The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-23
The Intention of His Sister to
Make the Visit a Private Affair
Interfered with by People Who
Were Anxious to Meet Him
M'KINLEY OAK PLANTED
ON PUBLIC GREEN
The President Did Not Take Part
but Appeared in the Midst Of
the Spectators and Was Given
a Hearty Welcome - Takes a
Tramp to the "PinnoCIe"

Pennington, Ct, Oct 22.-Presldent
Roosevelt's day in Pennington has
provided quite a suitable addition to
the historic annals of this pretty and
ordinarily quiet old town.
The intention of the Presidents sis
ter, Mrs. Cowles, to make the visit a
private affair, was considerably inter-
fered with on account of the anxiety
of the people to see the President and
grasp his hand Throughout the morn
ing there was no particular demonstra-
ton, but the middle Of the afternoon
the turnout of townspeople, added to
the influx of several hundreds from
Hartford and adjoining townships, en-
larged the throng to proportions much
beyond that to which Pennington is
accustomed.
The absence Of a publicly-announced
program gave an element of uncertain
ty to the day Everybody on the
street was inquiring when and where
they could see the President, but the
mass Of people went away satisfied,
for the President made three quite
Rooseveltian trips through portions of
the town. In the last of these he
rode out in an open carriage through
the heart Of a big crowd assembled
at the principal street corners Just at
the conclusion of the ceremony of
planting Mckinley memorial oak
New England dignity was here for
the moment forgotten and men and
women, youths and maids pushed and
struggled to touch the Presidents
hand as he. leaning far out Of the car
riage endeavored to reach as many
as possible without delaying a more
formal reception which awaited him at
his sisters home.
Most Of the throng at the tree plant
ing exercises had waited long in ex-
pectation that the President would
address them, and it was to see and
be seen that he made the extra I'M
announced trip through their midst
This evening a dinner was given at the
home of Commander and Mrs. COwles
the Presidents sister.
Among the guests at the dinner were
the President and his daughter, Miss
Alice Roosevelt, Secretary Cortelyou,
Assistant Secretary Barnes, United
States Senators Joseph r. Hawley and
Orville II. Plat and their wives and
Gov. George p. Mclean.
Between his two rides the President
and his friends took long tramp TO
the pinacies, President Roosevelt and
his daughter leading the Jaunt. An In
teresting incident Of the morning drive
was the greeting by $50 school children,
attired in white. waving flags at the
President as he rode by.
The afternoon was chiefly devoted to
receptions, first to the young women
Of the Porter School and second to the
guests invited by Mrs. Cowles to meet
her brother The two Connecticut sem
ators and their ladies assisted in re-
ceiving.
one of the features Of the day was
the planting Of the Mckinley oak on
the public green. opposite the pictur-
esque and historic Elm Tree Inn.
President Roosevelt declined TO take
part in this on the ground that II
would not be in good taste to do so
on this occasion after having declined
other similar invitations.
Gov. Mclean and Mayor Harrison, OF
Hartford were the principal speakers
at the exercises.
The town was well policed by depu-
ty Eheriffs and constables, the custom
airy warning having been sent out IN
advance by the chief OF police at wash
ington.
The secret service men Followed tne
Presidents party 30 far as possible
but were unabl 70 always keep track
OF the rather rapid changes. and on
the tramp TO the mountain the Presi-
dent was unprotected in that respect,
q fact however. which was entirely
satisfactory to himself
The President win leave Farming
ron at $40 a m, tomorrow and VIII
arrive in New Haven about an hour
later when he will be the guest OF Yale
University.