The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-11
ROOsevelt's Clothes.

that encase the mortal tenement OF the
man. The Governor takes not much
thought of his raiment, circumstance
upon which Mr.. Hanna rallied him re-
Gently, during a call at Cleveland, after
a five.day railway trip, when the Rough
Rider was not looking much like a
dandy. He wore rough-and-ready
felt hat at the Philadelphia convention,
and Chairman Hanna said he "felt like
spanking Teddy. The Governor of the
Empire State ought to wear silk hat
to convention" Apropos of Roose-
velts clothes, his characteristics and
associations, the New York Sun says:
II Mr.. Hanna had known the character
istics of Theodore and Of the Roosevelts
from their beginning in New York he would
not have expected OF him any such conven-
tional regard, for the dignity Of his office as
would have been implied in the wearing of
a stiff high hat in July.
Mr.. Depew, in his speech nominating
Theodore Roosevelt for Vice-President,
spoke of him as q "dude who became COW.
boy" as "a child OF Fifth Avenue" "a
child Of the clubs;" but the description
does not at all fit Theodore Roosevelt, nor
does It apply to any bearer OF that honor
able and honored New York name since
the founding Of New Amsterdam. Theo-
dore Roosevelt is a member of few clubs,
but he has never been what is called
"club man" He belongs TO none OF the dis
tinctively fashionable clubs, but only to the
political Union League, and the Republican,
the literary and intellectual Century and
certain sporting clubs. Nor is he "a child Of
Fifth Avenue" implying that his social
life has been among the people Of wealth
and fashion. In those circles he rs almost
a stranger. He has never cared for them or
sought their favor. No transformation has
taken place in Theodore Roosevelt. He
has never been "dude" in tastes, conduct
or pretensions, bat has always been as dem
ocratio and as careless of superficial conven-
tions as he is today. He is the same old
sixpence; his dress and bearing express no
affectation, but only exhibit the manner Of
man he actually is and has been always.
He is not man who rigs up for the occa.
sion with view to cheap notoriety. When
he wore to the Republican convention the
rough.and-ready hat to which Mr.. Hanna
objected az unsuitable to his gubernatorial
dignity he only did what everybody who
knows the man would have expected OF
him. He took hat for service and for
comfort and not for mere show. His no.
ton OF the dignity of the office of Governor
OF the Empire State is not limited to sarto-
rial trappings.
| So it has always been with the Roosevelts
ursl and substantial rather than artificial
and superficial. They have never been
"carpet knights and from them have not
come the leaders of fashion. The Roose-
welt physiognomy has told the story. Theirs
is not a handsome race, of elegant accom-
plishments-far from it; but it is strong
race eager for energetic exercise, ambitious,
conscientious, public spirited, restless and
resourceful, qualities made manifest in
both their features and their conduct.
The Sun goes into the family history
Of the Roosevelts and shows what sort
|
tors, distinguished for their ability, for
their practical success in life, for bene-
factions like the noble Roosevelt hos.
pital. They have been busy men, toe
hard at work to cultivate the accom-
pllshments of the "dude" or the graces
of the "child of the clubs" Theodore
rushed from college to active politics
being elected to the New York Legisla
ture the year after graduating from
Harvard. He was delegate at large tC
the Republican National convention Of
1884 and leading supporter in tha
body of George F. Edmunds for the
nomination to the presidency. He was
restless as assistant secretary Of thu
navy when the war with Spain broke
out, and no discussion could keep hin
from taking personal part in it as {
soldier. So also when he picked up hi
rough-and-ready hat to wear to Phila
delphia, says the Sun, instead of be
thinking himself that, in the opinion o.
Mr.. Hanna, the dignity of a Governo
ofthe Empire State would require tina
he should buy for the occasion shin
ing, brand new silk hat, he obeyed onl,
spontaneous impulse. The Sun adds
And we warn everybody that at no tim
hereafter can Theodore Roosevelt be OK
. pected to live mp to the requirements of
tsilor's dummy or a conventional model G
department. He is not built that way. II
Is not Philistine, Nor does he need &
: have resort to art to emphasize his quality
. However he is costumed he shows himsel
to be sturdy specimen of manhood, soil
, on his feet, square, brave and vigorous. !
; fine fellow every way is Theodore Roose
welt and it is creditable to the people tina
"Teddy" is made by them the popular idea
OF American manliness.
| AHIaT and Tim DOot m, n a