The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-07


suit. Have been Notable - Great
Lover of Hunting and Athletics.
Theodore Roosevelt who has become
president Of the United States through
the death Of Mr.. Mckinley, .or two
decades past has been one OF the most
unique and picturesque figures In
American public life, says the New
York Times. His diversified and Wig
orous activities have not only brought
him recognition and advancement In
political llfe, but have won him renown
upon the field Of battle, IN the Bad
Lands Of the west rs ranchman, hunt
or and cowboy and also ln the more
peaceful pursuit Of honors IN the liter
AIRY world.
Mr.. Roosevelt the man Is the exact
physical antlthesis Of Theodore Roose-
welt the boy. though the mental charac-
terlstlcs exhibited in early youth by
the president nre conceded 20 be the
snme as those which have now made
him famous.
From a romantic and novelstlc point
OF view Theodore Roosevelt started life
with two Of the greatest handicaps an
ambitious youth could haye-wealth
and IN health. In further contraven-
tion Of well established tradition con
cerning national heroes tie president
was born IN great city. His birth
place was 2s East Twentieth street,
New York city; the date, oct. 81, 1853,
which makes him the youngest Of all
the presidents. His father. Theodore,
was n wealthy descendant OF an old
Knlckerbocker family and was well
known throughout the city as philan-
thropst and patriot His mother was
descendant OF Archibald Bullock,
first president Of Georgia during the
Revolution.
Eight generations OF President Roose-
yelts family have lived In New York
md from the middle Of the seventeenth
century the name has been common in
the annals OF the city. having been al
most equally prominent In political,
business and social affairs. The found
er OF the family In America was klass
Marenson Roosevelt, who came from
Holland In iG4i and settled In New
York.
The young Theodore is described In
early youth as a 'weak eyed, pig chest
ed boy, too frail to take part in the
sports OF lads OF his age" Though
frnll, however, young Theodore, or
Teddy" as he was familiarly called
by his plnymates, n name which clung
TO him In later years-was not at all
lacking in ambition or In courage. In
the veins Of his ancestors there flowed
Dutch, Irish, Scotch and French llu-
guenot blood.
"He obtained his name" writes one
OF his biogrnphers, from the Dutch,
from the Scotch his obstinacy, from the
French his impetuosity and from the
Irish his 'blnrney,' or gift OF tongue
Young Roosevelt was sent to private
schools during his early school years
and preparation for Harvard universi-
~ TO avoid the rough treatment Of boys
in the public schools. lie entered lIar-
ward with the determination TO make a
man OF himself mentally and physical
ly. BY obedience TO the laws OF lac, y y
and careful exercise the puny, sickly
boy grew TO robust manhood. At llar
ward the tastes of young Roosevelt, al
ready exhibited, for natural history
and hunting were plainly manifested
His rifle, with which the had roamed
the woods I'm summer near his Oyster
Bay home, with the trophies Of the
chase, were the most conspicuous oh
jects I'm his room. Live turtles, Other
animals and insects were kept IRE
quently ia his room. His stubborn de
fensc OF his own convictions even
against the opinion OF his instructors
are stlll remembered 10y his classmates
with yiyldnoss.
Athletes at Harvard received from
him due consideration. lie soon be-
came the champion lightweight boxer
IN the gymnasium. Not long since Mr.
Roosevelt said about this boxing
'When l was I'm Harvard and SPARED
for the championship, l suffered d
heavier punishment than any mar
there did, and l have been knocked out
at polo twice. l thoroughly believe IN
boxing ana football and other rougl
and manly gumes.' Young Roosevelt
was also "A fair catch-as-catch-caI
wrestler, good runner and lively
polo player. For time he was cap
tain of the college polo club. Under
his captaincy the team never won q
championship.
Young Roosevelt was graduate,
from Harvard In 1850 and, though ,
close student, with no Impairment o
health. After extended travel IN Eu
rope he returned 10 Nhe United States
studied law for few months ana,
then plunged at once into the macl
strom Of municipal politics. lie wa'
elected ln 1851 as asscmblymau from
the Twenty. assembly district A
Albany he was promptly dubbed F,
"silk stocking and freak of q pop
ular election. Mr. Roosevelt, then bu
twcnty-throc years old, soon succcede,
In making himself a storm center.