Evening star., 1901-03-04

entertainer of rare tact and her at homes
are bright spots to remember. She has a
fashion Of seeming to have been looking
and longing for just the particular one who
! Is greeting her, and her gentle hand pres
sure a thing apart from the cold, fiabby
society shake" sends you on your way
rejoicing. Mrs. Roosevelt keeps abreast of
the times and knows all that is going on
In the world: but. except to believe most
earnestly in her husband and to hold an
intense human interest in all that affects
him politically, she takes but little part in
politics
Mrs. Roosevelt is not a club woman, but
she is interested in all that tends to uplift
woman. and in her quiet way does effective
work along philanthropic and charitable
INES She is domestic, and essentially a
home-loVing, housekeeping woman and
at the same time such a comfortable sort
OF MOTHER the junior Teddy Is credited
with saying. She is the mother counselor
and guide of five sturdy children of her
own, and the loved companion of her step
daughter Miss Alice Roosevelt, who is
about sixteen years of age and will be one
of the cabinet debutantes two years hence.
me small RooSeVelts are a strenuous lot
OF children. The summer home is at Saga
more Hill, Oyster Bay, n. Y. and the local
history is enriched with tales of the Roose-
Welt children, who, in a way, grow like the
grass, outdoors, rain or shine, romping and
rampaglng the vicinity, fishing and getting
all the fun out of life they can. When free
to join them the second man in the United
States Is the biggest boy among them 1t
Is perhaps this youth of the heart that has
made Col. Roosevelt thoroughly attrac-
tive TO men and women Of all classes HE
is so human" they say: and Teddy ir is
a chip of the old block. His ambition in
life is TO be like father" The Roosevelt
children care absolutely nothing about po-
sition. They We're glad that ia ther was
popular" beyond that they never go. They
are unSpoiled Of the world natural and al
ways interesting. Teddy. jr., has fashion
a sSi11 IA
most astonishing convictions on MANY SUBJ
JectS. The children are fond of pets of all
kinds. They have a whole menagerie Of
animals, in which particularly ugly pug
uog, a DAINTY toy Skye terrier and spot
ted puppy are favorites.
The Roosevelt Children.
The children are Alice. sixteen: Teddy,
thirteen, who wears glasses; Kermit. eleven:
Ethel nine; Archibald, six, and the baby.
| Quentin, aged three. Teddy is the image of
his father and Alice has many of the
strong points of her fathers features, but
the others look like their mother
Mrs. Roosevelt IS medium height slender
with brown hair and clear, kindly brown
eyes She is not much given to smiling but
mas 1ne teeth. She dresses in exquisite
taste, but always quietly and seldom wears
jewels, though she has some fine ones. She
Is remembered in Washington not as a
laElsh entertainer, but a dinner giver-
hnesse in bringing together congenal pc o.
pie and the charm of delightful conversa-
ton. AS the wife of the governor of New
YORK Mrs. Roosevelt was always a gracious
hostess, and the guests were always made
to feel at home at once. 1t was a hard posi-
ton to fill, but Mrs. Roosevelt carried with
her when she left Albany the good wishes
and good will of all who had ever met her
One of the things that show Mrs Roosa-
velt's love for little children is her interest
in the Sunshine Society,"" Of which the
Roosevelts are all members. 1t means what
its title indicates-to carry sunshine into
dark places. While in the gubernatorial
mansion Mrs. Roosevelt gave a reception to
the sunshine little people of the state and
| Governor Roosevelt assisted in receiving. 1t
| was great day for the children and wren
Governor Roosevelt, with few pretty SEN
tenceS, decorated the little golden-ha haired
president her small heart swelled almost
| to bursting with pride.
The Roosevelts do not enjoy publicity.
This is particularly Objectionable SO far as
| the feminine portion of the family is con-
cerned. and Mr. Roosevelt has always set
his face like flint against his wifes p,ct,lre
appearing in the newspapers. To a woman
correspondent who once asked him during
! the Spansh-Amer.can war for a picture OF
| Mrs. Roosevelt to use in a magazine article
| he gave decided negative. MY wife is
not public character. and such a proceed
| ing would be extremely dstasteful" he ex-
| claimed. Now. If you want a picture of
me" he added. genially. you can have halt
dozen. I'd like to oblige you in some
way"
After Mr. Roosevelt was nominated for
| the vice presidency he reluctantly consented
! for his wife's picture to be taken for pub
| ica ation. ut is one of the unpleasant fea-
| lures Of public life,' he said, but 1 pre-
| sumo we've got to face it this time"