Goldsboro weekly argus., 1902-10-16
'JEsTs OF ROOSEVELT.
Incidents That Illustrate the
+ Presidents Sense Of Eumor.
GRANTEDAREQUBsTINNoVEL WAY

GRANTED AKEQU UBST1N NOVEL WAY
why He Gave the Vixen, a wa- YES
sci, It's Name-HOvv He Frifed With
the Thirst of Some High Navy OHi-
cers-Case of the Unfortunate Mr..
Blank.
President Roosevelt possesses a char
jacteristic sense of humor. 1t is vigor-
ious and sometimes almost grotesQue,
says the Baltimore Sun. When he was
assistant secretary of the navy, during
ithe preparation for the Spanish war
fthe government was buying a number
aof yachts to be converted into torpedo
siderable intimacy existed between the
family Of President Roosevelt and that
OF one of the officers of the navy in the
department.. The wife Of this officer
got g fancy that she would like to
have one of these beautiful little boats
bear her name. There is a prejudice
in the navy against giving woman's
name to a war vessel Of any type. 1t
Is believed to be unlucky. But the Off
Ger. who found it easier to face official
prejudice than to resist the importuni-
ties OF his better half, made the re-
quest Of Mr.. Roosevelt.
The assistant secretary Of the navy
ihesitated.
cit won't d." he said. 'I would
like to crafty your wife, but a wo-
mans name won't do
Then a thought occurred to him, and
he relented. I win fix it," he said.
'@reu your wife it will be all right
The next day the boat was named
the Vixen.
at am going to put you in command
OF her." said Mr.. Roosevelt when he
announced the name, but he didn't.
The sun was over the fo'yard, and ev-
cry old officer was licking his lips. The
squadron had been out for two days at
target practice, and on that day the
chief officers Of the several ships had
been invited on board the flagship,
where they were to be entertained by
Theodore Roosevelt, assistant secreta-
ry Of the navy. The guests and Mr..
Roosevelt talked about the feats OF
gunnery and speculated upon how such
and SucL a shot would have counted
had the target been Spanish ship. All
save Mr.. Roosevelt had begun to weary
of this topic. They found it dry, and
conversation had begun to lag by the
hime luncheon was announced. Men
who had been long on salt water were
conscious Of something lacking in the
Entertainment. For some time there
had been clearing of throats and sig
maif V0h no of MK
Rooseyelt's eyes, following those Of his
guests, caught the angle of the sun to
the fo'yard.
'fWi1l you step into the cabin and
have some tea?'' he said, with an ex-
preston which might be significant of
most anything, but which received but
one Interpretation by those who felt
the salt spray in their throats. The
movement toward the cabin was spon-
taneous. There, in the center Of a great
table, rested a punch bowl of magnif-
cent proportions filed nearly to the
brim with liquid a shade deeper than
amber of the richest hue. In it's center
floated an island of ice. Sprays Of mint
were scattered at its base and extend
ed their slender leaves over its brim,
while pieces of lemon and other fruit
f1oated on the surface Of the cool and
tempting flood. A generous ladle was
dipped into it's mysterious depths and
glasses were marshaled around.
The old commodore, with the color OF
the sun upon his face and the dryness
Cf the desert in his throat, turned ca.
gerly toward this oasis. He stirred the
laG1e lovingly in the bowl, While others
gathered about him. He held his glass
filed to the brim, between his eye and
the sunlight that came with a burning
glow through the cabin window, and
the cIatter and clink of glasses sounded
through the cabin as each officer filled
to the occasion. With an air OF con
tentment and anticipated joy he
brought the glass to his lips. Z hen, as
ell lifted their glass to follow his eX
ample, look Of horror passed over his
face, his hand trembled, and tie glass
almost fell to the table.
''Be ID if it amt teav' he gasped
Shortly after Mr.. Roosevelt entered
the White House a politician called
upon him with reference to appoint
ments. After the preliminary expires
sions of high esteem, unbounded admi
ration and eternal loyalty the politi
clan began to disclose his business.
I want to speak to you about Mr.
Blank, who holds a small o1ice down
In my district
The politician didn't finish lis sen
tence.
~Whatw exclaimed Roosevelt inter
lupting him. is that internal scoun
drel still in that place? 1 had som
knowledge Of him when / was civi
service commissioner
The politician acknowledged that Mr.
Blank was still there and then turne,
the subject.