Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-10-03
WHITE HOUSE CHILDREN
Facts About Mrs. Roosevelt and
Her Little Ones.
GIVES THEM PERSONAL ATTENTION

Hesitate to Scrub Necks of Two
Who Did Not Suit-Not Above Darn
ing Stockings of the Youngsters.
Children Full of High Spirits,
Already Mrs. Roosevelt is an object
of the most earnest attention, writes
the Washington correspondent of the
New York Press. 1t is agreed she has
self poise and a gracious adaptation to
her surroundings, and she is meeting
the demands of her exalted station
with a gentle suavity and the peculiar
ly graceful consideration afforded by
woman of tact and breeding.
An intimate friend says Mrs. Roose-
Welt would delight the good old Dutch
housewives of New Amsterdam.
Homely tasks and maternal duties
which would revolt the modern soci-
ETY. woman are as natural to her as the
quiet manner of greeting a guest or
disposing of duty
She is saiG to look after the ward
lopCo VI lLG l1lclllDelS VI uGI ",
finds time to superintend the educa-
ton of her children and withal never
omits social obligation, although she
does not seek pre-eminence as a soci-
ETY. woman. 1t is said she is not above
darninG the stockings of the young
sters, and, with a healthy and bolster
Gus family of little ones such as hers,
this would be no infrequent task.
The Roosevelt children are full of
life and high spirits. No prank is too
daring and no youthful game or exer-
else beneath their dignity. Their
mother is with them as much as posi-
bic, and therefore she is often called
else to incur abnormal bills for their
youthful apparel.
The same friend says that to speak of
Mrs. Roosevelt is to tell about her chill
dren. There are five of them-Theo-
dore junior, fourteen, a sturdy lad, as
much like his father as little elephant
resembles big one. He has the same
manners, a like taste for outdoor exer-
cises and sports and looks the world
in the face from an equally healthy and
forid countenance. He wears glasses,
like his father, and he sails in the same
ready, frank way Theodore junior ac-
companied his mother to Washington
dren We're left under the care of their
uncle, James Roosevelt, in Oyster Bay.
When Mrs. Roosevelt and her family
came to Washington last March to at
tend the inaugural ceremonies, there
was not room in the CowleS home to
accommodate Vice President Roosevelt,
his wife, five children and their nurses.
Consequently friends took some of the
Youngsters as guests. On the morning
of March 4, when all were marshaled
to attend the official proceedings at the
capitol, mishap delayed the arrival of
two of the children. The carriages
We're held at the Cowles residence for
several minutes awaiting their appear
ance.
Upon their arrival Mrs. Roosevelt
took the precaution to look them over
and was not satisfied with the work of
their temporary nurses She made a
sign to their regular nurse, who shortly
appeared with a well soaped towel
Mrs. Roosevelt herself took this and,
already having opened their collars,
gave each a good scrubbing and ad-
justed their neckwear again in very
few minutes.
Observers say the little fellows did
not appreciate this programme more
kindly than children are wont, and
they sputtered and made faces at the
ordeal, but stood up to it like little men
and did not betray the slightest inclina-
ton to cry or resist. Their behavior
was old fashioned in Its docility to ma
ternal discipline. When her rapid la
boris We're completed. Mrs. Roosevelt
quietly gave her orders for the dispo-
sition of the family and resumed her
position as the guest of honor in the
party as calmly as if babies and hoi-
den boys We're no part of her cares in
this world
This little incident is characteristic
Of Mrs. Roosevelt When necessary,
she brings the youthful statesman to
order without fuss or bother and does
not ruttle herself or her guests. The
Roosevelt children were vivacious and
far from being curled darlings or little
Lord Fauntleroys. Only one nurse and
a goyerness are provided for them.
Their mother, however, is host in
herself as a maternal manager, and
her commands are never disputed.
1t is said that before meeting Mr..
Roosevelt this home loving woman was
rather inclined to shun courtly atten-
lions, but her conduct and example as
a wife and mother are the admiration
of her friends.
Drying Wood by Electricity.