Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-20

Always enlOyeu mOTe tuau tuo ubAnNl1A
means necessary to the life OF leisure.
His mission TO the Netherlands is OF no
importance to him for it's meney value OF
81, 800 a year. Mr.. Roosevelt is presi-
dent of the Holland 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 metropolis, he will show the
ancestral Butch what has been the infiu-
enco OF TIVE centuries or more OF Ameri-
can life on the renewed men and women
who are proud TO trace their descent from
it. That Roosevelt should be Minister
to Holland is strictly in accordance with
"the eternal fitness Of things."
MIR. Roosevelt was born in New York
in the year 1929. Ee is a graduate Of
Harvard and a lawyer by profession.
At an early period OF his life he surren-
dered large practice in order to de-
vote himself to literature and politics.
He WAS fond Of athletic sports and pro-
minent yachtsman. Mr.. Roosevelt won
the first prizes for casting the fly at the
State tournaments in which he took
part, was active ia securing the passage
Of proper laws for the protection Of the
game OF the country, and was elected
president of the International Associa-
tien, which had been organized for that
purpose. Although enjoying outdoor
recrestions, 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 a boy. At seven
teen years of age he wrote play for
John Breugham, but the fRancial mis-
fortunes OF that gentlemen, Which cul-
minated soon oftsrwnrd. prevented its
production, and the manuscript was de-
stroyed in fire at the Winter Garden
Theatre, New York. In 1868 he became
Joint editor of the New York citizen,
with CharlesG. Hslpins Miles O'Reilly),
of genial memory. After the death of
that merry journalist no continued IN
control of the paper for several years,
securing fer it a larger circulation
than it had ever attained before.
His first books were on sport
ing subiects-as "Gams Fish OF the
North" published in 1869. This was
so successful that it was quickly followed
by "The Game Birds OF the North,
"Superior Fishing" and later by
"FIerida and the Game Water Birds.
These books were reprinted in 1884. As
more purely literary venture, Mr..
Roosevelt wrote Progressive Petit
coats" satire on shcrt-minded1ess IN
the female sex, and Five Acres loo
Much" a ridicule OF amateur farm oul-
ture. Jointly with Mr.. Seth Green he pre-
pared Fish Matching and Fish-Catch-
ing" During the same time he was
writing fugitive articles innumerabls
and frequently delivering addresses on
the subject Of fsh-culture. He sug-
gested the idea Of the IchthyOphagous
Club, for the purpose OF calling the at
tention OF tho public, by an annual din
ner, to edible fishes not generally so
considered. Mr.. Roosevelt was one OF
the founders Of the Lotos and tho Ar
cadian 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 organiza-
ton.
Twenty years ago Mr.. Roosevelt was
made a fish commissioner. In 1851 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. Du-
ring tue height of the Tweed rogues'
revelry in New York he assisted in the
organization of the Citizens Association.
subsequently he joined the Dem ocratic
Union, en- organization opposed to
Tammany Hall. He was a member of
the Forty second Congress. While at
Washington he distinguished himself in
upsettisg the plans Of a dishonest ring.
1t was toward tho end of his term in
Congress that the people reese against
the rule OF Tanmany Hall. and tho
Committee of Seventy was formed. The
work of the committee released the
city from the domination of Tweed and
his associates. Mr. Roosevelt was one
of the "War Democracy" giving active
and earnest support to the Union cause
while continuing a Democrat lie
served as one OF the commissioners of
the Brooklyn bridge, and has been an
alderman at large of his native city.