The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-05

Roosevelt will be practically the first lady
in the social world Of Washington, since
Mrs. McKinley's i'll health shuts her
away from active social duties That she
will fill her position in way of which
few women are capable, none will doubt
after seeing her. The Roosevelts are not
rich as riches are counted i'll society.
They will not be able to entertain On any
great scale Of magnifcence, but their
home in Washington will be as popular
as the country place 'at Oyster bay mas
been, and foreign visitors will have an
opportunity to see the very best type OF
an American home.
OF the Roosevelt children every one
knows there are fve-one tall girl,
growing into womanhood, three boys and
a winning little maid of four years, plain
ly her fathers idol. There is a delightful
camaraderie between parents and chill
dren at Sycamore hill. 1t would prob
ably be impossible to convince the boys
that a greater man than their father ever
existed. but they do not worship him
from afar, or treat him with respectful
awe. They follow him about with ador-
ing friendship. 1t was just this relation
which existed between the governor and
his own father, for whom he was named,
and from whom he inherited his virile
energy and high principles. From him he
received th;A conviction which has
shaped his whole career. That the best
thing that life offers any man or woman
is work-hard work. And it IS on this
principle that the youthful Roosevelts are
being brought up.
When the Roosevelt home Is spoken Of
it is understood that the allusion is to
the country place on Long island, and
not to the mansion on Madison avenue,
New York. which is, in reality. a rented
house, and is occupied for only a few
months in the year At Sycamore hill
the real life Of the family is spent. There
all the children were born and here the
governor keeps his library, his trophies
of the chase and all the choicest souve-
Mrs of his varied and picturesque career.
The place is some three miles outside of
the sleepy village of Oyster Bay, and Is
reached by a winding "ead when leads
past a number of other fine country
houses, one of them the residence Of the
governors secretary, William ]. Youngs.
Sycamore hill is the summit of a lofty
height overlooking the bay and sound.
and commands view Of sea and field for
more than a score of miles, 1t is not
mansion-not in any sense a show place
but rather a spacious home, comfort
able and roomy 1t Is three stories in
height, and is in the modified Dutch
style of architecture, red-shingled and
many gabled. The highest gable is orna-
mented with a huge pair of elk antlers,
and the flag always floats from a tall
pole in front of the house. A broad
veranda extends around three sides of
the house, heavily shaded with vines
and foliage, and furnished with inviting
armchairs.
Entering the wide door one sees a
square hall almost as large as a room,
carpeted with rugs and skins and orna-
mented with magnificent heads Of elk,
buffalo and moose. The favorite Of both
master and mistress of the place is the
library. AT one end Of this apartment
is a huge fireplace. where in the cool
days of autumn blaze great logs of hick-
DRY aud oak Above it and on the sur
rounding walls are reminders of ranch
and hunting life; horns of mountain
goat and sheep, prong-horned antelope
and deer. There are not many pictures
in this room or anywhere in the house.