The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-22
THE WHITE HOUSE FAMILY
In Great Contrast With the Preceding
Lady Visitor From Okla

LII ChO AACScoAAS
One Miss R~oosevelt's CominR-Out
Lady Visitor From Okla
homa
Washington, November 15.-Wash-
ington has taken a new lease of life
since the Roosevelt incubation. The
new president is as infectious as the
latest fad and the fashionable exercise
of the future is the Roosevelt quick
step. Everybody is practicing it, from
the clerical force of the White house
to the gay butterflies of society, while
official Washington dances to the new
tune as happily as ever the nursery
rhyme children danced to the Piper's
music. Without a doubt, the national
capital is in the throes OF an energetic
revolution for which the chief execu-
tive is responsible.
A fresh, invigorating atmosphere has
swept through the White house. Win
dows have been thrown WIDE. and mes
sengers and watchmen accustomed to
a uniform temperature of so degrees
which was Mrs. McKinley's lowest
limit-have shivered and buttoned up
since the coming Of the fresh air low
ers. The entire Roosevelt family Is
breezy, strong-lunged and vigorous.
Nobody whispers in the corridors any
more. There is no further need of tip
toeing and that pussy-footed. velvety
tread upon the private stairway is a
thing Of the past. Thanks be-" says
the Washington world, sickness, in
validism, nerves, have no part in the
White OuS of today"
From n extreme to the other, and
now the historic old mansion houses
a lot of irrepressible youngsters whose
antics n pranks should tempt the
American eagle to screech. They are in
evidence every waking -Iour Of the
Iory AffLn~ Iot~- ,~<r -vf<I h,~y@I1
in front of the north entrance and
lodging the horses OF visiting digni-
taries or prancing through the mansion
to the music of their lusty voices. 1t is
safe to assert that they make more
noise than the combined children of
the Hayes Harrison and Cleveland ad-
ministrations. Down in the basement
Of the White house President Roosevelt
will fit up a modern gymnasium, as
much for his own as his children's use.
and the noble arts of boxing and fenc-
ing will be more than ever in vogue.
While civil service commissioner and
assistant secretary Of the navy, Mr..
Roosevelt was a devotee of physical
culture, and he has announced his in
tention Of continuing all forms Of ex-
ercise. Since he is already an enthu-
static pedestrian as well as equestrian,
the latest president will not allow his
body to rust while his wits are polish
ed 10 a keen edge In MS daily contact
with political "pie-grabbers." Every
pleasant morning as early as z o'clock
the president, Mrs. Roosevelt n the
children, are in the south grounds of
the White house without hats, taking
a brisk contitutional and getting up
an appetite for breakfast
Eve the wife Of a president must
agree with the majority, that with
good digestion, a satisfactory complex
ion. and some one to love her. a woman
a a chance of happiness in the White
house.
But one member of the Roosevelt
family is absent from this early morn
Ing ramble- 1t is likely she prefers to
linger long n late In dreamland and
revel in the airy, fairy fancies that
cannot build o high to be finally
eclipsed by the actual experience of the
presidents debutante daughter. Did
yer a brighter future open for an
American girl? Yet this slender,
brown-haired little favorite of fortune
carries her honors modestly. She is no;
at all self-conscious. She is not bette,
gowned than her associates and she
actually requires a lot of urging before
consenting to sing. and let 1T be said
that h sings her very best o'mornfngs
] at o the our when the cabinet as