San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-05-17
THE LATEST DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT
ROBERT B. ROOSEVELT,
MINISTER RESIDENT AT THE HAGUE.

The appointment of Robert B. ROose-
yelt as United States Minister to the
Netherlands, is one that everybody ap-
proves. Mr. Roosevelt's has been a
busy and useful life, although he has
always enjoyed more than the financial
means necessary to the life OF leisure.
His mission to the Netherlands Is OF no
Importance to him for its money value
of seventy-five hundred dollars year.
Mr.. Roosevelt is President OF the Hol-
land Trust Company, New YORK. How
his going to The Hague will influence
his business affairs is his own private
concern. A descendant OF the sturdy
stock who first settled the American me-
tropolis, he will show the ancestral
Dutch what has been the influence OF
two centuries or more OF the American
life on the renowned men and women
who are proud to trace their descent
from it. That q Roosevelt should be
Minister to Holland is strictly in &C.
cordance with 1.-The eternal fitness OF
things"
Mr, Roosevelt was born in New York
In the year 1929. He is a graduate OF
Hazard and a lawyer by profession. AT
an early period Of his life he surrendered
q large practice in order to devote him
self to literature and politics. He was
fond Of athletic sports and prominent
yachtsman. Mr. Roosevelt won the first
prizes for casting the fly at the state
tournaments in which he took part, was
active in securing the passage of proper
laws for the protection OF the game OF
the country. and was elected president
of the international association which
had been organized for that purpose.
Although enjoying outdoor recre-
atoms, he was equally devoted to
literary pursuits. He began with con-
tributions to the old Spirit Of the Times
and wrote for its columns many articles
while he was still only boy. At II years
of age he wrote a play for John
Brougham, but the financial misfortunes
OF that gentleman, which eliminated
soon after, prevented its production,
and the manuscript was destroyed In
fire OF the Winter Garden Theatre, New
York. In 1868 he became joint editor of
the New York Citizen, with Charles g.
Halyine miles O'Reily) of genial MEM
ory. After the death of that merry jour-
nalist he continued in control OF the pa
per for several years, securing for 1t
larger circulation than 1T had ever at
tanned before. His first books were on
sporting subjects, as Game Fish OF the
North, published in 1860. This was 80
successful that 1t was quickly fol-
lowed by The Game Birds OF the North,
Superior Fishing and later by Flor
ida and the Game Water Birds
These books were reprinted in 1854. AS
more purely literary venture Mr..
Roosevelt wrote Progressive Petit
coats" a satire on short-mindedness in
the female sex, and Five Acres Too
Much,"a ridicule Of amateur farm cul-
To;p M Gath Eroop no
prepared, "Fish Matching and Fish
Catching" During the same time he
was writing fugitive articles innumer-
able and frequently delivering addresses
on the subject of fish culture. He sug-
gested the idea of the Ichthyophagous
club, for the purpose OF calling the at
tention OF the public, by an annual din
ner, to edible fishes not generally 30 con-
sidered. Mr.. Roosevelt was one OF the
founders of the Lotos and the Arcadisn
clubs, and was founder and was elected
perpetual president Of the Pot-Luck
club, an association the members of
which cook their own dinner and write
songs or parodies on the dishes they
contribute. Some of the most eminent
literary men and women OF the country
belong to this unique organization.
Twenty years ago Mr., Roosevelt was
made q fish commissioner. In 1881 he
became president of the commission. He
Is now president OF the Fish Culture
association and OF the New York Asso-
citation for the Protection of Game.
He has always been democrat. Dur
ing the height Of the Tweed rogues'
reVelry In New York he assisted In the
organization of the Citizens association.
Subsequently he joined the Democratic
union, an organization opposed to Tam
many hall. He was O member of the
forty-second congress. While at Wash
inRton he distinguished himself in up
setting the plans Of q dishonest ring. 1t
was towards the end Of his term in con-
gress that the people rose against the
rule Of Tammany hall, and the Commit
tee of Seventy was formed. The work Of