the Rough Riders furnish them with +beans, coffee, and a few cases of hardtack, for which they were +extremely grateful. Later in the day the commander of the Rough Riders +also got to them part of a mule train of provisions.</p> + +<p>The American position had been greatly strengthened, and many additional +troops were now at the front. It was felt that an advance upon Santiago +would surely result in victory, although the losses might be large. But +the Spaniards were no longer in a position to continue the struggle, and +on July 17 the city formally surrendered. The surrendered territory +covered many miles, and the Spanish soldiers to lay down their arms +numbered upward of twenty thousand.</p> + +<p>There was great cheering in the American trenches when the glad news was +brought in, and soon Old Glory was planted on every height, while the +trumpets sounded out triumphantly. Possession of Santiago was immediate, +and in a few hours the Stars and Stripes floated from the flagstaff of +the civil government buildings. Our gallant army had won on the land +just as our gallant navy had won on the sea. The war had been, for us, +one of triumph from start to finish.</p> + +<p>In foreign countries the news was received with an astonishment that can +scarcely be described. After Dewey's wonderful victory in Manila Bay, +many naval experts said that such a fight could not be duplicated, yet +it was duplicated two months later off Santiago Bay in a manner that +left no doubt of American supremacy on the sea. Then when it came to +fighting on land, our army was designated as "paper" soldiers, that is, +soldiers on paper or in name only, and it was said that their guns would +be found of little use against the Mausers of Spain. But this was +likewise false; and to-day the army and navy of the United States are +respected everywhere. And more than this, foreign powers have come to +our country for many of their war-ships, asking us to build and equip +them, and also asking us to make cannon and rifles for them.</p> + +<p>While the war was on in Cuba, a part of the United States army under +General Miles was sent to Porto Rico, another island belonging to Spain. +Here the inhabitants hailed the Americans with delight, and the +resistance by the Spanish soldiers was only half-hearted.</p> + +<p>With the downfall of the navy and Santiago, Spain knew not what to do +next, and gladly received the terms of peace offered by President +McKinley and his advisers. The terms were accepted on August 9, and thus +the short but sharp war came to a termination. By the treaty of peace +Cuba was given her liberty, and Porto Rico and the Philippines passed +into the possession of the United States.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Last Days in Cuba—The Departure for Home—Arrival at +Montauk—Caring for the Sick and Wounded—Presentation to Theodore +Roosevelt by his Men—Mustering-out of the Rough Riders</span></p> + + +<p>Four days after the surrender of Santiago the Rough Riders found +themselves in the hills four or five miles back from the intrenchments +they had occupied during the last fight. Other commands were scattered +in various directions, for to let them go into the wretched city would +have been out of the question. Santiago was dirty in the extreme; the +fever was there, and hundreds were on the verge of starvation.</p> + +<p>It was a trying time for everybody, and equally so for Theodore +Roosevelt, who did all in his power, as before, to make his men +comfortable. When it did not rain, the sun came out fiercely, causing a +rapid evaporation that was thoroughly exhausting to the soldiers. The +locality was not a healthy one, and soon scores of Rough Riders and +others were down with malaria or fever. Doctors and surgeons were +scarce, and hospital accommodations were scanty, and again and again did +Colonel Roosevelt send down on his own account to the seacoast and to +Santiago for food and medicines of which his command were in dire need. +He was now colonel of the Rough Riders in reality, his promotion having +been granted to him just one week after the heroic charge up San Juan +Hill. His old colonel, Wood, was installed at Santiago as military +governor. This, for the time being, left Colonel Roosevelt in command of +the cavalry brigade, no small honor to one who had been, but a few +months before, a stranger to military duties.</p> + +<p>During this time in camp, Theodore Roosevelt visited Santiago and the +forts at the entrance to the harbor, and with the pen of a skilled +author he has, in one of his books, given us vivid pictures of the +sights to be seen there at that time—the crooked streets with their +queer shops, the wretched inhabitants, the grim and frowning forts, all +hemmed in by the towering mountains and the sea. He likewise tells of +his trips to the mountains, and how his companions were usually +exhausted by the climbing done. For one who in his youth had been so +delicate, he stood the exposure remarkably well, for which he was +thankful.</p> + +<p>For some time the authorities at Washington did not know what to do with +the troops in Cuba. It was suggested that they move up to higher ground, +or to another neighborhood. But General Shafter knew, and so did all of +the officers under him, that to keep the army in the island would only +mean more sickness and death.</p> + +<p>"I will go to the general with a protest," said Colonel Roosevelt. And +he did so. Meanwhile the other head officers drew up a letter of +protest, and this was signed by all, including the commander of the +Rough Riders. In his own letter Roosevelt protested against the +treatment of his men in the matter of rations, clothing, and hospital +accommodations, and in the other letter, called by the officers a Round +Robin, there was a protest about remaining in Cuba longer, with the +fever getting worse every day. These letters were made public through +the press of the United States, with the result that the troops were +ordered home without further delay.</p> + +<p>The Rough Riders left Cuba on August 7, just six weeks and a half after +landing. The time spent in the island had been short, but to many it +seemed an age. None were sorry to depart, although sad to think that +some of the sick had to be left behind.</p> + +<p>The transport used this time was the <i>Miami</i>, and Mr. Roosevelt tells us +that, taken as a whole, the accommodations were better than they had +been on the <i>Yucatan</i>. But on the trip much trouble was had with some of +the stokers and engineers, who insisted upon drinking some liquor +smuggled aboard.</p> + +<p>"I will not permit this," said Colonel Roosevelt. And he read the +disorderly ones a strong lecture and made them give up their liquor. +After that, as there was much grumbling, he set a guard; and that was +the end of that trouble.</p> + +<p>The destination of the transport was Montauk, on the extreme eastern +shore of Long Island. The trip took nine days,—rather a dreary time to +those anxious to see their native land once more. When an anchorage was +gained, a gunboat came out to the transport with the welcome news that +Spain had agreed to our terms.</p> + +<p>The sick had still to be cared for; yet, taken as a whole, the month +spent at the camp at Montauk was pleasant enough. Here Colonel Roosevelt +met that part of the regiment that had been left behind in Florida, and +all the stories of the fights had to be told over and over again.</p> + +<p>"It was good to meet the rest of the regiment," says Mr. Roosevelt, in +his book. "They all felt dreadfully at not having been in Cuba. Of +course those who stayed had done their duty precisely as did those who +went." Which was true; yet, as he adds, those who had been left behind +could not be comforted.</p> + +<p>Colonel Roosevelt was still in charge of the brigade while at Montauk, +and much of his time was taken up in getting out necessary reports, and +seeing to it that the entire camp was kept in first-class sanitary +condition.</p> + +<p>"And he was up to the mark," said one of those who were there. "He +didn't allow the least bit of dirt, and everything had to be as +shipshape as if we were at West Point. And it was a good thing, too, for +it kept the sickness from spreading."</p> + +<p>The sea-breeze is strong at Montauk, and this soon began to tell upon +all who were sick, putting in them new life and vigor. Here every +possible attention was given to those who were down, so that ere long +many were up again and as well as ever.</p> + +<p>When he had a little time to himself, Theodore Roosevelt would gather a +few friends around him, and either go to the beach to bathe or go off on +a long horseback ride. War was to him a thing of the past, and he was +once more willing to become a private citizen as of old.</p> + +<p>In those days the camp at Montauk was constantly crowded with visitors +from New York City and elsewhere, who poured in upon every train. All of +the soldiers who had been to Cuba were hailed as heroes, and had to tell +their stories many times.</p> + +<p>"Every soldier had a crowd following him," said one private. "The +visitors wanted to know how we had fought, how we had been treated by +the government, how things looked in Cuba, and a hundred and one +other things. Most of the visitors, especially the ladies, wanted our +autographs, and I had to write mine as many as forty times a day. I +remember one of the men, a cowboy from Oklahoma, couldn't write, and he +got so upset over this that every time somebody asked him for his +autograph he would run away, saying he had forgotten to do something +that he had been ordered to do. When I and some chums went down to New +York to look around, all the folks stared at us, and many insisted on +shaking hands and treating."</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus10.jpg" alt="The Colonel" /> +<a id="illus10" name="illus10"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">Colonel Roosevelt at Montauk Point.</span> <br />(<small><i>Photograph +by Pach Bros., New York.</i></small>)</p> + +<p>The uniforms the Rough Riders had worn in Cuba were in rags, and many +had boarded the transport barefooted. The rags were saved as trophies of +the occasion, and many are still in existence.</p> + +<p>At Camp Wykoff, as the place was called, there was a large hospital for +the sick, and to this many came to do what they could for the sufferers, +who were now given every possible attention. Among the visitors was Miss +Helen Gould, who had used her ample means for the benefit of the sick +all through the war, and who now continued to play the good Samaritan. +President McKinley and many of his cabinet likewise visited the camp, +and saw to it that everything in the hospital and out of it was as it +should be. The sick were presented with the best of fruits and other +things, and many ladies assisted the nurses by reading to the patients +and by writing letters for them.</p> + +<p>Now that they had nothing to do in the shape of fighting, many of the +Rough Riders were anxious to get back to the wild West. Life in an +ordinary camp did not suit them, and at every available opportunity they +indulged in "horse play," working off many practical jokes upon each +other.</p> + +<p>One day a report went the rounds that a member of another cavalry +organization could not master a certain horse that had been assigned to +him. The report was true, for the horse was what is called by ranchmen a +"bad bucker."</p> + +<p>"I think Sergeant Darnell can master him," said Colonel Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>He referred to one of the best "bronco busters" among the Rough Riders, +a man who had never yet allowed a steed to get the best of him.</p> + +<p>"All right, let Darnell try him," said others. And a test was arranged +for the day following.</p> + +<p>At that time Secretary of War Alger was in camp, and a great crowd of +visitors, military men and others, gathered before Colonel Roosevelt's +quarters to watch the contest. At the proper time the vicious horse was +brought forth, and watching his chance, Sergeant Darnell leaped upon his +back. Then came such a bucking, leaping, and prancing as many had never +witnessed before.</p> + +<p>"He'll be killed!" cried many of the ladies. "The horse will have him +under in another moment." But such fears were groundless. Darnell knew +exactly what he was doing, and in the end the fiery steed had to give +in, completely conquered.</p> + +<p>On the last Sunday in camp, Chaplain Brown delivered an impressive +sermon, to which all listened with grave attention. After he had +finished, Theodore Roosevelt spoke to the men in a feeling way.</p> + +<p>"I told them how proud I was of them," he says. "But warned them not to +think that they could go back and rest on their laurels, bidding them +remember that though for ten days or so the world would be willing to +treat them as heroes, yet after that time they would find they would +have to get down to hard work just like anybody else, unless they were +willing to be regarded as worthless do-nothings." This was the best +possible advice, and it is believed that many of the soldiers profited +by it.</p> + +<p>Before the men were mustered out, they treated their beloved commander +to a genuine surprise. They had had a fine bronze of a "Bronco Buster" +made, and this was presented to Colonel Roosevelt on behalf of the whole +regiment. It touched him deeply, and to-day this bronze is one of his +most highly prized gifts.</p> + +<p>At last came news that the Rough Riders would be mustered out of the +United States service the next day. That evening a great celebration +took place, in which all of the men joined, each according to his own +notion of what a celebration should be. Large bonfires were lit, and +here some delivered speeches, the soldiers from the colleges sang, those +with Indian blood in them gave a characteristic dance, and cowboys and +ranchmen did "double-shuffles" and "cut up" as suited them.</p> + +<p>On the morning of September 15, four months after the Rough Riders had +been organized, the colors were lowered in camp, the men were mustered +out, and officers and privates shook hands and said good-by.</p> + +<p>"It was the greatest sight I ever saw," says one of the number. "Not +until that moment came did we realize what it meant to part with those +who had fought with us in battle and suffered the hardships of life in +the trenches. Strange friendships had been formed, some between those +who were very rich and very poor, and others between those who were well +educated and very ignorant. One man who was studying for a professional +life had as his particular chum a rough cowboy who had never spent six +months over his books. But the two had stood by each other and suffered, +and I really believe they were willing to lay down their lives for each +other.</p> + +<p>"Many of the men could hardly bear to part with Colonel Roosevelt. He +had stuck by them through thick and thin, and they worshipped him. Some +shook hands half a dozen times, and some hardly dared to speak for fear +of breaking down. I never expect to see the match of that scene again."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Nominated for Governor of New York—A Rough Rider Way of +Campaigning—Elected Governor—Important Work at Albany—The Homestead +at Oyster Bay—Chopping down a Tree for Exercise</span></p> + + +<p>The war with Spain was at an end, and Uncle Sam had now to turn his +attention to the Philippines, where for many months to come military +disturbances of a more or less serious nature were to take place.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt might have remained in the army, and had he done so +there is no doubt but that he would have swiftly risen to a rank of +importance.</p> + +<p>But the people of the State of New York willed otherwise.</p> + +<p>"He is a great military man," they said. "But he was likewise a fine +Police Commissioner and a Civil Service Commissioner, fighting +continually for what was right and good. Let us make him our next +governor."</p> + +<p>The convention that nominated Theodore Roosevelt for the highest office +in the Empire State met at Saratoga, September 27, 1898, just twelve +days after the Rough Riders were mustered out. At that time Frank S. +Black was governor of the state, having been elected two years before by +a large majority. The governor had many friends, and they said he +deserved another term.</p> + +<p>"Roosevelt is not a citizen of this state," said they. "He gave up his +residence here when he went to Washington to become Assistant Secretary +of the Navy."</p> + +<p>"We don't want him anyway," said other politicians, who had not +forgotten how the Rough Rider had acted when in the Assembly. "If he +gets into office, it will be impossible to manage him." And they worked +night and day to defeat the hero of San Juan Hill.</p> + +<p>On the day of the convention, the hall where it was held was jammed with +people. The people were also crowded in the street outside, and on every +hand were seen Rough Rider badges.</p> + +<p>"It was a Roosevelt crowd from top to bottom," says one who was there. +"You heard his name everywhere—in the hotels, on the streets, no +matter where you went. Every once in a while somebody would shout, +'Three cheers for Teddy!' and the cheers would be given with a will."</p> + +<p>As soon as the convention had settled down to business, Governor Black +was put up for nomination, and then the Hon. Chauncey M. Depew presented +the name of Theodore Roosevelt. He spoke of what had been done in Cuba, +and added:—</p> + +<p>"The Rough Riders endured no hardships nor dangers which were not shared +by their Colonel. He helped them dig their ditches; he stood beside them +in the deadly dampness of the trenches. No floored tent for him if his +comrades must sleep on the ground and under the sky. In that world-famed +charge of the Rough Riders up the hill of San Juan, their Colonel was a +hundred feet in advance."</p> + +<p>There was a prolonged cheering when Theodore Roosevelt's name was +mentioned, and hundreds waved their handkerchiefs and flags. Other +speeches followed, and at last came the voting. Out of the total number +cast Theodore Roosevelt received seven hundred and fifty-three and +Governor Black two hundred and eighteen.</p> + +<p>"I move we make the nomination of Theodore Roosevelt unanimous!" cried +Judge Cady, who had previously presented the name of Governor Black. And +amid continued cheering this was done.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt had been nominated on the regular Republican ticket. +In opposition, the Democrats nominated Augustus Van Wyck, also well +known, and likewise of as old Dutch stock as Roosevelt himself.</p> + +<p>The campaign was a decidedly strenuous one. The Democrats made every +effort to win, while on the other hand the Republicans who had wanted +Governor Black for another term did not give to Mr. Roosevelt the +support promised when his nomination had been made unanimous.</p> + +<p>"We shall be defeated," said more than one friend to Roosevelt. "It +seems a shame, but we cannot arouse the party as it should be aroused."</p> + +<p>"I will see what I can do myself," answered the former leader of the +Rough Riders. And he arranged to make a complete tour of the State, +taking in almost every city and town of importance. When some of the +old campaign managers heard of this, they came to Roosevelt in great +alarm.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't do it," they said. "It will ruin you."</p> + +<p>"I will risk it," was the answer of the candidate. And forthwith he +started on his tour, taking a handful of his Rough Rider friends with +him.</p> + +<p>It was a brilliant stroke on the part of Theodore Roosevelt, and it told +tremendously in his favor. Wherever he went, the people turned out in +large crowds to see him and to listen to what he or his Rough Rider +companions had to say. Citizens by the hundred came up to shake him by +the hand and wish him success. Parades were organized to do him honor, +and at night there would be brilliant illuminations and fireworks.</p> + +<p>"We have aroused the party," said he, when the tour was at an end. And +so it proved. Although Van Wyck was popular, Theodore Roosevelt was +elected to the high office of governor by seventeen thousand plurality.</p> + +<p>It was certainly a high position for such a young man to occupy. He was +barely forty years of age, yet as governor of New York he ruled twice as +many people as did George Washington when first President of the United +States.</p> + +<p>He entered on his new duties with as much zeal as he had displayed when +organizing the Rough Riders, and in a few weeks had the reins of +government well in hand. It is said that while he was governor he was +never surprised by those who opposed him. When they wanted facts and +figures he was able to produce them, and he never supported or vetoed a +measure unless he was morally certain he was on the right side. He was +open-faced to the last degree, and what he said he meant.</p> + +<p>During his term of office many measures of importance were considered, +but in a work of this kind it is not necessary to go into details. For +several important offices he nominated men of his own selection, despite +the protests of some older politicians, and these selections proved +first-class.</p> + +<p>During his term as governor, Mr. Roosevelt did a great work for many +poor people in New York City, who worked in what are called "sweat +shops,"—small, close quarters, not fit for working purposes, in which +men, women, and children make clothing and other articles. He enforced +what was known as the Factory Law, and the owners of the "sweat-shops" +had to seek larger and more sanitary quarters for their employees. He +also took a strong hand in reforming the administration of the canals, +which had been one-sided and unfair.</p> + +<p>But perhaps his greatest work was in behalf of a measure meant to make +the great corporations of New York State pay their fair share of the +general taxes. In the past these corporations had had great rights +conferred upon them, and they had paid little or nothing in return.</p> + +<p>"This is unjust," said Governor Roosevelt. "They should pay their taxes +just as the poorest citizen is compelled to pay his tax."</p> + +<p>When the corporations heard this, many of the men in control were +furious, and they threatened the governor in all sorts of ways. They +would defeat him if he ever again came up for election, and defeat him +so badly that he would never again be heard of.</p> + +<p>"Do as you please, gentlemen," said the governor. "I am here to do my +duty, and I intend to do it." And he called an extra session of the +legislature for that purpose. It is said that much money was used by +some corporations to defeat Governor Roosevelt's will, but in the end a +modified form of the bill was passed. Since that time other bills along +similar lines have become laws; so that the great corporations have to +pay millions of dollars which in the past they had escaped paying. Such +measures are of immense benefit to the ordinary citizen, and for his +share in this work Theodore Roosevelt deserves great credit.</p> + +<p>It was while governor of New York that Mr. Roosevelt gave to the public +his book entitled "The Rough Riders." It contains a history of that +organization from his personal point of view, and makes the most +fascinating kind of reading from beginning to end. It was well received, +and added not a little to the laurels of the writer as an author.</p> + +<p>Although much of his time was spent at Albany as Executive, Theodore +Roosevelt had not given up the old homestead at Oyster Bay on Long +Island, and thither he went for rest and recreation, taking his entire +family, which, as has been said, consisted of his wife and six children, +with him.</p> + +<p>The old Roosevelt homestead is on a hill about three miles distant from +the village. The road to the house winds upward through a wilderness of +trees and brushwood. At the top of the hill, where the house stands, is +a cleared space, free to the strong breezes of Long Island Sound. It is +on the north shore, about twenty-five miles from City Hall, New York.</p> + +<p>The house is a large, three-story affair, with crossed gables, and a +large semicircular veranda at one end. Inside there is a wide hall, and +all the rooms are of good size, with broad windows and inviting open +fireplaces. One room is fitted up as Mr. Roosevelt's "den," with many +bookcases filled with books, and with rare prints of Washington, +Lincoln, and other celebrities on the walls, and with not a few trophies +of the hunt added. In this room Mr. Roosevelt has done much of his work +as an author.</p> + +<p>It is said that Abraham Lincoln not only chopped wood for a living, but +that he rather enjoyed the outdoor exercise. Be that as it may, it +remains a fact that Mr. Roosevelt frequently goes forth into the woods +on his estate to fell a tree, or split one up, just for the exercise +thus afforded. This he did while he was governor of New York, and once +astonished some newspaper men who had come to see him on business by the +dexterity with which he cut a large tree trunk in two. He even invited +his visitors to "take a hack at it" themselves, but they respectfully +declined.</p> + +<p>He still kept up his athletic exercise, and one of his favorite +amusements was to go on long horseback rides, either alone, or with some +relative or friend. At other times he would go deep into the woods with +his young sons, showing them how to bring down the nuts from the trees, +or how to use their guns on any small game that chanced to show itself. +His family life was then, as it has always been, a happy one; but of +this let us speak later.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus11.jpg" alt="oyster bay" /> +<a id="illus11" name="illus11"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">The Roosevelt Homestead at Oyster Bay.</span><br /> + +(<small><i>Photograph by Pach Bros., N.Y.</i></small>)]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Great Reception to Admiral Dewey—Governor Roosevelt's Increased +Popularity—Last Annual Message as Governor—Visit to Chicago—Remarkable +Speech on the Strenuous Life</span></p> + + +<p>Although the war with Spain was over, the people of the United States +had not forgotten the wonderful work accomplished by Admiral Dewey and +his men at Manila, and when the dauntless naval fighter returned to this +country, people everywhere arose to do him honor.</p> + +<p>"He well deserves it," said Governor Roosevelt. And he appointed +September 29 and 30, 1899, as public holidays, to be observed throughout +the entire State as days of general thanksgiving. These days were +commonly called "Dewey Days."</p> + +<p>The reception to the Admiral and to the other naval heroes was to take +place in New York and vicinity, and for many days the citizens were busy +decorating their homes and places of business with flags and bunting +and pictures, and immense signs of "Welcome," some in letters several +feet long. At the junction of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and Twenty-Third +Street, an immense triumphal arch was erected, and reviewing stands +stretched along the line of parade for many miles.</p> + +<p>On the day before the grand reception, Governor Roosevelt, with some +members of his staff, called upon Admiral Dewey on board of the +<i>Olympia</i>, and offered the State's greeting. A pleasant time was had by +all, and the governor assured the sea hero that the people of New York +and vicinity were more than anxious to do him honor.</p> + +<p>It had been arranged that a naval parade should be held on the first day +of the reception, and a land parade on the day following. The course of +the naval parade was up the Hudson River past Grant's Tomb, and the +grand procession on the water included the <i>Olympia</i>, the Admiral's +flag-ship, and the <i>New York</i>, <i>Indiana</i>, <i>Massachusetts</i>, <i>Texas</i>, +<i>Brooklyn</i>, and a large number of other war-ships of lesser importance, +besides an immense number of private steam-yachts and other craft.</p> + +<p>The day dawned clear and bright, and the banks of the Hudson were lined +from end to end with people. When the procession of war-ships swept up +the stream, loud was the applause, while flags waved everywhere, and +whistles blew constantly. When passing Grant's Tomb every war-ship fired +a salute, and the mass of sound echoing across the water was positively +deafening.</p> + +<p>As the <i>Olympia</i> swept up the river, fired her salute, and then came to +anchor a short distance below the last resting-place of General Grant, +Admiral Dewey stood on the bridge of his flag-ship, a small, trim +figure, with a smile and a wave of the hand for everybody. The surging +people could see him but indistinctly, yet there was much hand clapping, +and throats grew sore with cheering.</p> + +<p>But there was another figure in that naval parade, the person of one +also dear to the hearts of the people. It was the figure of Theodore +Roosevelt, dressed, not as a Rough Rider, but as a civilian, standing at +the rail of a steamer used by the New York State officials. When the +people saw and recognized that figure, the cheering was as wild as +ever.</p> + +<p>"It is Roosevelt!" ran from mouth to mouth. "The hero of San Juan Hill!"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the Rough Riders and their gallant leader!" came from +others. And the cheering was renewed.</p> + +<p>In the evening there was a grand display of fireworks and illuminated +floats. The immense span of the Brooklyn Bridge was a mass of lights, +and contained the words "Welcome, Dewey" in lettering which covered +several hundred feet. All of the war-ships had their search-lights in +operation, and it can truthfully be said that for once the metropolis +was as light as day.</p> + +<p>But all of this was as nothing compared with the land parade which +followed. Never before had the streets of New York been so jammed with +people. At many points it was impossible to move, yet the crowds were +good-natured and patriotic to the core. The parade started at Grant's +Tomb and ended at Washington Square, and was between five and six hours +in passing. Admiral Dewey rode in a carriage with Mayor Van Wyck, and +received another ovation. At the Triumphal Arch the Admiral reviewed +the parade, and here he was accorded additional honors.</p> + +<p>In this parade Governor Roosevelt rode on horseback, in civilian dress. +As he came down the street, the immense crowds recognized him from afar, +and the hand clapping and cheering was tremendous, and lasted long after +he was out of sight.</p> + +<p>"It's our own Teddy Roosevelt!" cried the more enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the governor! Hurrah for the colonel of the Rough Riders!"</p> + +<p>"Hurrah for the coming President!" said another. And he spoke better +than he knew.</p> + +<p>This demonstration came straight from the people's heart, and it could +not help but affect Theodore Roosevelt. Sitting astride of his +dark-colored horse like a veteran, he bowed right and left. Next to +Dewey, he was easily the greatest figure in the parade.</p> + +<p>On January 3, 1900, Governor Roosevelt sent his last annual message to +the State legislature. It was an able document, and as it was now +recognized everywhere that he was a truly national figure, it was given +careful attention. It treated of the corruption in canal management, of +the franchise tax, of taxation in general, and a large portion was +devoted to the trusts. At that time the trusts were receiving great +attention everywhere, and it was felt that what the governor had to say +about them, that they were largely over-capitalized, that they +misrepresented the condition of their affairs, that they promoted unfair +competition, and that they wielded increased power over the wage-earner, +was strictly true.</p> + +<p>In Chicago there is a wealthy organization known as the Hamilton Club, +and the members were very anxious to have Governor Roosevelt as their +guest on Appomattox Day, April 10, 1899. A delegation went to New York +to invite the governor, and he accepted the invitation with pleasure.</p> + +<p>"The middle West is very dear to me," said he. "It will be a pleasure to +meet my many friends there."</p> + +<p>Of course he was expected to speak, and said the subject of his address +would be "The Strenuous Life,"—certainly a subject close to his own +heart, considering the life he himself had led.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Roosevelt reached the metropolis of the Great Lakes, he found +a large crowd waiting at the railroad station to receive him. The +reception committee was on hand, with the necessary coaches, and people +were crowded everywhere, anxious to catch a sight of the man who had +made himself famous by the advance up San Juan Hill.</p> + +<p>But for the moment Governor Roosevelt did not see the reception +committee, nor did he see the great mass of people. In a far corner of +the platform he caught sight of six men, dressed in the faded and +tattered uniform of the Rough Riders. They were not men of wealth or +position, but they were men of his old command, and he had not forgotten +them.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, boys, glad to see you!" he shouted, as he elbowed his +way toward them. "Come up here and shake hands."</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, Colonel," was the ready answer, and the faces of the +men broke into broad smiles. They shook hands readily, and willingly +answered all of the questions the governor put to them. He asked how +each of them was doing, calling them by their names, and concluded by +requesting them to come up to the Auditorium later, "for an all-round +chat."</p> + +<p>"It was a great meeting," said one who was there. "Before the train came +in, those old Rough Riders were nervous and showed it. They knew that +Roosevelt had become a great man, and they were just a little afraid he +would pass them by. When the meeting was over, they went off as happy as +a lot of children, and one of them said, 'Say, fellows, Teddy's just all +right yet, ain't he?' And another answered: 'Told you he would be. He's +a white man through and through, none whiter anywhere.'"</p> + +<p>The banquet was held in the Auditorium Theatre building, and was said to +be the largest ever given in Chicago. Many distinguished guests were +present, both from the North and the South, and the place was a mass of +flowers and brilliantly illuminated, while a fine orchestra discoursed +music during the meal. When Theodore Roosevelt arose to speak, there was +cheering that lasted fully a quarter of an hour.</p> + +<p>The speech made upon this occasion is one not likely to be forgotten. +Previous to that time the word "strenuous" had been heard but seldom, +but ever since it has stood for something definite, and is much in use. +In part Mr. Roosevelt spoke as follows:—</p> + +<p>"I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of +the strenuous life; the life of toil and effort; of labor and strife; to +preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who +desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shirk from danger, +from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the +splendid ultimate triumph."</p> + +<p>Another paragraph is equally interesting and elevating:—</p> + +<p>"We do not admire the man of timid peace. We admire the man who embodies +victorious effort; the man who never wrongs his neighbor, who is prompt +to help a friend; but who has those virile qualities necessary to win in +the stern strife of actual life. It is hard to fail; but it is worse +never to have tried to succeed."</p> + +<p>And to this he adds:—</p> + +<p>"As it is with the individual so it is with the nation. It is a base +untruth to say that happy is the nation that has no history. Thrice +happy is the nation that has a glorious history. Far better is it to +dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by +failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy +much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows +neither victory nor defeat."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus12.jpg" alt="Our Hero" /> +<a id="illus12" name="illus12"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> Theodore Roosevelt</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Convention at Philadelphia—Theodore Roosevelt seconds the +Nomination of President McKinley—Becomes Candidate for the +Vice-Presidency—Remarkable Tours through Many States</span></p> + + +<p>As the time came on to nominate parties for the office of President and +Vice-President of the United States, in 1900, there was considerable +speculation in the Republican party regarding who should be chosen for +the second name on the ticket.</p> + +<p>It was felt by everybody that President McKinley had honestly earned a +second term, not alone by his management of the war with Spain, but also +because of his stand touching the rebellion in the Philippines, and on +other matters of equal importance.</p> + +<p>About the Vice-Presidency the political managers were not so sure, and +they mentioned several names. But in the hearts of the people there was +but one name, and that was Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>"We must have him," was heard upon every side. "He will be just the +right man in the right place. He will give to the office an importance +never before attached to it, and an importance which it deserves."</p> + +<p>Personally, Governor Roosevelt did not wish this added honor. As the +Executive of the greatest State in our Union, he had started great +reforms, and he wanted to finish them.</p> + +<p>"My work is here," he said to many. "Let me do what I have been called +to do, and then I will again be at the service of the whole nation once +more."</p> + +<p>The National Republican Convention met in Philadelphia, June 19, in +Exposition Hall, beautifully decorated with flags and banners. Senator +Mark Hanna, President McKinley's warmest personal friend, was chairman, +and the delegates, numbering over seven hundred, came, as usual at such +conventions, from every State in the Union. Governor Roosevelt himself +was a delegate, and sat near the middle aisle, five or six seats from +the front. He was recognized by everybody, and it is safe to say that +he was the most conspicuous figure at the convention.</p> + +<p>Up to the last minute many of the political leaders were, in a measure, +afraid of Theodore Roosevelt. They understood his immense popularity, +and were afraid that the convention might be "stampeded" in his favor.</p> + +<p>"If they once start to yell for Roosevelt, it will be good-by to +everybody else," said one old politician. "They are just crazy after the +leader of the Rough Riders."</p> + +<p>But this man did not understand the stern moral honesty of the man under +consideration. Roosevelt believed in upholding William McKinley, and had +said so, and it was no more possible for him to seek the Presidential +nomination by an underhanded trick than it was for President McKinley to +do an equally base thing when he was asked to allow his name to be +mentioned at the time he had pledged himself to support John Sherman.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +Both men were of equal loyalty, and the word of each was as good as his +bond.</p> + + + +<p>It was Senator Foraker who put up President McKinley for nomination, and +the vigorous cheering at that time will never be forgotten. Fifteen +thousand throats yelled themselves hoarse, and then broke into the +ringing words and music of "The Union Forever!" in a manner that made +the very convention hall tremble. Then came cries for Roosevelt, "For +our own Teddy of the Rough Riders!" and, written speech in hand, he +arose amid that vast multitude to second the candidacy of William +McKinley. Not once did he look at the paper he held in his hand, but +with a force that could not be misunderstood he addressed the +assemblage.</p> + +<p>"I rise to second the nomination of William McKinley, because with him +as a leader this people has trod the path of national greatness and +prosperity with the strides of a giant," said he, "and because under him +we can and will succeed in the election. Exactly as in the past we have +remedied the evils which we undertook to remedy, so now when we say that +a wrong shall be righted, it most assuredly will be righted.</p> + +<p>"We stand on the threshold of a new century, a century big with the +fate of the great nations of the earth. It rests with us to decide now +whether in the opening years of that century we shall march forward to +fresh triumphs, or whether at the outset we shall deliberately cripple +ourselves for the contest."</p> + +<p>His speech was the signal for another burst of applause, and when +finally Theodore Roosevelt was named as the candidate for +Vice-President, the crowd yelled until it could yell no longer, while +many sang "Yankee Doodle" and other more or less patriotic airs, keeping +time with canes and flag-sticks. When the vote was cast, only one +delegate failed to vote for Theodore Roosevelt, and that was Theodore +Roosevelt himself.</p> + +<p>The platform of the party was largely a repetition of the platform of +four years before. Again the cry was for "sound money," and for the +continuance of President McKinley's policy in the Philippines.</p> + +<p>The campaign which followed was truly a strenuous one—to use a favorite +word of the candidate. President McKinley decided not to make many +speeches, and thus the hard work previous to election day fell upon +Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>He did not shirk the task. As with everything he undertook, he entered +into the campaign with vigor, resolved to deserve success even if he did +not win it.</p> + +<p>"I will do my best in the interests of our party, and for the benefit of +the people at large," said Theodore Roosevelt. "No man can do more than +that."</p> + +<p>In the few short months between the time when he was nominated and when +the election was held, Governor Roosevelt travelled over 20,000 miles by +rail, visiting nearly 600 towns, and addressing, on a rough estimate, +fully 3,000,000 of people! In that time he delivered 673 speeches, some +of them half an hour and some an hour in length.</p> + +<p>In his thousands of miles of travel the candidate for the +Vice-Presidency visited many States, particularly those lying between +New York and Colorado. At nearly every town he was greeted by an immense +crowd, all anxious to do the leader of the Rough Riders honor. In the +large cities great banquets were held, and he was shown much respect +and consideration. In many places those who had fought under him came to +see and listen to him, and these meetings were of especial pleasure. +Often he would see an old Rough Rider hanging back in the crowd, and +would call him to the front or do his best to reach the ex-soldier and +shake him by the hand.</p> + +<p>One occurrence is worthy of special mention. The Democratic party had +nominated William Jennings Bryan as their candidate for President. There +was a great labor picnic and demonstration at Chicago, and both Governor +Roosevelt and Mr. Bryan were invited to speak.</p> + +<p>"You had better not accept, governor," said some friends to Theodore +Roosevelt. "There may be trouble."</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid," answered the former leader of the Rough Riders.</p> + +<p>"But Mr. Bryan and yourself are to be there at practically the same +time."</p> + +<p>"That does not matter," said the governor. And he went to Chicago on +September 3, to attend the Labor Day celebrations. The picnic was held +at Electric Park, and in the presence of fifteen thousand people +Governor Roosevelt and Mr. Bryan "buried the hatchet" for the time +being, and spoke to those surrounding them on the dignity of labor and +the duties of the laboring man to better himself and his social +conditions. In that motley collection of people there were frequent +cries of "Hurrah for Teddy!" and "What's the matter with Bryan? He's all +right!" but there was no disturbance, and each speaker was listened to +with respectful attention from start to finish. It was without a doubt a +meeting to show true American liberty and free speech at its best.</p> + +<p>But all of the stops on his tours were not so pleasant to Governor +Roosevelt. In every community there are those who are low-bred and bound +to make an exhibition of their baseness. At Waverly, New York, a stone +was flung at him through the car window, breaking the glass but missing +the candidate for whom it was intended. At once there was excitement.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Governor?" was the question asked.</p> + +<p>"No," returned Theodore Roosevelt. And then he added, with a faint +smile, "It's only a bouquet, but I wish, after this, they wouldn't make +them quite so hard."</p> + +<p>There was also a demonstration against the candidate at Haverstraw, New +York, which threatened for a while to break up an intended meeting. But +the worst rowdyism was encountered at Victor, a small town in Colorado, +near the well-known mining centre of Cripple Creek. Victor was full of +miners who wanted not "sound money," but "free silver," for free silver, +so styled, meant a great booming of silver mining.</p> + +<p>"We don't want him here," said these miners. "We have heard enough about +him and his gold standard. He had better keep away, or he'll regret it."</p> + +<p>When Theodore Roosevelt was told he might have trouble in the mining +camps, he merely shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I know these men," he said. "The most of them are as honest and +respectable as the citizens of New York. I am not afraid of the vicious +element. The better class are bound to see fair play."</p> + +<p>The governor spoke at a place called Armory Hall, and the auditorium was +packed. He had just begun his speech when there was a wild yelling and +cat-calling, all calculated to drown him out. He waited for a minute, +and then, as the noise subsided, tried to go on once more, when a voice +cried out:—</p> + +<p>"What about rotten beef?" referring to the beef furnished during the +Santiago campaign, which had, of course, come through a Republican +Commissary Department.</p> + +<p>"I ate that beef," answered the governor, quickly. And then he added to +the fellow who had thus questioned him: "You will never get near enough +to be hit with a bullet, or within five miles of it." At this many burst +into applause, and the man, who was a coward at heart, sneaked from the +hall in a hurry. He was no soldier and had never suffered the hardships +of any campaign, and many hooted him as he deserved.</p> + +<p>But the trouble was not yet over. Theodore Roosevelt finished his +address, and then started to leave the hall in company with a number of +his friends. On the way to the train a crowd of rowdies followed the +candidate's party, and threw all sorts of things at them. One man made a +personal attack on the governor and hit him on the chest with a stick. +He tried to leap away, but was knocked down by a personal friend of +Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>"Down with the gold bugs!" was the cry, and the violence of the mob +increased. The friends of Governor Roosevelt rallied to his support, and +blows were given and taken freely. But with it all the candidate reached +his train in safety, and in a few minutes more had left the town far +behind. He was not much disturbed, and the very next day went on with +his speech-making as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The +better classes of citizens of Victor were much disturbed over the +happening, and they sent many regrets to Governor Roosevelt, assuring +him that such a demonstration would never again be permitted to occur.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Elected Vice-President of the United States—Presides Over the +Senate—Tax upon Theodore Roosevelt's Strength—Start on Another Grand +Hunting Tour</span></p> + + +<p>But the campaign, sharp and bitter as it had been, was not yet at an +end. In New York City there followed a "Sound Money Parade," which was +perhaps the largest of its kind ever witnessed in the United States. It +was composed of all sorts and conditions of men, from bankers and +brokers of Wall Street to the humble factory and mill hands from up the +river and beyond. The parade took several hours to pass, and was +witnessed by crowds almost as great as had witnessed the Dewey +demonstration.</p> + +<p>In New York City, as the time drew closer for the election, there was +every intimation that the contest would be an unusually "hot" one, and +that there would be much bribery and corruption. It was said by some +that police methods were very lax at that time, and that the saloons, +which ought to be closed on election day, would be almost if not quite +wide open.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus13.jpg" alt="Our hero and the boss" /> +<a id="illus13" name="illus13"></a> +</p> + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">President McKinley and Vice-President Roosevelt.</span><br /> +(<small><i>Photograph by Pach Bros., N.Y.</i></small>)</p> + +<p>"We must have an honest election," said Governor Roosevelt. And without +loss of time he sent letters to Mayor Van Wyck, and to the sheriff and +the district attorney of the county of New York, calling their attention +to the facts in the case, and telling them that he would hold them +strictly responsible if they did not do their full duty. As a +consequence the election was far more orderly than it might otherwise +have been in the metropolitan district.</p> + +<p>The results of the long contest were speedily known. McKinley and +Roosevelt had been elected by a large plurality, and both they and their +numerous friends and supporters were correspondingly happy. Great +parades were had in their honor, and it was predicted, and rightly, that +the prosperity which our country had enjoyed for several years in the +past would continue for many years to come.</p> + +<p>During those days the United States had but one outside difficulty, +which was in China. There a certain set of people called the Boxers +arose in rebellion and threatened the lives of all foreigners, including +American citizens. An International Army was organized, including +American, English, French, German, Japanese, and other troops, and a +quick attack was made upon Tien-Tsin and Pekin, and the suffering +foreigners in China were rescued. In this campaign the American soldiers +did their full share of the work and added fresh laurels to the name of +Old Glory.</p> + +<p>The tax upon the strength of the newly elected Vice-President had been +very great, and he was glad to surrender the duties of governor into the +hands of his successor. But as Vice-President, Theodore Roosevelt became +the presiding officer of the United States Senate, a position of equal +if not greater importance.</p> + +<p>As President of the Senate it is said that Mr. Roosevelt was kind yet +firm, and ever on the alert to see that affairs ran smoothly. He +occupied the position only for one short winter session, and during that +time nothing came under discussion that was of prime importance, +although my young readers must remember that all the work accomplished +in our Senate is of more or less magnitude.</p> + +<p>"He was very earnest in his work," says one who was in the Senate at +that time. "As was his usual habit, he took little for granted, but +usually started to investigate for himself. He knew the rules +thoroughly, and rarely made an error."</p> + +<p>For a long time the newly elected Vice-President had been wanting to get +back to his favorite recreation, hunting. Despite the excitement of +political life, he could not overcome his fondness for his rifle and the +wilderness. He felt that an outing would do his system much good, and +accordingly arranged for a five weeks' hunting trip in northwestern +Colorado.</p> + +<p>In this trip, which he has himself described in one of his admirable +hunting papers, he had with him two companions, Dr. Gerald Webb of +Colorado Springs, and Mr. Philip K. Stewart, an old friend who in former +years had been captain of the Yale base-ball team.</p> + +<p>The party went as far as the railroad would carry them, and then started +for a settlement called Meeker, forty miles distant. The weather was +extremely cold, with the thermometer from ten to twenty degrees below +zero, but the journey to Meeker was made in safety, and here the hunters +met their guide, a well-known hunter of that region named Goff, and +started with him for his ranch, several miles away.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt would have liked to bring down a bear on this trip, +but the grizzlies were all in winter quarters and sleeping soundly, so +the hunt was confined to bob-cats and cougars. The hunting began early, +for on the way to the ranch the hounds treed a bob-cat, commonly known +as a lynx, which was secured without much trouble, and a second bob-cat +was secured the next day.</p> + +<p>The territory surrounding Goff's ranch, called the Keystone, was an +ideal one for hunting, with clumps of cottonwoods and pines scattered +here and there, and numerous cliffs and ravines, the hiding-places of +game unnumbered. The ranch home stood at the foot of several well-wooded +hills, a long, low, one-story affair, built of rough logs, but clean and +comfortable within.</p> + +<p>The two days' ride in the nipping air had been a severe test of +endurance, and all were glad, when the ranch was reached, to "thaw out" +before the roaring fire, and sit down to the hot and hearty meal that +had been prepared in anticipation of their coming.</p> + +<p>The hunters had some excellent hounds, trained especially for bob-cats +and cougars, animals that were never allowed to go after small game +under any circumstances. Theodore Roosevelt was much taken with them +from the start, and soon got to know each by name.</p> + +<p>"In cougar hunting the success of the hunter depends absolutely upon his +hounds," says Mr. Roosevelt. And he described each hound with great +minuteness, showing that he allowed little to escape his trained eye +while on this tour.</p> + +<p>On the day after the arrival at the ranch the party went out for its +first cougar, which, as my young readers perhaps know, is an animal +inhabiting certain wild parts of our West and Southwest. The beast grows +to a size of from six to nine feet in length, and weighs several hundred +pounds. It is variously known as a puma and panther, the latter name +sometimes being changed to "painter." When attacked, it is ofttimes +exceedingly savage, and on certain occasions has been known to kill a +man.</p> + +<p>In Colorado the cougar is hunted almost exclusively with the aid of +hounds, and this was the method adopted on the present occasion. With +the pen of a true sportsman, Mr. Roosevelt tells us how the hounds were +held back until a cougar trail less than thirty-six hours old was +struck. Then off went the pack along the cliffs and ravines, with the +hunters following on horseback. The trail led up the mountain side and +then across the valley opposite, and soon the hounds were out of sight. +Leading their steeds, the hunters went down the valley and followed the +dogs, to find they had separated among the bare spots beyond. But soon +came a welcome sound.</p> + +<p>"The cougar's treed," announced the guide. And so it proved. But when +the hunters came closer, the cougar, an old female, leaped from the +tree, outdistanced the dogs, and leaped into another tree. Then, as the +party again came up, the beast took another leap and started to run +once more. But now the hounds were too quick, and in a trice they had +the cougar surrounded. Slipping in, Theodore Roosevelt ended the +struggles of the wild beast by a knife-thrust behind the shoulder.</p> + +<p>The next day there was another hunt, and this had rather a tinge of +sadness to it. The dogs tracked a mother cougar, who occupied her den +with her three kittens. The hounds rushed into the hole, barking +furiously, and presently one came out with a dead kitten in his mouth.</p> + +<p>"I had supposed a cougar would defend her young to the last," says Mr. +Roosevelt, "but such was not the case in this instance. For some minutes +she kept the dogs at bay, but gradually gave ground, leaving her three +kittens." The dogs killed the kittens without loss of time, and then +followed the cougar as she fled from the other end of her hole. But the +hounds were too quick for her, and soon had her on the ground. Theodore +Roosevelt rushed up, knife in one hand and rifle in the other. With the +firearm he struck the beast in the jaws, and then ended the struggle by +a knife-thrust straight into the heart.</p> + +<p>To many this may seem a cruel sport, and in a certain sense it assuredly +is; but my young readers must remember that cougars and other wild +beasts are a menace to civilization in the far West, and they have been +shot down and killed at every available opportunity. More than this, as +I have already mentioned, Theodore Roosevelt is more than a mere hunter +delighting in bloodshed. He is a naturalist, and examines with care +everything brought down and reports upon it, so that his hunting trips +have added not a little to up-to-date natural history. The skulls of the +various animals killed on this trip were forwarded to the Biological +Survey, Department of Agriculture, Washington, and in return Mr. +Roosevelt received a letter, part of which stated:—</p> + +<p>"Your series of skulls from Colorado is incomparably the largest, most +complete, and most valuable series ever brought together from any single +locality, and will be of inestimable value in determining the amount of +individual variation."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Roosevelt Family in the Adirondacks—The Pan-American Exposition +at Buffalo—Shooting of President McKinley—The Vice-President's +Visit—Death of the President</span></p> + + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt's companions of the hunt remained with him for +fourteen days, after which they departed, leaving him with Goff, the +ranchman and hunter already mentioned.</p> + +<p>When the pair were alone, they visited Juniper Mountain, said to be a +great ground for cougars and bob-cats, and there hunted with great +success. All together the trip of five weeks' hunting netted fourteen +cougars, the largest of which was eight feet in length and weighed 227 +pounds. Mr. Roosevelt also brought down five bob-cats, showing that he +was just as skilful with his rifle as ever.</p> + +<p>The hero of San Juan Hill fairly loved the outdoor exercise of the hunt, +and spent three weeks in keen enjoyment after his companions had +departed. During this time it snowed heavily, so that the hunters were +often compelled to remain indoors. As luck would have it there were +other ranches in that vicinity, with owners that were hospitable, so +that they did not have to go into camp, as would otherwise have been the +case.</p> + +<p>On the last day of the hunt, Theodore Roosevelt was able to bring down +the largest cougar yet encountered. The hounds were on the trail of one +beast when they came across that of another and took it up with but +little warning.</p> + +<p>"We're going to get a big one now," said Goff. "Just you wait and see."</p> + +<p>"Well, if we do, it will be a good ending to my outing," responded +Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>The cougar was at last located by the hounds in a large pinyon on the +side of a hill. It had run a long distance and was evidently out of +breath, but as the hunters drew closer, it leaped to the ground and +trotted away through the snow. Away went the hounds on the new trail of +the beast.</p> + +<p>"He's game, and he'll get away if he can," said the guide.</p> + +<p>At the top of another hill the cougar halted and one of the hounds +leaped in, and was immediately sent sprawling by a savage blow of the +wild animal's paw. Then on went the cougar as before, the hounds barking +wildly as they went in pursuit.</p> + +<p>When Theodore Roosevelt came up once more, the cougar was in another +pinyon tree, with the hounds in a semicircle on the ground below.</p> + +<p>"Now I think I've got him," whispered Theodore Roosevelt to his +companion, and advanced on foot, with great cautiousness. At first he +could see nothing, but at last made out the back and tail of the great +beast, as it lay crouched among the branches. With great care he took +aim and fired, and the cougar fell to the ground, shot through the back.</p> + +<p>At once the hounds rushed in and seized the game. But the cougar was not +yet dead, and snapping and snarling the beast slipped over the ground +and down a hillside, with the dogs all around it. Theodore Roosevelt +came up behind, working his way through the brush with all speed. Then, +watching his chance, he jumped in, hunting-knife in hand, and despatched +the game.</p> + +<p>"A good haul," cried Goff. And later on he and his men came to the +conclusion that it was the same cougar that had carried off a cow and a +steer and killed a work horse belonging to one of the ranches near by.</p> + +<p>The five weeks spent in the far West strengthened Theodore Roosevelt a +great deal, and it was with renewed energy that he took up his duties as +Vice-President of our nation.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, however, matters were not going on so well at home. +Among the children two had been very sick, and in the summer it was +suggested that some pure mountain air would do them a great deal of +good.</p> + +<p>"Very well, we'll go to the mountains," said Mr. Roosevelt, and looked +around to learn what place would be best to choose.</p> + +<p>Among the Adirondack Mountains of New York State there is a reservation +of ninety-six thousand acres leased by what is called the Adirondack +Club, a wealthy organization of people who have numerous summer +cottages built within the preserve.</p> + +<p>Among the members was a Mr. McNaughten, an old friend of the Roosevelt +family, and he suggested that they occupy his cottage until the close of +the season. This invitation was accepted, and the whole Roosevelt family +moved up to the spot, which was located at the foot of Mount Marcy, the +largest of the mountains in that vicinity. Here Mr. Roosevelt spent much +time in hunting and fishing, and also in writing. The family were not +forgotten, and he frequently went out with the whole party, rowing and +exploring. Sometimes they took baskets of lunch with them and had +regular picnics in the woods, something the Roosevelt children enjoyed +very much.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, New York, had +been opened, and day after day it was thronged with visitors. +Vice-President Roosevelt had assisted at the opening, and he was one of +many who hoped the Exposition would be a great success.</p> + +<p>At the Exposition our government had a large exhibit, and it was thought +highly proper that President McKinley should visit the ground in his +official capacity and deliver an address. Preparations were accordingly +made, and the address was delivered on September 5 to a most +enthusiastic throng.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + + + +<p>On the following day the President was driven to the Temple of Music, on +the Exposition grounds, there to hold a public reception. The crowds +were as great as ever, but perfectly orderly, and filed in at one side +of the building and out at the other, each person in turn being +permitted to grasp the Chief Magistrate's hand.</p> + +<p>For a while all went well, and nobody noticed anything unusual about a +somewhat weak-faced individual who joined the crowd, and who had one +hand covered with a handkerchief. As this rascal came up to shake hands, +he raised the hand with the handkerchief and, using a concealed pistol, +fired two shots at President McKinley.</p> + +<p>For an instant everybody was dazed. Then followed a commotion, and while +some went to the wounded Executive's assistance, others leaped upon the +dastardly assassin and made him a prisoner.</p> + +<p>There was an excellent hospital upon the Exposition grounds, and to this +President McKinley was carried. Here it was found that both bullets had +entered his body, one having struck the breastbone and the other having +entered the abdomen. The physicians present did all they possibly could +for him, and then he was removed to the residence of Mr. Millburn, the +President of the Exposition.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, all unconscious of the awful happening that was to have +such an influence upon his future, Mr. Roosevelt had been enjoying +himself with his family, and helping to take care of the children that +were not yet totally recovered from their illness. All seemed to be +progressing finely, and he had gone off on a little tour to Vermont, to +visit some points of interest and deliver a few addresses.</p> + +<p>He was at Isle La Motte, not far from Burlington, when the news reached +him that President McKinley had been shot. He had just finished an +address, and for the moment he could not believe the sad news.</p> + +<p>"Shot!" he said. "How dreadful!" And could scarcely say another word. He +asked for the latest bulletin, and, forgetful of all else, took the +first train he could get to Buffalo, and then hastened to the side of +his Chief.</p> + +<p>It was truly a sad meeting. For many years these two men had known each +other, and they were warm friends. Their methods were somewhat +different, but each stood for what was just and right and true, and each +was ready to give his country his best service, no matter what the cost.</p> + +<p>It was a sad time for the whole nation, and men and women watched the +bulletins eagerly, hoping and praying that President McKinley might +recover. Every hour there was some slight change, and people would talk +it over in a whisper.</p> + +<p>In a few days there were hopeful signs, and the physicians, deceived by +them, said they thought the President would recover. This was glad news +to Theodore Roosevelt. Yet he lingered on, fearful to go away, lest the +news should prove untrue and he should be needed. But then there was a +still brighter turn, and he thought of his own family, and of the fact +that one of his children was again ill.</p> + +<p>"I will return to my family," said he to two of his closest friends. +"But if I am needed here, let me know at once." And his friends promised +to keep him informed. Two days later he was back among the Adirondacks, +in the bosom of his family.</p> + +<p>The prayers of a whole nation were in vain. William McKinley's mission +on earth was finished, and one week after he was shot he breathed his +last. His wife came to bid him farewell, and so did his other relatives, +and his friend of many years, Mark Hanna, and the members of his +Cabinet.</p> + +<p>"It is God's way," murmured the dying Executive. "His will be done, not +ours." Then like a child going to sleep, he relapsed into +unconsciousness, from which he did not recover. He died September 14, +1901, at a little after two o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>It was the last of a truly great life. Illustrious men may come and go, +but William McKinley will be remembered so long as our nation endures. +As a soldier and a statesman he gave his best talents to better the +conditions of his fellow-creatures, and to place the United States where +we justly belong, among the truly great nations of the world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Theodore Roosevelt's Tramp up Mount Marcy—A Message of +Importance—Wild Midnight Ride through the Mountains—On the Special +Trains from North Creek to Buffalo</span></p> + + +<p>With a somewhat lighter heart, Theodore Roosevelt returned to the +Adirondacks and joined his family on Wednesday, three days previous to +President McKinley's death. The last report he had received from Buffalo +was the most encouraging of any, and he now felt almost certain that the +President would survive the outrageous attack that had been made upon +his person.</p> + +<p>"He will get well," said several who lived close by. "You need not worry +about his condition any longer."</p> + +<p>On the following day it was planned to go up to Colton Lake, five miles +from where the family was stopping. Some friends went along, and in the +party were Mrs. Roosevelt and several of the children. Two guides +accompanied them, and it was decided to spend the night at a camp on +the lake, returning home the following day.</p> + +<p>The next morning it rained, but in spite of this drawback Theodore +Roosevelt, leaving the ladies and children to return to the cottage, +started to climb Mount Marcy. Such an undertaking was exactly to his +liking, and he went up the rough and uneven trail with the vigor of a +trained woodsman, the guide leading the way and the other gentlemen of +the party following.</p> + +<p>At last, high up on the side of Mount Marcy, the party reached a small +body of water known as Tear of the Clouds, and here they rested for +lunch.</p> + +<p>"You are certainly a great walker, Mr. Roosevelt," remarked one of the +gentlemen during the progress of the lunch.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have to be," answered Theodore Roosevelt, jokingly. "A +Vice-President needs exercise to keep him alive. You see, when he is in +the Senate, all of his work is done sitting down."</p> + +<p>The words had scarcely been uttered when one of the party pointed to a +man climbing up the mountain side toward them. The newcomer held some +yellow telegram-slips in his hand, and Theodore Roosevelt quickly arose +to receive them.</p> + +<p>He had soon mastered the contents of the messages. President McKinley +was much worse; it was likely that he would not live. For fully a minute +Mr. Roosevelt did not speak. He realized the great responsibility which +rested upon his shoulders. Then, in a voice filled with emotion, he read +the messages aloud.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he continued, "I must return to the club-house at once." +And without waiting, he turned and started down the mountain side along +the trail by which he had come.</p> + +<p>It was a long, hard walk, but it is doubtful if Theodore Roosevelt took +note of it. A thousand thoughts must have flashed through his mind. If +William McKinley should indeed breathe his last, the nation would look +to him as their Chief Magistrate. He could not make himself believe that +his President was to die.</p> + +<p>It was not long before Theodore Roosevelt reached the club-house at the +lake. He asked for further news, but none was forthcoming.</p> + +<p>"We will send to the lower club-house at once," said his friends. "You +had better take a short rest, in case you have a sudden call to make the +trip to Buffalo."</p> + +<p>A misty rain was falling, and the atmosphere of the mountains was raw +and penetrating. Messengers were quickly despatched to the lower +club-house, and by eleven o'clock that evening news came back that left +no doubt of the true condition of affairs. President McKinley was +sinking rapidly, and his death was now only a question of a few hours.</p> + +<p>"I must go, and at once," said Theodore Roosevelt. And soon a light +wagon drove up to the club-house, and he leaped in. There was a short +good-by to his family and his friends, the whip cracked, and the drive +of thirty-five miles to the nearest railroad station was begun.</p> + +<p>It was a never-to-be-forgotten journey. For ten miles or more the road +was fearfully rough and ran around the edges of overhanging cliffs, +where a false turn might mean death. Then at times the road went down +into deep hollows and over rocky hills. All was pitch black, save for +the tiny yellow light hanging over the dashboard of the turnout. +Crouched on the seat, Mr. Roosevelt urged the driver to go on, and go on +they did, making better time during that rain and darkness than had +before been made in broad daylight.</p> + +<p>At last a place called Hunter's was reached, and Theodore Roosevelt +alighted.</p> + +<p>"What news have you for me?" he asked of a waiting messenger, and the +latest message was handed to him. There was no new hope,—President +McKinley was sinking faster than ever. New horses were obtained, and the +second part of the journey, from Hunter's to Aiden Lair, was begun.</p> + +<p>And during that wild, swift ride of nine miles, when it seemed to +Theodore Roosevelt as if he were racing against death, the angel of Life +Everlasting claimed William McKinley, and the man crouched in the wagon, +wet from the rain, hurrying to reach him, became the next President of +the United States.</p> + +<p>It was a little after three in the morning when Aiden Lair was reached. +The sufferer at Buffalo had breathed his last, but Theodore Roosevelt +did not know it, and he still hoped for the best. More fresh horses, +and now the last sixteen miles of the rough journey were made on a +buckboard. In spots the road was worse than it had previously been, and +the driver was tempted to go slow.</p> + +<p>"Go on!" cried Mr. Roosevelt, and held his watch in hand. "Go on!" And +the driver obeyed, the buckboard dancing up and down over the rocks and +swinging dangerously from side to side around the curves of ravines. But +Theodore Roosevelt's mind was not on the road nor on the peril of that +ride, but in that room in Buffalo where the great tragedy had just seen +its completion.</p> + +<p>At last, a little after five in the morning, the turnout came in sight +of the railroad station at North Creek. A special train was in waiting +for him. He gazed anxiously at the little knot of people assembled. +Their very faces told him the sorrowful truth. President McKinley was +dead.</p> + +<p>With bowed head he entered a private car of the special train, and +without delay the train started on its journey southward for Albany. No +time was lost on this portion of the trip, and at seven o'clock +Theodore Roosevelt reached the city in which but a short time before he +had presided as Governor of the State.</p> + +<p>At Albany he was met by Secretary of State Hay, who informed him +officially that President McKinley was no more. He likewise informed the +Vice-President that, considering the excitement, it might be best that +Mr. Roosevelt be sworn in as President without delay.</p> + +<p>Another special train was in waiting at Albany, and this was rushed +westward with all possible speed, arriving in Buffalo at half-past one +in the afternoon. In order to avoid the tremendous crowd at the Union +railroad station, Mr. Roosevelt alighted at the Terrace station. Here he +was met by several friends with a carriage and also a detachment of the +Fourth Signal Corps and a squad of mounted police.</p> + +<p>Without loss of time Theodore Roosevelt was driven to the Millburn +house. Here he found a great many friends and relatives of the dead +President assembled. All were too shocked over what had occurred to say +much, and shook the hand of the coming President in silence.</p> + +<p>Thousands of eyes were upon Theodore Roosevelt, but he noticed them not. +Entering the Millburn house, he thought only of the one who had +surrendered his life while doing his duty, and of that kind and patient +woman now left to fight the battles of this world alone. He offered what +consolation he could to Mrs. McKinley, heard the little that had not yet +been told of that final struggle to fight off death, and then took his +departure, to assume the high office thus suddenly and unexpectedly +thrust upon him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Takes the Oath as President—The New Chief Magistrate at the Funeral +of President McKinley—At the White House—How the First Real Working +Day was Spent</span></p> + + +<p>The new President took the oath of office at the residence of Mr. Ansley +Wilcox in Buffalo. It is a fine, substantial mansion and has ever since +been of historic interest to sight-seers.</p> + +<p>When he arrived at the Wilcox home, he found a number of members of the +McKinley Cabinet awaiting him, as well as Judge John R. Hazel, of the +United States District Court, who administered the oath; and ten or a +dozen others.</p> + +<p>The scene was truly an affecting one. Secretary Root could scarcely +control himself, for, twenty years before, he had been at a similar +scene, when Vice-President Arthur became Chief Magistrate, after the +assassination of President Garfield. In a voice filled with emotion he +requested Vice-President Roosevelt, on behalf of the Cabinet as a +whole, to take the prescribed oath.</p> + +<p>It is recorded by an eye-witness that Theodore Roosevelt was pale, and +that his eyes were dim with tears, as he stepped forward to do as +bidden. His hand was uplifted, and then in a solemn voice the judge +began the oath:—</p> + +<p>"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of +President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, +preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."</p> + +<p>The words were repeated in a low but distinct voice by Theodore +Roosevelt, and a moment of utter silence followed.</p> + +<p>"Mr. President, please attach your signature," went on the judge. And in +a firm hand the new Chief Executive wrote "Theodore Roosevelt" at the +bottom of the all-important document which made him the President of our +beloved country.</p> + +<p>Standing in that room, the President felt the great responsibility which +now rested on his shoulders, and turning to those before him, he spoke +as follows:—</p> + +<p>"In this hour of deep and terrible bereavement, I wish to state that it +shall be my aim to continue absolutely unbroken the policy of President +McKinley for the peace and prosperity and honor of our country."</p> + +<p>These were no mere words, as his actions immediately afterward prove. On +reaching Washington he assembled the Cabinet at the home of Commander +Cowles, his brother-in-law, and there spoke to them somewhat in this +strain:—</p> + +<p>"I wish to make it clear to you, gentlemen, that what I said at Buffalo +I meant. I want each of you to remain as a member of my Cabinet. I need +your advice and counsel. I tender you the office in the same manner that +I would tender it if I were entering upon the discharge of my duties as +the result of an election by the people." Having thus declared himself, +the newly made President asked each member personally to stay with him. +It was a sincere request, and the Cabinet members all agreed to remain +by Mr. Roosevelt and aid him exactly as they had been aiding Mr. +McKinley. Thus was it shown to the world at large, and especially to the +anarchists, of which the assassin of McKinley had been one, that though +the President might be slain, the government still lived.</p> + +<p>The entire country was prostrate over the sudden death of President +McKinley, and one of the first acts of Theodore Roosevelt, after +assuming the responsibilities of his office, was to issue the following +proclamation:—</p> + +<p>"A terrible bereavement has befallen our people. The President of the +United States has been struck down; a crime committed not only against +the Chief Magistrate, but against every law-abiding and liberty-loving +citizen.</p> + +<p>"President McKinley crowned a life of largest love for his fellow-men, +of most earnest endeavor for their welfare, by a death of Christian +fortitude; and both the way in which he lived his life and the way in +which, in the supreme hour of trial, he met his death, will remain +forever a precious heritage of our people.</p> + +<p>"It is meet that we, as a nation, express our abiding love and reverence +for his life, our deep sorrow for his untimely death.</p> + +<p>"Now, therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, +do appoint Thursday next, September 19, the day in which the body of the +dead President will be laid in its last earthly resting-place, a day of +mourning and prayer throughout the United States.</p> + +<p>"I earnestly recommend all the people to assemble on that day in their +respective places of divine worship, there to bow down in submission to +the will of Almighty God, and to pay out of full hearts their homage of +love and reverence to the great and good President whose death has +smitten the nation with bitter grief."</p> + +<p>The funeral of President McKinley was a most imposing one. The body was +at first laid in state in the City Hall at Buffalo, where President +Roosevelt and fully a hundred and fifty thousand men, women, and +children went to view the remains. From Buffalo the remains were taken +by special funeral train to Washington, and there placed in the Rotunda +of the Capitol. Here the crowd was equally great, and here the services +were attended by representatives from almost every civilized nation on +the globe. Outside a marine band was stationed, playing the dead +President's favorite hymns, "Lead, Kindly Light" and "Nearer, my God, to +Thee," and in the singing of these thousands of mourners joined, while +the tears of sorrow streamed down their faces.</p> + +<p>From Washington the body of the martyred President was taken to Canton, +Ohio, where had been his private home. Here his friends and neighbors +assembled to do him final honor, and great arches of green branches and +flowers were erected, under which the funeral cortege passed. As the +body was placed in the receiving vault, business throughout the entire +United States was suspended. In spirit, eighty millions of people were +surrounding the mortal clay left by the passing of a soul to the place +whence it had come. It was truly a funeral of which the greatest of +kings might well be proud.</p> + +<p>The taking-off of President McKinley undoubtedly had a great effect upon +President Roosevelt. During the Presidential campaign the +Vice-Presidential nominee had made many speeches in behalf of his fellow +candidate, showing the high personal character of McKinley, and what +might be expected from the man in case he was elected once more to the +office of Chief Magistrate. More than this, when Assistant Secretary of +the Navy, Mr. Roosevelt had done his best to carry out the plans +formulated by the President. The two were close friends, and in the one +brief session of the Senate when he was Vice-President, Mr. Roosevelt +gave to President McKinley many evidences of his high regard.</p> + +<p>On returning to Washington, President Roosevelt did not at once take up +his residence at the White House, preferring that the place should be +left to Mrs. McKinley until she had sufficiently recovered from her +terrible shock to arrange for the removal of the family's personal +effects.</p> + +<p>As it may interest some of my young readers to know how President +Roosevelt's first day as an active President was spent, I append the +following, taken down at the time by a reporter for a press +association:—</p> + +<p>"Reached the White House from Canton, on September 20, 1901, at 9.40 +<span class="smcap">A.M.</span> Went at once to the private office formerly occupied by +President McKinley, and, as speedily as possible, settled down for the +business of the day.</p> + +<p>"Met Secretary Long of the navy in the cabinet room and held a +discussion concerning naval matters; received Colonel Sanger to talk +over some army appointments; signed appointments of General J. M. Bell +and others; met Senators Cullom and Proctor.</p> + +<p>"At 11 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> called for the first time formal meeting of the +Cabinet and transacted business of that body until 12.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span></p> + +<p>"Received his old friend, General Wood, and held conference with him and +with Secretary Root in regard to Cuban election laws.</p> + +<p>"President Roosevelt left the White House at 1.20 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> to take +lunch with Secretary Hay at the latter's residence. He was alone, +disregarding the services of a body-guard.</p> + +<p>"Returned to the White House at 3.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> and transacted +business with some officials and received a few personal friends.</p> + +<p>"Engaged with Secretary Cortelyou from 4 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> to 6.30 +<span class="smcap">P.M.</span> in the transaction of public business, disposal of mail, +etc.</p> + +<p>"Left the White House unattended at 6.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> and walked +through the semi-dark streets of Washington to 1733 N Street, N.W., the +residence of his brother-in-law, Commander Cowles. Dined in private with +the family.</p> + +<p>"Late in the evening received a few close friends. Retired at 11 +<span class="smcap">P.M.</span>"</p> + +<p>It will be observed that special mention is made of the fact that +President Roosevelt travelled around alone. Immediately after the +terrible tragedy at Buffalo many citizens were of the opinion that the +Chief Magistrate of our nation ought to be strongly protected, for fear +of further violence, but to this Theodore Roosevelt would not listen.</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid," he said calmly. "We are living in a peaceful country, +and the great mass of our people are orderly, law-abiding citizens. I +can trust them, and take care of myself." And to this he held, despite +the protestations of his closest friends. Of course he is scarcely ever +without some guard or secret service detective close at hand, but no +outward display of such protection is permitted. And let it be added to +the credit of our people that, though a few cranks and crazy persons +have caused him a little annoyance, he has never, up to the present +time, been molested in any way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Continuing the Work begun by President McKinley—The Panama Canal +Agitation—Visit of Prince Henry of Prussia—The President at the +Charleston Exposition</span></p> + + +<p>President Roosevelt had said he would continue the policy inaugurated by +President McKinley, and one of the important steps in this direction was +to appoint many to office who had been expecting appointment at the +hands of the martyred President. This gained him many friends, and soon +some who had kept themselves at a distance flocked around, to aid him in +every possible manner.</p> + +<p>Late in September the last of the McKinley effects were taken from the +White House, and some days later the newly made President moved in, with +his family, who had come down from the Adirondacks some time previous. +In Washington the family were joined by Mr. Roosevelt's two +brothers-in-law, Commander Wm. Sheffield Cowles and Mr. Douglas +Robinson, and their wives, and the relatives remained together for some +days.</p> + +<p>It was at first feared by some politicians that President Roosevelt +would be what is termed a "sectional President,"—that is, that he would +favor one section of our country to the exclusion of the others, but he +soon proved that he was altogether too noble for such baseness.</p> + +<p>"I am going to be President of the whole United States," he said. "I +don't care for sections or sectional lines. I was born in the North, but +my mother was from the South, and I have spent much of my time in the +West, so I think I can fairly represent the whole country."</p> + +<p>President Roosevelt sympathized deeply with the condition of the negroes +in the South, and for the purpose of learning the true state of affairs +sent for Mr. Booker T. Washington, one of the foremost colored men of +this country and founder of the Tuskegee Industrial School for Colored +People. They had a long conference at the White House, which Mr. +Washington enjoyed very much. For this action many criticised the +President severely, but to this he paid no attention, satisfied that he +had done his duty as his conscience dictated.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus14.jpg" alt="working?" /> +<a id="illus14" name="illus14"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">President Roosevelt at His Desk.</span></p> + +<p>President Roosevelt's first message to Congress was awaited with +considerable interest. It was remembered that he was the youngest +Executive our White House had ever known, and many were curious to know +what he would say and what he proposed to do.</p> + +<p>The Fifty-seventh Congress of the United States assembled at Washington, +December 2, 1901, and on the day following, President Roosevelt's first +annual message was read in both Senate and House of Representatives.</p> + +<p>It proved to be a surprisingly long and strong state paper, and by many +was considered one of the best messages sent to Congress in many years. +It touched upon general conditions in our country, spoke for +improvements in the army and the navy, called for closer attention to +civil service reform, for a correction of the faults in the post-office +system, and for a clean administration in the Philippines, Hawaii, and +Porto Rico. It spoke of several great needs of the government, and added +that the Gold Standard Act had been found timely and judicious.</p> + +<p>"President Roosevelt is all right," was the general comment, after the +message had been printed in the various papers of our country. "He is +looking ahead, and he knows exactly what this country wants and needs. +We are prosperous now, and if we want to continue so, we must keep our +hands on the plough, and not look backward."</p> + +<p>The first break in the old Cabinet occurred on December 17, when +Postmaster General Charles E. Smith resigned. His place was immediately +filled by the appointment of Henry C. Payne, of Wisconsin. Soon after +this Secretary Gage of the Treasury resigned, and his place was filled +by former governor Leslie M. Shaw, of Iowa.</p> + +<p>For a long time there had been before the American people various +suggestions to build a canal across Central America, to join the +Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, so that the ships wanting to go from +one body of water to the other would not have to take the long and +expensive trip around Cape Horn.</p> + +<p>In years gone by the French had also contemplated such a canal, and had +even gone to work at the Isthmus of Panama, making an elaborate survey +and doing not a little digging. But the work was beyond them, and the +French Canal Company soon ran out of funds and went into the hands of a +receiver.</p> + +<p>"We ought to take hold and dig a canal," was heard on all sides in the +United States. But where to dig the canal was a question. Some said the +Isthmus of Panama was the best place, while others preferred a route +through Nicaragua. The discussion waxed very warm, and at last a +Commission was appointed to go over both routes and find out which would +be the more satisfactory from every point of view.</p> + +<p>The Commission was not very long in reaching a decision. The Panama +Canal Company was willing to sell out all its interest in the work +already done for forty millions of dollars, and it was recommended that +the United States accept this offer. President Roosevelt received the +report, and lost no time in submitting it to Congress.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the new year, 1902, there was a grand ball at the +White House, attended by a large gathering of people, including many of +the foreign representatives accredited to Washington. The occasion was +the introduction into society of Miss Alice Roosevelt, and the affair +was a most pleasing one from beginning to end.</p> + +<p>One of the President's sons, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., had been sent to a +boarding school at Groton, Massachusetts. Early in February he was taken +down with a cold that developed into pneumonia. It looked as if the +youth might die, and both Mrs. Roosevelt and the President lost no time +in leaving Washington and going to his bedside. The sympathy of the +whole country was with the anxious parents, and when it was announced +that the crisis had been passed in safety there was much relief in all +quarters.</p> + +<p>Before this illness occurred there came to the Roosevelts an invitation +which pleased them, and especially Miss Alice, not a little. The German +Emperor William was having a yacht built in this country, at Shooter's +Island. He sent his brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, over to attend the +launching, and requested Miss Roosevelt to christen the yacht, which +was to be called the <i>Meteor</i>.</p> + +<p>The arrival of Prince Henry was made a gala day by many who wished to +see the friendship between the United States and Germany more firmly +cemented than ever, and the royal visitor was treated with every +consideration wherever he went. From New York he journeyed to +Washington, where he dined with the President. He returned to New York +with President Roosevelt and with Miss Roosevelt, and on February 25 the +launching occurred, in the presence of thousands of people and a great +many craft of all sorts. Miss Roosevelt performed the christening in +appropriate style, and this was followed by music from a band and the +blowing of hundreds of steam whistles. After these ceremonies were over, +there followed an elaborate dinner given by the mayor of New York, and +then the Prince started on a tour of the country lasting two weeks. His +visit made a good impression wherever he went, and he was universally +put down as a right good fellow.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that President Roosevelt showed he was not to be +led altogether by what his party did. So far he had not vetoed any +measures sent to him for his signature. Now, however, a bill came to him +touching the desertion of a sailor in the navy. Congress was willing to +strike the black record of the sailor from the books, but President +Roosevelt would not have it.</p> + +<p>"The sailor did wrong," he said. "He knew what he was doing, too. The +record against him must stand." And he vetoed the bill. On the other +hand he was prompt to recognize real worth in those who had served the +government, and when over two hundred private pension bills came before +him for his approval, he signed them without a murmur.</p> + +<p>The people of Charleston, South Carolina, had been arranging for a long +time to hold an exposition which should set forth the real advance and +worth of the leading southern industries. This exposition was now open +to the public, and President Roosevelt and his wife were invited to +attend the exhibit. With so much southern blood in his veins, the +President could not think of refusing, and he and Mrs. Roosevelt +visited the exposition early in April.</p> + +<p>It was a gala day at Charleston, and the President and Mrs. Roosevelt +were received with every honor due their rank, and with great personal +consideration. Governor McSweeney of the state was assisted by Governor +Aycock, of North Carolina, in receiving President Roosevelt.</p> + +<p>A stirring patriotic speech was made by the President during his visit, +and a feature of the trip was the presentation of a sword to Major Micah +Jenkins of the Rough Riders. A great number of President Roosevelt's +former troopers were present, and all were glad, as of old, to crowd +around and take him by the hand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Destruction of St. Pierre—American Aid—The Great Coal +Strike—President Roosevelt ends the Difficulty—Tour through New +England—The Trolley Accident in the Berkshires—A Providential Escape +from Death</span></p> + + +<p>During the summer of 1902 two matters of great importance occurred in +which the whole people of our nation were deeply interested.</p> + +<p>Early in May occurred tremendous volcanic eruptions on the islands of +Martinique and St. Vincent. At the former island, Mont Pelee threw such +a rain of fire upon the town of St. Pierre that the entire place, with +about thirty thousand people, was wiped out of existence in a minute. At +other points the eruptions were not so bad, yet hundreds lost their +lives, and all of the islands of the Lesser Antilles were thrown into a +state bordering upon panic.</p> + +<p>It was felt that something must be done, and at once, for the sufferers, +and a large fund for relief was gathered, of which the Americans +contributed their full share. The volcanic disturbances continued for +some time, and as it was thought they might also cover certain portions +of Central America, nothing was done further concerning a canal to unite +the two oceans.</p> + +<p>The other event of importance was the strike of thousands upon thousands +of coal-miners, working in Pennsylvania and other states. The miners did +not think they were being treated rightly and went out in a body, and +for many weeks not a pound of coal of any kind was mined. This produced +a double hardship, for people could get no coal either for the fall or +winter, and the miners were, in some cases, reduced almost to the verge +of starvation. Neither the workmen nor the operators of the mines would +give in, and soon there was more or less violence, and some soldiers had +to be called out in an effort to preserve order.</p> + +<p>As matters went from bad to worse, and it looked as if the entire +eastern section of our country would have to go without coal for the +winter, there were loud demands that the government take hold of the +difficulty and settle the matter, if not in one way, then in another.</p> + +<p>At last, early in October, the whole country was aroused, for it was +felt that with no coal a winter of untold suffering stared the people in +the face. President Roosevelt held a conference at Washington with the +mine operators and the representatives of the miners.</p> + +<p>"We must get together, gentlemen," said he. "The country cannot do +without coal, and you must supply it to us." And he laid down the law in +a manner not to be misunderstood.</p> + +<p>Another conference followed, and then a third, and at last the coal +operators asked the President to appoint a Commission to decide upon the +points in dispute. To this the representative of the mine workers +agreed, and as a result a Commission was appointed by President +Roosevelt, which was to settle all points in dispute, and by its +decision each side was to abide. In the meantime, while the Commission +was at work, the mine workers were to resume their labors. The mines +were thereupon once more put in operation, after a strike lasting over +five months. This is the greatest coal strike known in American history, +and it is not likely that the people at large will ever again permit +themselves to suffer for the want of coal as they did during that fall +and the winter which followed.</p> + +<p>Early in June occurred the centennial celebration of the founding of the +United States Military Academy at West Point. The occasion was made one +of great interest, and among the many distinguished visitors were +President Roosevelt and General Miles, head of our army at that time. +The President reviewed the cadets and made a speech to them, +complimenting them on their truly excellent showing as soldiers.</p> + +<p>Although very busy with matters of state, President Roosevelt received +an urgent call to deliver a Fourth of July oration at Pittsburg. He +consented, and spoke to a vast assemblage on the rights and duties of +American citizens.</p> + +<p>To remain in Washington during the hot summer months was out of the +question with President Roosevelt and his family, and early in the +season he removed to Oyster Bay, there to enjoy himself as best he might +during the short time allowed him for recreation.</p> + +<p>That the business of the administration might not be too seriously +interrupted, he hired a few rooms over a bank building in the village of +Oyster Bay, and these were fitted up for himself and his several +secretaries and assistants. To the bank building he rode or drove every +day, spending an hour or more over the routine work required. By this +means undesirable visitors were kept away from his private residence, +and he was permitted to enjoy himself as he pleased in company with his +family.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Roosevelt was summering at Oyster Bay, it was arranged that he +should make a short tour through New England, to last from August 22 to +September 3. The trip covered every New England State, and was one of +great pleasure to the President until the last day. Everywhere he went +he was greeted by enthusiastic crowds, and, of course, had to make one +of his characteristic speeches, accompanied by a great deal of +hand-shaking.</p> + +<p>On the last day of the trip he was at Dalton, Massachusetts, the home of +Governor Crane. It had been planned to drive from Dalton to Lenox, a +beautiful spot, adjoining Laurel Lake, where are located the summer +homes of many American millionnaires.</p> + +<p>The trip was begun without a thought of what was to follow. In the +party, besides President Roosevelt, were Governor Crane, Secretary +Cortelyou (afterward made a member of the Cabinet), United States Secret +Service officer William Craig, and the driver of the carriage. It may be +mentioned here that William Craig was detailed as a special guard for +the President, and had been with him since the tour was begun.</p> + +<p>There are a number of trolley lines in this section of Massachusetts, +all centring in Pittsfield. As the mass of the people were very anxious +to see President Roosevelt, the trolleys going to the points where he +would pass were crowded, and the cars were run with more than usual +speed.</p> + +<p>As the carriage containing the President and his companions attempted to +cross the trolley tracks a car came bounding along at a rapid rate of +speed. There seemed to be no time in which to stop the car, and in an +instant the long and heavy affair crashed into the carriage with all +force, hurling the occupants to the street in all directions. The Secret +Service officer, William Craig, was instantly killed, and the driver of +the carriage was seriously hurt.</p> + +<p>There was immediate and great excitement, and for the time being it was +feared that President Roosevelt had been seriously injured. He had been +struck a sharp blow on the leg, and had fallen on his face, cutting it +not a little. The shock was a severe one, but in a little while he was +himself once more, although his face was much swollen. Later still a +small abscess formed on the injured limb, but this was skilfully treated +by his physician, and soon disappeared. The others in the carriage +escaped with but a few bruises and a general shaking-up.</p> + +<p>The result of this accident, small as it was to the President +personally, showed well how firmly he was seated in the affection of his +fellow-citizens. From all over the country, as well as from his friends +in foreign climes, telegrams of congratulation came pouring in. +Everybody was glad that he had escaped, and everybody wished to show how +he felt over the affair.</p> + +<p>"President Roosevelt was much affected by the messages received," said +one who was in a position to know. "It showed him that his friends were +in every walk of life, from the highest to the lowest. Had he met death, +as did the Secret Service officer detailed to guard over him, the shock +to the people, coming so soon after the assassination of President +McKinley, would have been tremendous."</p> + +<p>The President had already been persuaded to consent to a short trip to +the South, from September 5 to 10, and then a trip to the West, lasting +until September 19, or longer. The trips came to an end on September 23, +in Indiana, because of the abscess on the lower limb already mentioned, +yet on November 19 he was given a grand reception by the people of +Memphis, Tennessee, who flocked around him and were glad to see him as +well as ever.</p> + +<p>"We are so glad you escaped from that trolley accident!" was heard a +hundred times.</p> + +<p>"We can't afford to lose you, Mr. President," said others. "Really good +men are too scarce." And then a cheer would go up for "The hero of San +Juan Hill!"</p> + +<p>His speeches on these trips were largely about the trusts and monopolies +that are trying to control various industries of our country. It is an +intricate subject, yet it can be said that Mr. Roosevelt understands it +as well as any one, and is laboring hard to do what is right and best, +both for the consumer and the capitalist.</p> + +<p>Congress had, some time before, voted a large sum for the extension and +improvement of the White House, and while Mr. Roosevelt and his family +were at Oyster Bay these improvements were begun. They continued during +the fall, and the President made his temporary home at a private +residence in the capital city. Here it was he was treated for his +wounded limb, and here he ended the coal strike, as already chronicled.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">New Offices at the White House—Sends a Wireless Message to King +Edward of England—End of the Trouble in Venezuela—The Canadian +Boundary Dispute—Beginning of a Trip to the West—In Yellowstone +Park</span></p> + + +<p>The end of the year found President Roosevelt in the best of health, +despite the accident some weeks previous. The improvements at the White +House were now complete, and the family of the Chief Magistrate took +possession. A separate set of offices for the President and his Cabinet +had been built at the western end of the executive mansion, and the +rooms formerly used for this purpose were turned into living apartments. +The changes made have been approved by many who have seen them, and they +have wondered why the alterations were not made a long time ago.</p> + +<p>On December 1, Congress assembled for a new session, and on the day +following the President's message was read. It was a masterly state +paper, dealing with the trust question, our relations with the new +government of Cuba (for the island was now free, just as we had meant it +to be when the war with Spain started), the creation of a new department +of Commerce and Labor, needs of the army and navy, and the all-important +matter of how the Philippines should be governed. It may be added here +that not long after this a Department of Commerce and Labor was created +by Congress, and Mr. George B. Cortelyou, the secretary to the +President, became its first official head. When Mr. Cortelyou left his +post as secretary, Mr. William Loeb, Jr., who had been the President's +private secretary for some time, became the regular first secretary to +the Chief Magistrate, a place he occupies to-day.</p> + +<p>Just about this time there was considerable trouble in Indianola, +Mississippi. A colored young lady had been appointed postmistress, and +the people in that vicinity refused to recognize her. The Post-Office +Department did what it could in the matter, and then referred the case +to the President.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus15.jpg" alt="white house" /> +<a id="illus15" name="illus15"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">The White House, showing New Offices.</span></p> + +<p>"As she has been regularly appointed, the people will have to accept +her," said Mr. Roosevelt. And when there was more trouble, he sent +forward an order that the post-office be shut up entirely. This was +done, and for a long time the people of that vicinity had to get their +mail elsewhere, a great inconvenience to them.</p> + +<p>On January 1, 1903, the new cable to the Hawaiian Islands was completed, +and President Roosevelt received a message from Governor Dole, and sent +a reply to the same. About two weeks later the President sent a +wireless, or rather cableless, message to King Edward of England. This +helped to mark the beginning of a new era in message-sending which may +cause great changes in the transmission of messages in the future.</p> + +<p>For some time past there had been a small-sized war going on in +Venezuela, South America, between that nation on one hand and England, +Germany, and Italy on the other. This war had caused much disturbance to +American trade. Pressure was brought to bear upon the several nations +through President Roosevelt, and at last it was agreed to leave matters +to be settled by arbitration at The Hague. The agreements to this end +were signed at Washington, much to the President's satisfaction. All +trouble then ceased, and American commerce was resumed as before.</p> + +<p>For many years there had been a dispute between the United States and +Canada, regarding a certain boundary line. This country claimed a long +strip of territory next to the sea, near the seaports of Dyea and +Skagway, and Canada claimed that this strip, about thirty miles in +width, belonged to her domain.</p> + +<p>There had been endless disputes about the claim, and considerable local +trouble, especially during the rush to the Klondike after gold.</p> + +<p>Many Americans contended that we had absolute right to the territory, +and when arbitration was spoken of, said we had nothing to arbitrate. +This was, in the main, President Roosevelt's view of the matter, yet, as +things grew more disturbed, he realized, as a good business man, that +something must be done. We did not wish to fight Canada and England for +the strip of land, and neither did they wish to fight, so at last a +Board of Arbitration was agreed upon, and the claims of both parties +were carefully investigated. In the end nearly every point claimed by +the United States was granted to us. It was a great satisfaction to have +this long-standing dispute settled; and how much better it was to do it +by arbitration than by going to war.</p> + +<p>The regular session of Congress came to an end on March 4, 1903, but +President Roosevelt had already called an extra session, to consider a +bill for reciprocity in our dealing with the new government of Cuba and +to ratify a treaty with Colombia concerning the Panama Canal.</p> + +<p>There was a great deal of debating at this session of Congress. The bill +concerning Cuba caused but little trouble, but many wanted the canal +placed in Nicaragua instead of Panama, and did not wish to pay the forty +millions of dollars asked for the work already accomplished by the old +French Canal Company. But in the end the bill passed the United States +Senate by a vote of seventy-three to five, with the proviso that should +we fail to make a satisfactory arrangement about the Panama Canal, then +the government should build the canal through Nicaragua. President +Roosevelt was enthusiastic over a canal at the isthmus, and lost no time +in arranging to push the work further.</p> + +<p>The people of the far West were very anxious to meet the chief ruler of +our nation, and early in the year it was arranged that President +Roosevelt should leave Washington on April 1 for a tour to last until +June. In that time he was to visit more than twenty States, and make +over one hundred stops. The people in the West awaited his coming with +much pleasure.</p> + +<p>The President was justly entitled to this outing, for the nation was now +at peace with the entire world, and never had business been so +prosperous. More than this, our affairs with other nations had been so +handled that throughout the entire civilized world no ruler was more +popular than was Theodore Roosevelt. In England he was spoken of with +the highest praise, and the regards of the Germans had already been +shown in the visit of Prince Henry to this country. He was known to be +vigorous to the last degree, but it was likewise realized that he was +thoroughly honest and straight-forward.</p> + +<p>The first stop of the President in his trip West was made at Chicago, +where during the day he laid the corner-stone of the new law building of +the University of Chicago, which university conferred upon him the +degree of LL.D. (Doctor of Laws). In the evening he addressed an +unusually large crowd at the Auditorium building, speaking upon the +Monroe Doctrine.</p> + +<p>From Chicago the President journeyed to Milwaukee, and then to St. Paul +and Minneapolis. At the first-named city he made a forceful address on +the trusts, giving his hearers a clear idea of how the great +corporations of to-day were brought into existence, and what may be done +to control them, and in the last-named city he spoke on the +ever-important question of tariff.</p> + +<p>It was an eventful week, and when Sunday came the Chief Magistrate was +glad enough to take a day of rest at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. From +there he journeyed to Gardiner, Montana, one of the entrances to that +greatest of all American wonderlands, Yellowstone Park.</p> + +<p>It was understood that President Roosevelt wished to visit the Park +without a great following of the general public, and this wish was +carried out to the letter. Mr. Roosevelt had with him the well-known +naturalist, Mr. John Burroughs, and for about two weeks he enjoyed +himself to his heart's content, visiting many of the spots of interest +and taking it easy whenever he felt so disposed. It was not a hunting +trip, although big game is plentiful enough in the Park. It was just +getting "near to nature's heart," and Mr. Roosevelt afterward declared +it to be one of the best outings he had ever experienced.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus16.jpg" alt="cabinet" /> +<a id="illus16" name="illus16"></a> +</p> + + +<p class='center'><span class="smcap">Cortelyou. Knox. Payne. Moody. Hay. Roosevelt. Hitchcock. Root. Shaw. +Wilson. </span><br /> + +<span class="smcap">President Roosevelt and Cabinet, 1903.</span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dedication of the Fair Buildings at St. Louis—Continuation of the +Trip To San Francisco—Up in the Far North-West—Back in Washington—The +Post-office Scandals—The New Republic of Panama—A Canal at +Last—Proclamation regarding the War between Japan and Russia—Opening +of the Great Fair</span></p> + + +<p>After the refreshing tour of Yellowstone Park, President Roosevelt +journeyed across Nebraska to Omaha, then across Iowa to Keokuk, and from +the latter city to St. Louis.</p> + +<p>As before, he delivered a number of addresses, and wherever he spoke +great crowds came to see and to hear him. In these crowds were people of +all political tendencies, but it made no difference if they were +Republicans, Democrats, or Populists, all were equally glad to greet the +President of the United States and the hero of San Juan Hill.</p> + +<p>On this trip he frequently met some of the Rough Riders, and they +invariably did all in their power to make him feel at home. On the +other hand he showed that he had not forgotten them.</p> + +<p>"By George, I am glad to see you!" he would exclaim, catching an old +comrade by the hand. And his tone of voice would show that he meant just +what he said.</p> + +<p>For a long time the people of St. Louis had been preparing for a grand +fair, to be known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, to commemorate +the purchasing from France of all that vast territory of the United +States which lies between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains +and the Gulf of Mexico and British America. The purchase was made in +1803 for fifteen millions of dollars, and it was hoped to hold the +exposition on the one hundredth anniversary, in 1903, but matters were +delayed, and so the fair was postponed until 1904.</p> + +<p>The dedication of the fair buildings at the Exposition Grounds was held +on April 30, 1903, and was made a gala occasion by those interested. +President Roosevelt was invited to speak, and also Ex-President +Cleveland, and both made addresses of remarkable interest. Following the +dedication exercises a grand banquet was given at which the scene of +good-fellowship was one not readily forgotten. The President wished the +exposition well, and promised to do all in his power to make it a +success.</p> + +<p>Although the President had already travelled many miles, the greater +part of his western trip still lay before him.</p> + +<p>From St. Louis he went to Kansas City and to Topeka, where the citizens +were as anxious to meet him as anywhere. He stopped at Sharon Springs +over Sunday, and then went to Denver, and to various towns in Colorado +and in New Mexico. While in New Mexico he became interested in the +systems of irrigation there, and told the people what they might do if +their systems of watering the ground were increased.</p> + +<p>Having passed through the Grand Cañon, the second week in May found him +in southern California. He visited Los Angeles, reviewing the annual +floral parade, and many other points, and at Claremont addressed a great +gathering of school children in a beautiful park filled with shrubs and +flowers. The children were decidedly enthusiastic over the meeting, and +when Mr. Roosevelt went away, some pelted him with flowers, which +bombardment he took in good part.</p> + +<p>President Roosevelt's visit to Leland Stanford Jr. University in +California came next, and here the students cheered him with vigor. He +visited many of the more important buildings, and was entertained by +members of the faculty.</p> + +<p>His face was now set toward the Golden Gate, and San Francisco was all +alive to give him an ovation. It was his first official visit to the +Pacific coast, and all whom he met vied with each other to do him honor, +while they listened with great attention to what he had to say.</p> + +<p>Three days were spent in San Francisco and vicinity, and three days more +in a tour of the Yosemite Valley. President Roosevelt was particularly +anxious to see some of the big trees of the State, and was driven to +several that are well known.</p> + +<p>The steps of the Chief Magistrate were now turned northward, to Oregon, +and a week was spent at Portland, and in the towns and cities of the +Puget Sound territory, and beyond. Here he saw much that was new and +novel in the lumber trade and in the salmon industry, and was received +with a warmth that could not be mistaken.</p> + +<p>"He is a President for the whole country, no mistake about that," said +more than one.</p> + +<p>"He makes you feel he is your friend the minute you lay eyes on him," +would put in another. To many in this far corner of our country, this +visit of the President will ever remain as a pleasant memory. They could +never hope to get to Washington, more than three thousand miles away, +and to have him come out to see them was worth remembering.</p> + +<p>The journey eastward was made through Montana to Salt Lake City and then +to Cheyenne, where additional addresses were delivered. From the latter +point a fast train bore him homeward, and by the next Sunday he was back +in the White House once more, as fresh and hearty as ever, and well +prepared to undertake whatever important work might come to hand.</p> + +<p>And work was there in plenty. Among the first things taken up by the +President was a scandal in the Post-Office Department. Without loss of +time President Roosevelt ordered Postmaster General Payne to make a +thorough investigation, with the result that many contracts which were +harmful to our post-office system were annulled, and some wrong-doers +were brought to justice.</p> + +<p>Toward the end of July there was considerable disturbance in the +Government Printing Office at Washington because a certain assistant +foreman, who had been discharged, was reinstated. All of the bookbinders +were on the point of striking because they did not want the man +returned, as he did not belong to their union. But President Roosevelt +was firm in the matter; and in the end the man went back, and there was +no strike. This affair caused an almost endless discussion in labor +circles, some claiming that the union should have been upheld, while +others thought differently.</p> + +<p>During the summer, as was his usual habit, President Roosevelt, with his +family, spent part of his time at his country home at Oyster Bay. This +time the visit to the old homestead was of unusual interest, for, on +August 17, the North Atlantic Fleet of the navy visited that vicinity, +for review and inspection by the President.</p> + +<p>It was a gala occasion, and the fleet presented a handsome appearance +as it filed past and thundered out a Presidential salute. Many +distinguished guests were present, and all without exception spoke of +the steady improvement in our navy as a whole. President Roosevelt was +equally enthusiastic, and well he might be, for he had used every means +in his power to make our navy all it should be.</p> + +<p>Late in September President Roosevelt returned to Washington, and on +October 15 delivered the principal address at the unveiling of a statue +of that grand military hero, General Sherman. Here once more he was +listened to with tremendous interest, delivering a speech that was +patriotic to the core and full of inspiration.</p> + +<p>For some time past matters in Colombia had been in a very mixed-up +condition. The United States were willing to take hold of the Panama +Canal, as already mentioned, but although a treaty had been made to that +effect, the Colombian government would not ratify the agreement.</p> + +<p>On November 3, the trouble in Colombia reached its culminating point. On +that day the State of Panama declared itself free and independent. The +people of that State wanted the canal built by the United States, and +were very angry when the rest of the Colombian States would not agree to +the treaty which had been made.</p> + +<p>At once there were strong rumors of war, and a few slight attacks were +really made. The United States forbade the transportation of soldiers on +the Panama railroad, and a few days later recognized Panama as an +independent republic. The new republic was likewise recognized by +France, and, later still, by England. On November 9, Panama appointed a +commission to negotiate a canal treaty with our country, and this treaty +was signed and sealed at Washington by Secretary of State Hay, acting +for the United States, and M. Bunau-Varilla, acting for Panama.</p> + +<p>The President's next message to Congress went at great length into the +question of the Panama Canal, and in defence of the recognition of the +new republic. It also told of what the new Department of Commerce and +Labor had accomplished, especially the branch devoted to corporations.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus17.jpg" alt="sherman" /> +<a id="illus17" name="illus17"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">President Roosevelt Speaking at the Unveiling of the +Statue of General Sherman.</span><br /> + +(<small><i>Photograph by Clinedinst, Washington, D.C.</i></small>)</p> + +<p>"We need not be over-sensitive about the welfare of corporations +which shrink from the light," wrote Mr. Roosevelt. And in this statement +every one who had the best interests of our nation at heart agreed. To +accomplish great works great corporations are often necessary, but they +must conduct business in such a fashion that they are not ashamed to +show their methods to the public at large.</p> + +<p>At the opening of the year 1904 there were strong rumors of a war +between Japan and Russia, over the occupation of Korea, and this war +started early in February by a battle on the sea, wherein the Russian +fleet lost several war-ships. This contest was followed by others of +more or less importance, and it looked as if, sooner or later, other +nations might become involved in the struggle.</p> + +<p>"We must keep our hands off," said President Roosevelt, and at once +issued a proclamation, calling on all good citizens to remain strictly +neutral, and warning those who might take part that they could hope for +no aid from the United States should they get into trouble personally or +have any property confiscated. This proclamation was followed by some +excellent work of our State Department, whereby it was agreed among the +leading nations that the zone of fighting should be a limited one,—that +is, that neither Japan nor Russia should be allowed to carry it beyond a +certain defined territory.</p> + +<p>For many weeks Congress had debated the Panama Canal treaty and the +action of President Roosevelt regarding the new republic of Panama. On +February 23, 1904, a vote was taken in the Senate, and the Panama Canal +treaty was ratified in all particulars. Without delay some United States +troops were despatched to Panama, to guard the strip of land ten miles +wide through which the canal is to run, and preparations were made to +push the work on the waterway without further delay.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, April 30, the great World's Fair at St. Louis was formally +opened to the public. It had cost over fifty millions of dollars and was +designed to eclipse any fair held in the past. The opening was attended +by two hundred thousand visitors, all of whom were more than pleased +with everything to be seen.</p> + +<p>It had been arranged that President Roosevelt should formally open the +Exposition by means of telegraphic communications from the White House +to the fair grounds. A key of ivory and gold was used for the purpose, +and as soon as it was touched a salute of twenty-one guns roared forth +in the Exposition's honor. Around the President were assembled the +members of his Cabinet and representatives of many foreign nations. +Before touching the key which was to set the machinery of the wonderful +fair in motion, President Roosevelt spoke as follows:—</p> + +<p>"I have received from the Exposition grounds the statement that the +management of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition awaits the pressing of +the button which is to transmit the electric energy which is to unfurl +the flag and start the machinery of the Exposition.</p> + +<p>"I wish now to greet all present, and especially the representatives of +the foreign nations here represented, in the name of the American +people, and to thank these representatives for the parts their several +countries have taken in being represented in this centennial anniversary +of the greatest step in the movement which transformed the American +Republic from a small confederacy of States lying along the Atlantic +seaboard into a continental nation.</p> + +<p>"This Exposition is one primarily intended to show the progress in the +industry, the science, and the art, not only of the American nation, but +of all other nations, in the great and wonderful century which has just +closed. Every department of human activity will be represented there, +and perhaps I may be allowed, as honorary president of the athletic +association which, under European management, started to revive the +memory of the Olympic games, to say that I am glad that, in addition to +paying proper heed to the progress of industry, of science, of art, we +have also paid proper heed to the development of the athletic pastimes +which are useful in themselves as showing that it is wise for nations to +be able to relax.</p> + +<p>"I greet you all. I appreciate your having come here on this occasion, +and in the presence of you, representing the American government and the +governments of the foreign nations, I here open the Louisiana +Exposition."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Personal Characteristics of Theodore Roosevelt—The President's +Family—Life at the White House—Our Country and its Future</span></p> + + +<p>In reading over the foregoing pages the question may occur to some of my +young readers, How is it possible for President Roosevelt to accomplish +so much and still have time in which to occasionally enjoy himself by +travelling or by going on a hunting tour?</p> + +<p>The answer is a very simple one. Mr. Roosevelt works systematically, as +do all who want their labor to amount to something. Years ago, when he +was physically weak, he determined to make himself strong. He persisted +in vigorous exercise, especially in the open air, and in the end +attained a bodily health which any ordinary man may well envy.</p> + +<p>The President does each day's work as it comes before him. He does not +borrow trouble or cross a bridge before he comes to it. Whatever there +is to do he does to the very best of his ability, and he allows future +complications to take care of themselves. If a mistake is made, he does +not worry continually over it, but keeps it in mind, so that a like +mistake shall not occur again. When once his hand is on the plough, he +does not believe in turning back. He has unlimited faith in the future +of our glorious country, and a like faith in the honor and courage of +his fellow-citizens.</p> + +<p>Any man to be an intelligent worker cannot be dissipated, and the +President is a good illustration of this. He has a good appetite, but +eats moderately, and does not depend upon stimulants or tobacco to +"brace him up" when the work is extra heavy. He goes out nearly every +day for a walk, a ride on horseback, or a drive with some members of his +family, and as a result of this, when night comes, sleeps soundly and +arises the next morning as bright and fresh as ever.</p> + +<p>This is the first time that a President with a large family has occupied +the White House. Other Presidents have had a few children, but Mr. +Roosevelt took possession with six, a hearty, romping crowd, the +younger members of which thought it great fun to explore the executive +mansion when first they moved in. The President loves his children +dearly, and is not above "playing bear" with the little ones when time +permits and they want some fun.</p> + +<p>Of Mrs. Roosevelt it can truthfully be said that she makes a splendid +"first lady in the land." She takes a great interest in all social +functions, and an equal interest in what is best for her boys and girls +and their friends. She is very charitable, and each year contributes +liberally to hundreds of bazaars and fairs held throughout our country.</p> + +<p>The oldest child of the President is Miss Alice Lee Roosevelt, named +after her mother, the first wife of the Chief Magistrate. Although but a +step-daughter to the present Mrs. Roosevelt, the two are as intimate and +loving as if of the same flesh and blood. Miss Roosevelt has already +made her debut in Washington society, and assisted at several gatherings +at the White House.</p> + +<p>All of the other children were born after Mr. Roosevelt's second +marriage. His oldest son is Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., commonly called by +his chums, Teddy, Jr. He is a lad of sixteen, bright and clever, and has +been attending a college preparatory school at Groton, Massachusetts, as +already mentioned. He loves outdoor games, and is said to possess many +tastes in common with his father.</p> + +<p>The other members of the family are, Kermit, fourteen, Ethel Carew, +twelve, Archibald Bullock, nine, and a lively little boy named Quentin, +who is six.</p> + +<p>Some time ago a distinguished member of the English Educational +Commission visited this country and made an inspection of our school +system. When asked what had impressed him most deeply, he answered:—</p> + +<p>"The children of the President of the United States sitting side by side +with the children of your workingmen in the public schools."</p> + +<p>This simple little speech speaks volumes for the good, hard common sense +of our President. He believes thoroughly in our public institutions, and +knows the real value of sending out his boys to fight their own battles +in the world at large. He does not believe in pampering children, but +in making them self-reliant. All love to go out with him, and when at +Oyster Bay he frequently takes the boys and their cousins for a day's +tramp through the woods or along the beach, or else for a good hard row +on the bay. The President prefers rowing to sailing, and frequently rows +for several miles at a stretch. His enjoyment of bathing is as great as +ever, and his boys love to go into the water with him.</p> + +<p>Christmas time at the White House is just as full of joy there as it is +anywhere. The younger children hang up their stockings, and scream with +delight over every new toy received. For some days previous to Christmas +one of the rooms is turned into a storeroom, and to this only Mrs. +Roosevelt and one of the maids hold the key. Presents come in from +everywhere, including many for the President, for his friends far and +near insist upon remembering him. These presents are arranged on a large +oval table near one of the broad windows, and on Christmas morning the +distribution begins.</p> + +<p>The President, in his trips to the woods, has seen the great harm done +by cutting down promising evergreens, so he does not believe very much +in having a Christmas tree. But a year ago a great surprise awaited him.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to fix up a tree," said little Archie, and managed to smuggle +a small evergreen into the house and place it in a large closet that was +not being used. Here he and his younger brother Quentin worked for +several days in arranging the tree just to suit them. On Christmas +morning, after the presents were given out, both asked their father to +come to where the closet was located.</p> + +<p>"What is up now?" asked Mr. Roosevelt, curiously.</p> + +<p>"Come and see!" they shouted. And he went, followed by all the others of +the family. Then the closet door was thrown open, and there stood the +tree, blazing with lights. It was certainly a great surprise, and Mr. +Roosevelt enjoyed it as much as anybody.</p> + +<p>The children of Washington, and especially those whose fathers occupy +public positions, always look forward with anticipations of great +pleasure to the children's parties given by Mrs. Roosevelt, and these +parties are of equal interest to those living at the mansion.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus18.jpg" alt="Our hero and family" /> +<a id="illus18" name="illus18"></a> +</p> +<p class='center'> <span class="smcap">President Roosevelt and His Family.</span><br /> + +(<small><i>Photograph by Pach Bros., N.Y.</i></small>)</p> + +<p>Such a party was given during the last holidays, and was attended by +several hundred children, all of whom, of course, came arrayed in their +best. They were received by Mrs. Roosevelt, who had a hand-shake and a +kind word for each, and then some of the Cabinet ladies, who were +assisting, gave to each visitor a button, set in ribbon and tinsel and +inscribed "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."</p> + +<p>The big main dining-room of the White House had been prepared for the +occasion. There was a Christmas tree at one side of the room, and the +table was filled with fruit, cake, and candy. The President came in and +helped to pass the ice-cream and cake, and Theodore, Jr. and some of the +others passed the candy and other good things.</p> + +<p>After this the visitors were asked to go to the East Room and dance. The +Marine Band furnished the music, and while the children were dancing, +the President came in to look at them. The entertainment lasted until +the end of the afternoon, and when the visitors departed, President +Roosevelt was at the door to shake hands and bid them good-by.</p> + +<p>And here let us bid good-by ourselves, wishing Theodore Roosevelt and +his family well. What the future holds in store for our President no man +can tell. That he richly deserves the honors that have come to him, is +beyond question. He has done his best to place and keep our United +States in the front rank of the nations of the world. Under him, as +under President McKinley, progress has been remarkably rapid. In the +uttermost parts of the world our Flag is respected as it was never +respected before. Perhaps some few mistakes have been made, but on the +whole our advancement has been justified, and is eminently satisfactory. +The future is large with possibilities, and it remains for the +generation I am addressing to rise up and embrace those opportunities +and make the most of them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX_A" id="APPENDIX_A"></a>APPENDIX A</h2> + +<p>BRIEF EXTRACTS FROM FAMOUS ADDRESSES DELIVERED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT</p> + + +<p>"If we are to be a really great people, we must strive in good faith to +play a great part in the world. We cannot avoid meeting great issues. +All that we can determine for ourselves is whether we shall meet them +well or ill."</p> + +<p>"All honor must be paid to the architects of our material prosperity; to +the captains of industry who have built our factories and our railroads; +to the strong men who toil for wealth with brain or hand; for great is +the debt of the nation to these and their kind. But our debt is still +greater to the men whose highest type is to be found in a statesman like +Lincoln, a soldier like Grant."</p> + +<p>"A man's first duty is to his own home, but he is not thereby excused +from doing his duty to the state; for if he fails in this second duty it +is under the penalty of ceasing to be a freeman."</p> + +<p>—<i>Extracts from "The Strenuous Life."</i></p> + + +<p>"Is America a weakling to shrink from the work that must be done by the +world's powers? No! The young giant of the West stands on a continent +and clasps the crest of an ocean in either hand. Our nation, glorious in +youth and strength, looks into the future with eager and fearless eyes, +and rejoices, as a strong man to run the race."</p> + +<p>—<i>Extract from Speech seconding the Nomination of William McKinley for +President.</i></p> + + +<p>"Poverty is a bitter thing, but it is not as bitter as the existence of +restless vacuity and physical, moral, and intellectual flabbiness to +which those doom themselves who elect to spend all their years in that +vainest of all vain pursuits, the pursuit of mere pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Our interests are at bottom common; in the long run we go up or go down +together."</p> + +<p>"The first essential of civilization is law. Anarchy is simply the +hand-maiden and forerunner of tyranny and despotism. Law and order, +enforced by justice and by strength, lie at the foundation of +civilization."</p> + +<p>—<i>Extracts from a Speech delivered at Minneapolis, Minnesota, September +2, 1901.</i></p> + + +<p>"We hold work, not as a curse, but as a blessing, and we regard the +idler with scornful pity."</p> + +<p>"Each man must choose, so far as the conditions allow him, the path to +which he is bidden by his own peculiar powers and inclinations. But if +he is a man, he must in some way or shape do a man's work."</p> + +<p>"It is not given to us all to succeed, but it is given to us all to +strive manfully to deserve success."</p> + +<p>"We cannot retain the full measure of our self-respect if we do not +retain pride in our citizenship."</p> + +<p>—<i>Extracts from an Address on "Manhood and Statehood."</i></p> + + + +<p>"The true welfare of the nation is indissolubly bound up in the welfare +of the farmer and wage-worker; of the man who tills the soil, and of the +mechanic, the handicraftsman, and the laborer. The poorest motto upon +which an American can act is the motto of 'some men down,' and the +safest to follow is that of 'all men up.'"</p> + +<p>—<i>Extract from Speech delivered at the Dedication of the Pan-American +Fair Buildings.</i></p> + + +<p>"The men we need are the men of strong, earnest, solid character—the +men who possess the homely virtues, and who to these virtues add rugged +courage, rugged honesty, and high resolve."</p> + +<p>—<i>Extract from Speech delivered upon the Life of General Grant.</i></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX_B" id="APPENDIX_B"></a>APPENDIX B</h2> + +<p>LIST OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S WRITINGS</p> + + +<p><b>Books:</b></p> + +<p> +The Naval War of 1812, 2 volumes. (1882.)<br /> +The Winning of the West, 6 volumes. (1889-1896.)<br /> +Hunting Trips of a Ranchman. (1885.)<br /> +Hunting Trips on the Prairie. (Companion volume to that above. 1885.)<br /> +The Wilderness Hunter. (1893.)<br /> +Hunting the Grisly. (Companion volume to that above. 1893.)<br /> +The Rough Riders. (1899.)<br /> +Life of Oliver Cromwell. (1900.)<br /> +The Strenuous Life—Essays and Addresses. (1900.)<br /> +American Ideals. (1897.)<br /> +Administration—Civil Service. (1898.)<br /> +Life of Thomas Hart Benton. (1887.)<br /> +New York. (Historic Towns Series. 1891.)<br /> +Life of Gouverneur Morris. (1888.)<br /> +Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail. (1888.)<br /> +Essays on Practical Politics. (1888.)<br /> +</p> + +<p><b>Written by Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge:</b></p> + +<p>Hero Tales from American History. (1895.)</p> + +<p><b>Written by Theodore Roosevelt and G.B. Grinnell:</b></p> + +<p> +Trail and Camp Fire. (1896.)<br /> +Hunting in Many Lands. (1896.)<br /> +</p> + + +<p><b>Principal Magazine Articles:</b></p> + +<p> +Admiral Dewey. (McClure's Magazine.)<br /> +Military Preparedness and Unpreparedness. (Century Magazine.)<br /> +Mad Anthony Wayne's Victory. (Harper's Magazine.)<br /> +St. Clair's Defeat. (Harper's Magazine.)<br /> +Fights between Iron Clads. (Century Magazine.)<br /> +Need of a New Navy. (Review of Reviews.)<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX_C" id="APPENDIX_C"></a>APPENDIX C</h2> + +<p>CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT FROM 1858 TO 1904</p> + + +<p> +1858. October 27. Theodore Roosevelt born in New York City, son of +Theodore Roosevelt and Martha (Bullock) Roosevelt.<br /> +<br /> +1864. Sent to public school, and also received some private instruction; +spent summers at Oyster Bay, New York.<br /> +<br /> +1873. Became a member of the Dutch Reformed Church; has been a member +ever since.<br /> +<br /> +1876. September. Entered Harvard College. Member of numerous clubs +and societies.<br /> +<br /> +1878. February 9. Death of Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.<br /> +<br /> +1880. June. Graduated from Harvard College; a Phi Beta Kappa man.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 23. Married Miss Alice Lee, of Boston, Massachusetts.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Travelled extensively in Europe; climbed the Alps; made a member +of the Alpine Club of London.</span><br /> +<br /> +1881. Elected a member of the New York Assembly, and served for three +terms in succession.<br /> +<br /> +1884. Birth of daughter, Alice Lee Roosevelt.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Death of Mrs. Alice (Lee) Roosevelt, Mr. Roosevelt's first wife.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Death of Mrs. Martha (Bullock) Roosevelt, Mr. Roosevelt's mother.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Made Delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention that +nominated James G. Blaine for President.</span><br /> +<br /> +1885. Became a ranchman and hunter.<br /> +<br /> +1886. Ran for office of mayor of New York City, and was defeated by +Abram Hewitt.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Spent additional time in hunting.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December 2. Married Edith Kermit Carew, of New York City.</span><br /> +<br /> +1888. Birth of son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September. Grand hunt in the Selkirk Mountains.</span><br /> +<br /> +1889. May. Appointed by President Harrison a member of the Civil +Service Commission; served for six years, four under<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">President Harrison and two under President Cleveland.</span><br /> +<br /> +1890. Birth of son, Kermit Roosevelt.<br /> +<br /> +1891. September. Grand hunt at Two-Ocean Pass, Wyoming.<br /> +<br /> +1892. Birth of daughter, Ethel Carew Roosevelt.<br /> +<br /> +1895. May 24. Appointed Police Commissioner of New York City by Mayor +William Strong. Served until April, 1897.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Birth of son, Archibald Bullock Roosevelt.</span><br /> +<br /> +1897. April. Made First Assistant Secretary of the Navy, under +Secretary Long and President McKinley.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">Birth of son, Quentin Roosevelt.</span><br /> +<br /> +1898. April 25. Congress declared war with Spain. Roosevelt +resigned his position in the Navy Department.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">May. Helped to organize the Rough Riders, and was appointed +Lieutenant-Colonel, May 6.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">May 29. The Rough Riders left San Antonio, Texas, for Tampa, +Florida.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 2. In camp at Tampa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 7. Move by coal cars to Port Tampa; four companies left +behind;board transport <i>Yucatan</i>.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 13. Start for Cuba, without horses.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 22. Landing of the Rough Riders at Daiquiri.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 23. March to Siboney.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 24. Advance to La Guasima (Las Guasimas). First fight +with the Spanish troops.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 1. Battles of San Juan and El Caney. Roosevelt leads the +Rough Riders up San Juan Hill.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 2. Fighting in the trenches by the Rough Riders, Roosevelt +in command.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 3. Sinking of the Spanish fleet off Santiago Bay.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 8. Roosevelt made Colonel of the Rough Riders.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">August 7. Departure of the Rough Riders from Cuba.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">August 9. Spain accepts terms of peace offered by the United +States.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">August 16. Arrival of the Rough Riders at Montauk, Long Island.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 15. Mustering out of the Rough Riders.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 27. Nominated by the Republican party for governor of +New York.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">October. Grand campaigning tour through the Empire State.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">November. Elected governor of New York by seventeen thousand +plurality.</span><br /> +<br /> +1899. January 1. Assumed office as governor of New York.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">April 10. Delivered famous address on "The Strenuous Life," +at Chicago.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 29 and 30. Governor appointed these days as holidays +in honor of a reception to Admiral Dewey;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> grand water and land processions.</span><br /> +<br /> +1900. June 19. Republican Convention met at Philadelphia; Roosevelt +seconded the nomination of McKinley<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> for President (second term), +and was nominated for the Vice-Presidency.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July, August, and September. Governor Roosevelt travelled 20,000 +miles, delivering 673 political speeches.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> at nearly 600 cities and towns.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">November 6. McKinley and Roosevelt carried 28 states, Democratic +opponents carried 17 states;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> Republican electoral votes, 292, Democratic and scattering combined, 155.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December. Presided over one short session of the United States +Senate.</span><br /> +<br /> +1901. January 11. Started on a five weeks' hunting tour in Northwest +Colorado; bringing down many cougars.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">April. Attended the dedication of the Pan-American Exposition +buildings at Buffalo, New York, and delivered an address.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 6. Received word, while at Isle la Motte, Vermont, +that President McKinley had been shot; hurried at once</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> to Buffalo; assured that the President would recover, joined his +family in the Adirondacks.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 14. Death of President McKinley. Roosevelt returned +to Buffalo; took the oath of office as President</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> of the United States at the house of Ansley Wilcox; retained the McKinley +Cabinet.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 15 to 19. Funeral of President McKinley, at Buffalo, +Washington, and Canton, Ohio.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> President Roosevelt attended.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 20. First regular working day of President Roosevelt +at the White House.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December 3. First annual message delivered to Congress.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December 4. Senate received Hay-Pauncefote canal treaty from +the President.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December 17. First break in the McKinley Cabinet. Postmaster +General Smith resigned; was succeeded by H.C. Payne.</span><br /> +<br /> +1902. January 3. Grand ball at the White House, Miss Alice Roosevelt +formally presented to Washington society.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">January 6. Secretary Gage of the Treasury resigned; was succeeded +by Ex-Governor Leslie M. Shaw, of Iowa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">January 20. The President transmitted to Congress report of Canal +Commission, recommending buying</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> of rights for $40,000,000.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">February 10. Serious sickness of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. President +in attendance at Groton, Massachusetts, several days.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">February 24. Reception to Prince Henry of Prussia.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">February 25. Launching of German Emperor's yacht, which was +christened by Miss Alice Roosevelt.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">March 7. President signed a bill creating a permanent pension +bureau.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">May 12. Beginning of the great coal strike; largest in the history +of the United States.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">May 21. President unveiled a monument at Arlington Cemetery, erected +in memory of those</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> who fell in the Spanish-American War.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 9. President reviewed West Point cadets at the centennial +celebration of that institution.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 4. Addressed a great gathering at Pittsburg.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 5. Removed his business offices to Oyster Bay for the summer.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">August 11. Retirement of Justice Gray of the Supreme Court; the +President named Oliver Wendell Holmes</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> as his successor.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">August 22. The President began a twelve days' tour of New +England.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 3. Narrow escape from death near Pittsfield, +Massachusetts. Trolley car ran down carriage,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> killing Secret Service attendant.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 6 and 7. President visited Chattanooga, Tennessee, +and delivered addresses.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">October 3. President called conference at Washington concerning +coal strike.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">October 21. As a result of several meetings between the President, +the mine operators, and the mine workers</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> the miners resumed work, and a commission was appointed by the President to adjust matters +in dispute.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">November 19. Grand reception to the President at Memphis, Tennessee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December 2. President's message to Congress was read by both +branches.</span><br /> +<br /> +1903. January 15. President signed the free coal bill passed by Congress.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">January 21. President signed the bill for the reorganization of the +military system.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">March 5. Special session of Congress called by the President to +consider Cuban reciprocity bill and</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> Panama Canal treaty with Colombia.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">March 12. President appointed a Commission to report on +organization, needs, and conditions of government work.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">March 18. President received report of Coal Commission.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">April 2. President received degree of LL.D. from the University of +Chicago. Beginning of long trip to the west.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">April 4. President addressed Minnesota legislature at St. Paul.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">April 30. President delivered address at dedication of buildings +of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, at St. Louis.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">June 6. President ordered an investigation into the Post-office +Department scandals.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 4. First message around the world, via new Pacific cable, +received by President at Oyster Bay.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">July 23. The President refused to consider charges made by a +bookbinders' union against a workman</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> in the Government Printing Office, thereby declaring for an "open" shop.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">August 17. Grand naval review by the President, on Long Island +Sound, near Oyster Bay.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">September 17. President delivered an address at the dedication of +a monument to New Jersey soldiers,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> on the battle-field of Antietam.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">October 15. President delivered an address at unveiling of statue +to General Sherman, at Washington.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">October 20. President called extra session of Congress to consider +a commercial treaty with Cuba.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">November 3. Panama proclaimed independent of Colombia.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">November 6. The United States government formally recognized the +independence of the state of Panama.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">November 10. Opening of extra session of Congress called by +President to consider commercial treaty with Cuba.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">November 18. A new canal treaty was formally signed at Washington +by Secretary Hay,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> of the United States, and M. Bunau-Varilla, acting +for Panama.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December 2. The canal treaty was ratified at Panama.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">December 7. The President sent regular message to Congress +especially defending the administration</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> policy regarding Panama and the canal.</span><br /> +<br /> +1904. January 4. The President sent a special message to Congress +regarding the recognition of the new republic<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> of Panama. This was followed for weeks by debates, for and against the action of the +administration.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">February. War broke out between Japan and Russia; the President +issued a proclamation declaring the neutrality</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;"> of the United States.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">February 22. The President and family assisted at a Washington's +Birthday tree-planting at the White House grounds.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">February 23. The United States ratified all the provisions of the +Panama Canal treaty; preparations were made,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">under the directions of the President, to begin work without delay.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">April 30. President, at Washington, delivered address and pressed +telegraphic key opening World's Fair at St. Louis.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> For other extracts from this speech, see Appendix A, p. +297.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> See "American Boys' Life of William McKinley," p. 191.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> For this speech in full, and for what happened after it was +delivered, see "American Boys' Life of McKinley."</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 85%;" /> + +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p style="margin-top: 10em;">AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY</p> + +<p>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER. 300 pages. Illustrated by A.B. Shute, and from +photographs $1.25</p> + + + +<p>Here is told the whole story of McKinley's boyhood days, his life at +school and at college, his work as a school teacher, his glorious career +in the army, his struggles to obtain a footing as a lawyer, his efforts +as a Congressman, and lastly his prosperous career as our President. +There are many side lights on the work at the White House during the war +with Spain, and in China, all told in a style particularly adapted to +boys and young men. The book is full of interesting anecdotes, all taken +from life, showing fully the sincere, honest, painstaking efforts of a +life cut all too short. The volume will prove an inspiration to all boys +and young men, and should be in every one's library.</p> + +<p><i>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid, on receipt of price, by +the publishers.</i></p> + +<p> +LEE AND SHEPARD<br /> +BOSTON<br /> +</p> + +<p>THE FAMOUS "OLD GLORY SERIES"</p> + +<p>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</p> + +<p><i>Author of "The Bound to Succeed Series," "The Ship and Shore Series," +"Colonial Series," "Pan-American Series," etc.</i></p> + +<p>Six volumes. Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.25</p> + + + +<p> +UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA<br /> +Or The War Fortunes of a Castaway<br /> +<br /> +A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA<br /> +Or Fighting for the Single Star<br /> +<br /> +FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS<br /> +Or Under Schley on the Brooklyn<br /> +<br /> +UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES<br /> +Or A Young Officer in the Tropics<br /> +<br /> +THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE<br /> +Or Under Lawton through Luzon<br /> +<br /> +UNDER MACARTHUR IN LUZON<br /> +Or Last Battles in the Philippines<br /> +</p> + +<p>"A boy once addicted to Stratemeyer stays by him."—<i>The Living Church</i>.</p> + +<p>"The boys' delight—the 'Old Glory Series.'"—<i>The Christian Advocate, +New York</i>.</p> + +<p>"Stratemeyer's style suits the boys."—<span class="smcap">John Terhune</span>, <i>Supt. of +Public Instruction, Bergen Co., New Jersey</i>.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stratemeyer is in a class by himself when it comes to writing about +American heroes, their brilliant doings on land and sea."—<i>Times, +Boston</i>.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stratemeyer has written a series of books which, while historically +correct and embodying the most important features of the +Spanish-American War and the rebellion of the Filipinos, are +sufficiently interwoven with fiction to render them most entertaining to +young readers."—<i>The Call, San Francisco</i>.</p> + +<p> +<i>For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by</i><br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD, Publishers,<br /> +BOSTON<br /> +</p> + +<p>THE COLONIAL SERIES</p> + +<p>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</p> + +<p><i>Author of "Pan-American Series," "Old Glory Series," "Great American +Industries Series," "American Boys' Biographical Series," etc.</i></p> + +<p>Four volumes. Cloth. Illustrated by A.B. Shute. Price per volume, $1.25</p> + + + +<p> +WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST<br /> +Or A Soldier Boy's Battles in the Wilderness<br /> +<br /> +MARCHING ON NIAGARA<br /> +Or The Soldier Boys of the Old Frontier<br /> +<br /> +AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL<br /> +Or A Soldier Boy's Final Victory<br /> +<br /> +ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC<br /> +Or The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio<br /> +</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stratemeyer has put his best work into the 'Colonial +Series.'"—<i>Christian Register, Boston</i>.</p> + +<p>"A series that doesn't fall so very far short of being history +itself."—<i>Boston Courier</i>.</p> + +<p>"The tales of war are incidental to the dramatic adventures of two boys, +so well told that the historical facts are all the better +remembered."—<i>Boston Globe</i>.</p> + +<p>"Edward Stratemeyer has in many volumes shown himself master of the art +of producing historic studies in the pleasing story form."—<i>Minneapolis +Journal</i>.</p> + +<p>"The author, Edward Stratemeyer, has used his usual care in matters of +historical detail and accuracy, and gives a splendid picture of the +times in general."—<i>Milwaukee Sentinel</i>.</p> + +<p>"Told by one who knows how to write so as to interest boys, while still +having a care as to accuracy."—<i>Commercial Advertiser, New York</i>.</p> + +<p> +<i>For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by</i><br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD, Publishers<br /> +BOSTON<br /> +</p> + +<p>TWO GOOD WAR STORIES</p> + +<p>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</p> + +<p><i>ON TO PEKIN, Or Old Glory in China</i></p> + +<p>Cloth. 330 pages. Illustrated by A. Burnham Shute. $1.25</p> + + + +<p>The hero, Gilbert Pennington, has become a lieutenant in the regular +army, and goes from the Philippines with the Ninth Regiment to take part +in the rescue of the beleaguered British Embassy at Pekin by the +international forces. Mr. Stratemeyer has risen to the occasion by +giving, in addition to one of his very best stories, a store of +information concerning China and the Chinese, conveyed in a natural and +entertaining manner.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stratemeyer gives his youthful readers plenty of adventures, but +there is little that might not easily happen. His books are eminently +"safe" ones, and their patriotic spirit will be considered +admirable.—<i>Home Journal, Boston</i>.</p> + +<p> +<i>BETWEEN BOER AND BRITON<br /> +Or Two Boys' Adventures in South Africa</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>Illustrated by A. Burnham Shute 354 pages Price $1.25</p> + +<p>Relates the experiences of two boys, cousins to each other, one American +and the other English, whose fathers are engaged in the Transvaal, one +in farming and the other in mining operations. While the two boys are +off on a hunting trip after big game, the war between the Boers and +Britons suddenly breaks out, and the boys find themselves placed between +hostile armies, where their thrilling experiences are brought out in Mr. +Stratemeyer's best style.</p> + +<p>Exhibits the same qualities which have given popularity to his former +writings.—<i>The Times, Pittsburg, Pa.</i></p> + +<p>A stirring story of the South African war.—<i>The Journal, Indianapolis, +Ind.</i></p> + +<p>The kind of story to please boys and give them a fair idea of a great +historical event.—<i>St. Louis Post-Despatch</i>.</p> + +<p>GREAT AMERICAN INDUSTRIES SERIES</p> + +<p>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</p> + +<p>VOLUME ONE</p> + +<p> +<i>TWO YOUNG LUMBERMEN<br /> +Or From Maine to Oregon for Fortune</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>320 pages. Cloth. Illustrated. Price $1.00 net</p> + + +<p>A splendid new story, undoubtedly the best Mr. Stratemeyer has yet +penned. It covers the whole of the great lumber industry of our country, +the scene shifting from Maine to Michigan and the Great Lakes, and then +to the Columbia and the Great Northwest. The heroes are two sturdy +youths who have been brought up among the lumbermen of their native +State, and who strike out in an honest endeavor to better their +condition. As mill hands, fellers, log drivers, and general camp workers +they have a variety of adventures, absorbing in the extreme. An ideal +volume for the library of every wide-awake American who wishes to know +what our great lumber industry is to-day.</p> + +<p>Boys are acquiring the Stratemeyer habit.—<i>Post, Chicago</i>.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stratemeyer's books are not only entertaining but +instructive.—<i>Daily Press, Portland, Me.</i></p> + +<p>He knows how to attract and hold boy readers.—<i>Evening Standard, New +Bedford, Mass.</i></p> + +<p>The demands of boy readers are peculiar, and the author who can satisfy +them, not once or twice, but uniformly, must possess rare ability in an +extremely difficult field. Such an author is Edward Stratemeyer.—<i>Sunday +News, Newark, N.J.</i></p> + +<p>PAN-AMERICAN SERIES</p> + +<p>By EDWARD STRATEMEYER</p> + + +<p>VOLUME ONE</p> + +<p> +<i>LOST ON THE ORINOCO<br /> +Or American Boys in Venezuela</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price $1.25</p> + +<p>This volume tells of five American youths, who, with their tutor, sail +from New York to La Guayra, touching at Curaçao on the way. They visit +Caracas, the capital, Macuto, the fashionable seaside resort, go +westward to the Gulf of Maracaibo and lake of the same name, and at last +find themselves in the region of the mighty Orinoco, and of course they +have some exciting experiences, one of which gives name to the book. +Just the book boys and young men should read, in view of the general +interest in matters Pan-American.</p> + +<p>Its pictures of South American life and scenery are novel and +instructive.—<i>The Literary World, Boston</i>.</p> + +<p>The scenes described are of the sort to charm the hearts of adventurous +boys.—<i>The Outlook, N.Y.</i></p> + + +<p>VOLUME TWO</p> + +<p> +<i>THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS<br /> +Or American Boys in the West Indies</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Price $1.25</p> + +<p>This is a complete tale in itself, but has the same characters which +have appeared so successfully in "Lost on the Orinoco." The boys, with +their tutor, sail from Venezuela to the West Indies, stopping at +Jamaica, Cuba, Hayti, and Porto Rico. They have numerous adventures on +the way, and then set out for St. Pierre, Martinique, where they +encounter the effects of the eruption of Mt. Pelee, and two of the boys +are left on a raft to shift for themselves. Life in the West Indies is +well portrayed, and the tale will appeal to many an older person as well +as to the boys.</p> +</div> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus19.jpg" alt="cover" /> + +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of American Boy's Life of Theodore +Roosevelt, by Edward Stratemeyer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THEODORE ROOSEVELT *** + +***** This file should be named 22352-h.htm or 22352-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/3/5/22352/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from scans of public domain material +produced by Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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