The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-12-11
TESTS OF ROOSEVELT
,,c;dents That Illustrate the
Presidents Sense of Humor.

wbx He Gave the Vixen u war Ves-
IT'S Name-How He Trihed With
rhirxt of Some High Navy Off,
case of the Unfortunate Mr.
Blank.
president Roosevelt possesses a char.
o+oristic sense of humor. 1t Is vigor-
and sometimes almost grotesque,
~ors the Baltimore Sun. When he was
assistant secretary of the navy. during
+ba preparation for the Spanish war
+he Government was buying number
- Yachts to be converted into torpedo
boats. dispatch boats, scouts, etc. Con-
siderable intimacy existed between the
fomily of President Roosevelt and that
If one of the officers of the navy in the
donartment. The wife of this officer
rot q fancy that she would like to
bova one of these beautiful little boats
hoar her name There is prejudice
IN tbe navy against giving woman's
,,ome to a war vessel of any type. 1t
is believed to be unlucky. But the Off
cor who found it easier to face official
nreiudice than to resist the importuni
tics of his better half, made the re-
nuest of Mr.. Roosevelt.
The assistant secretary Of the navy
hesitated.
at won't do" he said. 81 would
like to crafty your wife, bat a wo-
mans name won't do"
Then a thought occurred to him, and
he relented. Il will fix it, he said.
..Tell your wife it will be all right"
The next day the boat was named
the Vixen.
81 am going to put you in command
of her." said Mr.. Roosevelt when he
announced the name, but he didn't.
The sun was over the foyard, and ev-
cry old officer was licking his lips. The
squadron had been out for two days at
target practice, and on that day the
chief officers of the several ships had
been invited on board the flagship,
where they were to be entertained by
Theodore Roosevelt. assistant secreta-
nv of the navy. The guests and Mr..
Roosevelt talked about the feats of
gunnery and speculated upon how such
and sucL a shot would have counted
had the target been Spanish ship. All
save Mr.. Roosevelt had begun to weary
of this topic. They found it dry, and
conversation had begun to lag by the
time luncheon was announced. Men
who had been long on salt water were
conscious of something lacking in the
entertainment. For some time there
had been clearing of Threats and sig
nifcant exchange of glances. Mr..
Roosevelts eyes. following those Of his
guests, caught the angle of the sun to
the fo'yard.
"Will you step into the cabin and
have some teal? he said, with an ex-
preston which might be significant of
most anything, but which received but
one Interpretation by those who felt
the salt spray in their threats. The
movement toward the cabin was spon-
IducOuS Il ucISy ILL t14C CGuICl VA "a 60
table, rested punch bowl of magnffi-
cent proportions filed nearly to the
brim with a liquid shade deeper than
amber of the richest hue. In its center
foated an island of ice. Sprays of mint
were scattered at its base and extend
ed their slender leaves over it's brim,
while pieces of lemon and other fruit
fioated on the surface Of the cool and
tempting flood. A generous ladle was
dipped into it's mysterious depths and
glasses were marshaIed around.
The old commodore. with the color or
the sun upon his face and the dryness
of the desert in his throat, turned ca
gerly toward this oasis. He stirred the
ladle lovingly in the bowl. while others
gathered about him. He held his glass.
filled to the brim. between his eye and
the sunlight that came with a burning