Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-19
ROOsEvELT's GENEROSITY.
He Can Read Human Character. I'm
Sometimes Gets Taken In.

He Can Read Human Character, but
Sometimes Gets Taken In,
Theodore Roosevelt is naturally a gener-
Gus man. Sometimes he falls a victim to
his own impulsive benevolenoe. Roosevelt
also prides hin self on being a good reader
or character He sometimes. however, re-
ceives a severe setback. 1t was related
to Star writer not long ago how on one
occasion Roosevelt had come into town
from his ranch in Wyoming for the purpose
of buying supplies and arranging other de-
tails Of his cattle affairs Roosevelt's
ranch was some forty or fifty miles from
the town, where his business was likely to
detain him for about a week. While bus
Ting about from one store to another. hus-
Ting and hurrying up his matters, he came
In collision with an amiable specimen Of
the tribe of tramp.
Wandering Willie had evidently studied
Mr.. Roosevelt He told him that he was
| cowboy out of luck, and that all he want
ed was a chance to get on somebody's
ranch, where he might earn a free and
breezy livelihood. He said. too. that he
knew all the brands of that region, as well
as the lay of the land over which the cattle
ranged. In fact. he was perfectly appoint
ed In all matters except clothes, saddle,
spurs, bride and six-shooter, to plunge inn
mediately into cow-punching and earn
every dollar which was paid him. He fur
thermore confided to him that he was the
most omnivorous reader, and had perused
ish and advantage.
Roosevelt at once burst into a generous
fever to do something for this poor cow
boy, who in the innocence of his western,
life had gambled away his outfit and was
now looking for a refuge in work Roose-
welt told him to repair to his ranch and re-
port to the range boss, who would put his
name on the pay roll and assign him to q
camp.
But how will get out there?" queried
the cowboy confidence man.
why, yes, yes, certainly" said Roose-
welt. II forgot all about that" and he
showed his white teeth in a smile of con-
that"
conveyed his new recruit, with hot-foot
benevolence, to the big ranch store at
which he was trading, bought him clothes
saddle, spurs, blankets and the balance Of
an outfit, the whole rounding into the rich
sum of $50. This cur Arab was to work
ont on the Roosevelt ranch, paying his
benefactor therefor at the rate of so much
per month. Then Roosevelt sent over to
the corral and borrowed a pony for him,
whereon to canter to the scene OF his COM
ing labors.
When his new acquisition was booted and
spurred and in the saddle, Roosevelt gave
him directions as to what trails to take in
order to arrive at his destination, forty
miles away, warmly pressed his hand, and
bid him God speed. The newly found cow
boy capered away on the pony unil lost In
the gray haze of the distant plains.
There" said Roosevelt, there's an hon.
est, good fellow, who, with the reckless
prodigality Of his class gambled away
every dollar which he possessed. His slight
fortune gone. he turns again to his work,
He is perfectly honest man at heart; /
could see that at glance. and 1 never
yet failed to read human character cor
rectly. / have no doubt in the world but
he will make splendid hand IN the fall
round-ups. 1t always pleases me to COM
bine business with pleasure. and while en-
ploying flrst-class man perform an act
of real benevolence besides"
A week later when Roosevelt returned to
his ranch he queried his range boss as to
the whereabouts of his protege
Never saw the cuss nohow," responded
the ranch boss, decisively
And he hadn't. Roosevelts honest cow
boy, whose character he SO thoroughly
understood, had simply ridden away with
a horse and a $50 outfit, and all the i'm
pulsive New Yorker got out of 1t was q
claim for about $500 against a tramp whom
he didn't know, and would never in all
likelihood hear of again.
Still, such incidents in nowise abate the
Roosevelts generosity, and his heart throbs
as benevolently Cor men in distress today
as if Wandering Willie Of Trampland had
never taken him in.