theodore roosevelt-第43章
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the best intentions； either realized that the New Age was at hand； or thought it necessary even to outline the principles which should guide it； and how little his successor； President Taft； a most amiable man； understood that the New Age； with the Rooseveltian reforms； had come to stay； and could not be swept back by actively opposing it or by allowing the Rooseveltian ideals to lapse。
CHAPTER XVII。 ROOSEVELT AT HOME
Although Theodore Roosevelt was personally known to more people of the United States than any other President has been； and his manners and quick responsive cordiality made multitudes feel； after a brief sight of him； or after shaking his hand； that they were old acquaintances； he maintained during his life a dignified reticence regarding his home and family。 But now that he is dead and the world craves eagerly； but not irreverently； to know as much as it can about his many sides； I feel that it is not improper to say something about that intimate side which was in some respects the most characteristic of all。
Early in the eighties he bought a country place at Oyster Bay； Long Island； and on the top of a hill he built a spacious house。 There was a legend that in old times Indian Chiefs used to gather there to hold their powwows； at any rate； the name； the Sagamores' Hill； survived them； and this shortened to Sagamore Hill he gave to his home。 That part of Long Island on the north coast overlooking the Sound is very attractive； it is a country of hills and hollows； with groves of tall trees； and open fields for farming； and lawns near the house。 You look down on Oyster Bay which seems to be a small lake shut in by the curving shore at the farther end。 From the house you see the Sound and the hills of Connecticut along the horizon。
After the death of his first wife in January； 1884； Roosevelt went West to the Bad Lands of North Dakota where he lived two years at Medora； on a ranch which he owned； and there he endured the hardships and excitements of ranch life at that time； acting as cow…puncher； ranchman； deputy sheriff； or hunting big and little game； or writing books and articles。 In the autumn of 1886； however； having been urged to run as candidate for Mayor of New York City； he came East again。 He made a vigorous campaign； but having two opponents against him he was beaten。 Then he took a trip to Europe where he married Miss Edith Kermit Carow； whom he had known in New York since childhood； and on their return to this country； they settled at Sagamore Hill。 Two years later； when President Harrison appointed Roosevelt a Civil Service Commissioner； they moved to Washington。 There they lived in a rather small house at 1720 Jefferson Place〃modest；〃 one might call it； in comparison with the modern palaces which had begun to spring up in the National Capital； but people go to a house for the sake of its occupants and not for its size and upholstery。
So for almost six years pretty nearly everybody worth knowing crossed the Roosevelts' threshold； and they themselves quickly took their place in Washington society。 Roosevelt's humor； his charm； his intensity； his approachableness； attracted even those who rejected his politics and his party。 Bright sayings cannot be stifled； and his added to the gayety of more than one group。 He was too discreet to give utterance to them all； but his private letters at that time； and always； glistened with his remarks on public characters。 He said； for instance； of Senator X； whom he knew in Washington： He 〃looks like Judas； but unlike that gentleman； he has no capacity for remorse。〃
When the Roosevelts returned to New York； where he became Police Commissioner in 1895； they made their home again at Oyster Bay。 This was thirty miles by rail from the city； near enough to be easily accessible； but far enough away to deter the visits of random； curious； undesired callers。 Later； when automobiles came in； Roosevelt motored to and from town。 Mrs。 Roosevelt looked after the place itself； she supervised the farming； and the flower gardens were her especial care。 The children were now growing up； and from the time when they could toddle they took their placea very large placein the life of the home。 Roosevelt described the intense satisfaction he had in teaching the boys what his father had taught him。 As soon as they were large enough； they rode their horses； they sailed on the Cove and out into the Sound。 They played boys' games； and through him they learned very young to observe nature。 In his college days he had intended to be a naturalist； and natural history remained his strong est avocation。 And so he taught his children to know the birds and animals； the trees； plants； and flowers of Oyster Bay and its neighborhood。 They had their petsKermit； one of the boys； carried a pet rat in his pocket。
Three things Roosevelt required of them all； obedience； manliness； and truthfulness。 And I imagine that all these virtues were taught by affection and example； rather than by constant correction。 For the family was wholly united； they did everything together； the children had no better fun than to accompany their father and mother； and there were a dozen or more young cousins and neighbors who went out with them too； forming a large； delighted family for whom 〃Uncle〃 or 〃Cousin Theodore 〃 was leader and idol。 And just as formerly； in the long winter nights on his ranch at Medora； he used to read aloud to the cowboys and hunters of what was then the Western Wilderness； so at Sagamore Hill； in the days of their childhood； he read or told stories to the circle of boys and girls。
In 1901； Mr。 Roosevelt became President； and for seven years and a half his official residence was the White House； where he was obliged to spend most of the year。 But whenever he could steal away for a few days he sought rest and recreation at Oyster Bay； and there； during the summers； his family lived。 So far as the changed conditions permitted； he did not allow his official duties to interfere with his family life。 〃One of the most wearing things about being President；〃 a President once said to me； 〃is the incessant publicity of it。 For four years you have not a moment to yourself； not a moment of privacy。〃 And yet Roosevelt； masterful in so many other things； was masterful in this also。 Nothing interfered with the seclusion of the family breakfast。 There were no guests； only Mrs。 Roosevelt and the children； and the simplest of food。 At Oyster Bay he would often chop trees in the early morning； and sometimes； while he was President； he would ride before breakfast； but the meal itself was quiet； private； uninterrupted。 Then each member of the family would go about his or her work； for idleness had no place with them。 The President spent his morning in attending to his correspondence and dictating letters； then in receiving persons by appointment； and he always reserved time when any American； rich or poor； young or old； could speak to him freely。 He liked to see them all and many were the odd experiences which he had。 He asked one old lady what he could do for her。 She replied： 〃Nothing； I came all the way from Jacksonville； Florida； just to see what a live President looked like。 I never saw one before。〃
〃That's very kind of you；〃 the President replied； 〃persons from up here go all the way to Florida just to see a live alligator〃and so he put the visitor at her ease。
Luncheon was a varied meal； sometimes there were only two or three guests at it； at other times there might be a dozen。 It afforded the President an opportunity for talking informally with visitors whom he wished to see； and not infrequently it brought together round the table a strange； not to say a motley； company。
After luncheon followed more work in his office for the President； looking over the letters he had dictated and signing them； signing documents and holding interviews。 Later in the afternoon he always reserved two hours for a walk or drive with Mrs。 Roosevelt。 Nothing interfered with that。 In the season he played tennis with some of the large group of companions whom he gathered round him； officials high and low； foreign Ambassadors and Cabinet Ministers and younger under…secretaries who were popularly known as the 〃Tenni
