The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-08-04
Theo, Roosevelt's Book. "The Rough
Ridersn

IL is the straightforward story of
strange but effective regiment OF volun
teers, written by its no less remarkabl,
commander and father-in-general Bu
there are certain reasons which max,
the book worthy of considerable remarl
TO several other persons besides TN,
! seventy seven millions of most deeply
interested individuals who happened e
be residing i'm this country during that
year Of grace.
Not only is it the story of war ma
chine probably unique in history-a re.
giment of cavalry which was in less
| than sixty days raised, organized, armed.
equipped, drilled, mounted, dismounted.
kept for a fortnight on transports, and
put through two victorious fights with a
loss in killed and wounded amounting to
a quarter of its fighting strength-but it
is the story of all this told by the man
who organized it, and who writes in
style that neither enhances his own per-
sonal share in the organisation and the
hghtlng, nor fears TO tell exactly what
part he took in the life of the regiment
1t not alone the account of a regiment
recruited from every state in the Union,
and composed of cowpunchers, sheriffs,
college athletes, gamblers, Eastern club
men. and ranchmen, but is this ac-
count told by the man who organised
1t, who combines in himself-who act !
ually has been at some time in his life
college athlete, big game hunter, dep !
uty sheriff, ranchman, national guards |
man, cowpuncher of the West, and club |
man of the East and who, no doubt, |
If he had wished it, would have made |
as good gambler as he does Governor. |
1t is the story of the organization of a
body of men seemingly available for any
other purpose than good organization
The drilling of these men who had done
almost everything in their lives except
submit to military discipline; the trans
pOrtation of specimens of the American
'ace who had many of them never seen
.he sea, one Of whom exclaimed that his
nat had "blown into the creek" when
.he wind carried il overheard Just off
he Cuban coast and the splendid jun
Gle fighting these men did when even
he regulars of our army--the best fight
ny men in the world--werc willing To
all them equals.
Such being the case, il is safe to say,
wen in conservative review, that "The
Rough Rider" is book to be read by
my one who wants to know something
,f his country-men and who wants TO
cad well-written tale. IL is not re-
lolent with sentiment or grief for the
trong men who died in battle, partly
because the author was a commander
Who neither spared his men when a
ight was on, nor believes it necessary
o grieye for soldiers who are dead
With as great an honor as they or any
me could obtain by living; and partly
because he is an Optimist of the most
.igerous sort, and sees little 10 be gained
" talking OF what he and others will
lways feel for those who did not re-
urn.
Not the least valuable nor 10y any means
he least interesting portion of the book
: its illustrations. They are with one
reception entirely from photographs,
nd the exception is Frederic Reming
ons' painting of the Rough Riders
harge at San Juan Hill. The photo
raphs of the country taken from time
o time during the action, probably 10y
aid the reader, as no
rawlings could, in gathering some OF the
eality which the scenes themselves
ossessed. As an illustration for such a
book the photograph of a camp il
superior to the best possible
rawing that an artist could make. And
hough portraits of officers and men do
escribe in, graphic manner the variety
4 types which composed Ithe regiment,
o man who stayed at home they do
lot have the interest OF Photographic
Jews OF troops in the trenches, camps
m hill and in hollow, and distant land
Capes of the country around san Juan
by Chas, Scriber's sons
,ew York.