The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-18
TYPICAL AMERICAN.
A SKETCH OF THE BRAVE LEADER
OF THE COWBOY REGIMENT. &.

| Roosevelt 10 a Man with a Future Whu
Learned Human Nature on the Prairiea
and Who Can Turn His Knowledge to
Account Upon the Tented Fields.
Theodore Roosevelt has so much en-
deared himself to the American people
by his cheerful optimism that the
president of his alma mater once saw
fit to make apology for it. The sub
sequent events have shown that the
student was the master of the sage.
the scholar the head of the school. This
notable circumstance probably had
more effect in shaping Roosevelts
public career than all he learned within
its walls. and will certainly do him q
vastly greater service than any parch-
! ment diploma which that ancient in
| stitution could offer. For had Presi-
dent Eliot seen fit to laud Roosevelt's
course on the Monroe doctrine instead
Of to deprecate it. that plucky young
| American might we'll have asked with
Daniel o'Connell, What have I done
wrong now?"
Since leaving Fa--ard Roosevelt
has been more familiar with the herd
book than with Horace, yet he has
found time while administering law to
the ranchers and rough riders of the
West. to make more notable contribu-
t!ons to American literature than any
| public man of to-day. But he Is no
mere dilletante maker Of books and
fine phrases.
Whether as a rancher on the banks
OF Bitter Creek, or as chief of that de-
partment at Washington which aims
to purify the spoils system, and to re-
form the public service, Colonel Roose-
welt has Invariably proved himself to
rare courage. 81 would rather see this
Administration turned out because 1t
enforced the laws. than to see it sue
ceed in violating them," is a charac-
ter'stic phrase Of the man, and which
gives his character in a nutshell.
Phrases like this might ba culled from
his sayings, but 1t would be only o
rosary Of Roosevelt's manly straight
forward qualities. He speaks as
straight as he shoots, and Roosevelt's
record as cowboy is % bulls eyes out
CT possible 25. while astride a mus
tang in full gallop.
His first step after leaving Harvard
with the blessings of the faculty, was
to mend New York politics. For two
hundred and fifty years the name of
Roosevelt has been connected with the
business interests of the metropolis. It
Is name associated with one of the
Oldest of New York's streets, and with
one Of the most serviceable of the city's
hospitals. Colonel Roosevelt's debut
in public life was conceived with the
view Of making manifest the influence
OF the scholar in city politics; and in
this purpose he succeeded sufficiently
to give increased power to the Mayor
Of New York and to take away from
the aldermen the power of confirming
appointments. He was also the can
didate of the Republican party for
Mayor of New York in 1886, his op-
ponents being the late Henry George
and Abram 8. Hewitt.
Col. Roosevelt. however, was destin-
ed to be identified with New York poll
tics later on. But meantime he was
making the most of his opportunities
to shape his own and the eountry's
future. Two years after leaving Har-
ward Roosevelt wrote history of the
Naval War Of 1879. The book tool,
high literary rank and paved the way
for his entrance into public service, as
assistant Secretary of the Navy. The
vigorous style of this initial work did
much to arouse the country to the nee
essity for an enlarged navy, and to
quicken the patriotic sentiment of the
country, which was then beginning to
be tinged all over with FURNISHED hue
OF gold. A year afterwards he gave
the public some glimpses of his stud
les of pioneer life in a work on ranches
in the West, and OF the Hunting Trips
of Ranchman," which are tllled with
delightful "reminiscences of western
life; and in which much that was worth
knowing has been rescued from fore
fathers or from mere hearsay and ira
dition. His experience hunting the
btooh ok IhO Dohdioy dao thO puy SlCdi
wiriness then developed will prove as
useful to him now in Cuba as his
knowledge as c student of naval his
tory made him an invaluable aid in
the Navy Department in preparing for
the present war with Spain. He
brought to the navy the experience
and researches of scholar, and he
now brings to the Roosevelt rangers
the skill, endurance and exploits Of a
horsemen who Is as happy in the sad
die as other men are while in bed.
That Colonel Roosevelt understands
the west and its matters, and appre-
ciates them, is proven by the hearty
manner in which he has elucidated its
phases in his many wo.ks. And in
nothing is this broad and American
view so well borne out as in consider
ing the number of those works which
treat of the noble examples of the west,
and Of the bounding nature of the
packWoodsman that Roosevelt has