The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-03
II is Not Half Bad if ii is
New and True.
MR.. SAGE'S ROADSTERS.
Millionaire Takes Great Pride in
Nellie and Bloom,
WILSON FOOLED ON HORSES AGE

ever else may be said about the possibilities
of the present gubernatorial campaign,
there Is no question that 1t will be one of
the liveliest ever carried on within the
boundaries of the Empire State.
Colonel Roosevelt is such an impetuous
lighter that he is sure TO make the contest
q lively one clear to the finish and so un-
conventional that he will certainly devise
many new ways OF pushing the warfare.
At the same time, despite little delay at
the beginning. the generals Of the oppos-
ing Democratic army are certain also to
strike o good lively gait directly, TO say
nothing OF whatever independent armies,
split from the two regular parties, may
take part In tho fray.
IL This a New storyf
Roosevelt stories are in demand just
now and will he throughout the campaign
as q matter Of course, and here is one that
may or may not have already passed
through the compositor's hand. 1t was
told by Santiago veteran In the rotunda
of the Astor house this afternoon and was
brought out by some ono asking the vet
ersn II he considered Roosevelt capable
military officer.
"I will answer that question by telling
you of an incident of the campaign, said
operations before Santiago we all decided
that Roosevelt was a very bad officer in
deed. He had habit of praising his sol
dIers that gave them tho swelled head,
and we feared that the rough riders would
be well demoralized long before the work
cut out for them had been accomplished.
Thus one morning one of Roosevelts
troopers winged two Spanish sharpshooters
hidden In two palm trees within the space
of a minutes time, and Roosevelt, who
saw the trick, was SO tickled that he ran
up to the trooper and, slapping him sound
ly on the back, declared that nc was one
OF the finest fellows in all the United
States army.
"Now no seasoned officer either I'm the
regular or volunteer service would have
thought of doing such thing as that. II
Is true that the troopers work was to his
credit and that he showed nerve, presence
OF mind and oil that, but he only did what
he should he able to do--just what many
other American soldiers have done on
many occasions. We all expected that such
hearty commendation would make that
trooper disagreeable, and it did just that.
Next day, when ne was told to do some
thing bya sergeant, tho trooper drew him
self up haughtily and said hed be blamed
If he'd take any orders from that sergeant
or from anybody else save Colonel Roose-
velt or some one higher In command. The
sergeant reported tho situation TO the colo
mel, and be sent for the man forthwith.
Teddy beamed on him when he entered tho
tent.
"'I hear you have said you will in fu-
ture take orders from nobody but me, he
said, flashing his teeth as he spoke.
4 L.. Il n a.
"'well, answered tho colonel, IN tell
you what I propose to do. The next time
hear of you saying such thing rs that
or of refusing to obey tho order Of any one
qualified to give IL shall order you shot
without ceremony. Now CO.
'That sort of talk taught the trooper the
lesson he needed. and he was one of the
best soldiers in the command from that
moment, and after that we concluded that
while Roosevelt might be impulsive at
times he was a pretty safe officer, after
all
Russell sage's Young Team.
Russell Sage means To roturn to town
next week. He has been living near Cedar
Croft, about 20 miles out on tho Long
island railroad, through the summer
and has commuted every day. Now he
means TO resume his residence in town,
and instead of riding TO and from his bust
ness on the Long Island railroad will be
passenger on his own elevated railroad ev-
cry night and morning.
But that is not half ms important In his
mind as the fact that he will bring with
him his much loved team Of 4-year-old
roadsters. Nellie and Bloom. Mr. Sage Is
mighty fond of that young team, and he
said to the writer a day or two ago that he
had taken no end Of comfort driving them
mp and down the Long Island roads all
through tho warm weather.
"You know, drive for pure pleasure
and not for records" quoth the million
aire, smiling as he thought of his pet
team 8 almost perfect steps, but I'm sure
those colts hauled my light buggy, my
coachman and myself n mile one afternoon
last week in much less time than most
road teams of greater fame than theirs
could cover the ground. / hope 20 drive
them over the speedway soon, and I'm
sure they II be much admired" /"
Mr. Sage Loves Horses.
No one could think Mr.. Sage devoid OF
sentiment who had heard him speak OF
this young team, especially OF Nellie but
he thinks less OF her than he did Of her
mother, also named Nellie, who met her
death ut the mature age of 22 on the Erie
railroad near Nyack two or three years
ago.
''She got out OF the pasture along with
some young horses one afternoon, \" said
Mr.. Sage regretfully In telling OF her end,
"and crossed the Erie tracks into n small
grove. My man started 10 drive them all
back. When they came 20 the railroad,
they took 10 the track instead Of crossing
it. Frightened by light engine running
- ~ULn Eoc~, EooA