The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-28
ROOSEVELT AS HUMORIsT.
rFrom the Baltimore SUM-

rFrom the Baltimore SUM-
President Roosevelt possesses a charac-
~teristic sense of humor. 1t is vigorous,
and sometimes almost grotesque-
When he was assistant secretary of the
navy during the preparation for the Span
ish war the government was buying a
number of yachts to be converted into
torpedo boats, dispatch boats, scouts, etc.
Considerable intimacy existed between the
family of President Roosevelt and that OF
one of the officers of the navy in the de-
fancy she would like to have one of these
beautiful little boats bear her name. There
type. 1t is believed to be. unlucky. But the
office, who found it easier to face official
prejudice than to resist the opportunities
Of his better half. made the request of Mr..
Roosevelt.
The assistant secretary of the navy hes
1T won't do" he said. ST would like to
CRAFTY, your wife. but a oman's name
Then a thought occurred to him and he
your wife it will be all right"
The next day the boat was named:
g am going to put you in command Of
| The sun was over the fo'yard and every
ron had been out for two days at target
practice, and on that day the chief Off
be entertained by Theodore Roosevelt.
guests and Mr.. Roosevelt talked about the
feats of gunnery and speculated upon
counted had the target been a Spanish
ship. All save Mr.. Roosevelt had begun
and conversation had begun to lag by the
time luncheon was announced. Men who
scious of something lacking in the en-,
t~ertainment For some time there mad
exchange Of glances. Mr.. RooseveIt's
eyes. following those Of his guests caught
sWiis You step into the cabin and nave
some tear he said with an expression
thing but which received but one interpre-
tation by those who felt the salt spray in
cabin was spontaneous. There, in the cen
ter of a great table, rested a punch bowl
the rim With a liquid a. shade deeper
than amber of the richest hue. In it's cen
were scattered at its base and extended
their slender leaves oyer its brim. while
the surface of the cool and tempting flood
A generous ladle was dipped into its mys-
terious depths and glasses were mar
The old commodore, with the color of
the desert IN his throat. turned eagerly
toward this oasis. HI stirred the 1adle
cred about him. He held his glass, filled
to the brim, between his eye and the sun
through the cabin window. and the eciat-
ter and clink Of glasses sounded through
casion. With an air of -contentment and
anticaipated joy he brought the glass to
to follow his example. a look of horror
passed over his face, his hand trembled.
BE d. if it amt tear he gasDed-
Shortly after Mr. Roosevelt entered the
White House a politician called upon him
with reference to appointments After the
preliminary expressions of high esteem,
u~nbounded admiration and eternal loyal
ty. the politician began to disclose his
business.
- -~~oa1- 90 -. about Mr.
Blank, who holds a small office down in
my district
The politician didn't finish his sentence
What" exclaimed Roosevelt, interrupt
ing him. rs that Internal ~scoQndrel still
in that placer I had some knowledge of
him when 1 was civil service commits
sioner-"
The politician Acknowledged that Mr..
Blank was still there and then turned the
subject.