The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27

been nothing of arrogance in his reception
of them and equally nothing OF condescen-
sion This robustly healthy American citl-
zen who Is our chief executive has no sym
pathy with the insolence either OF AFRO
gance or of cOndescension.
1t has been my good fortune TO know Mr..
Roosevelt as an acquaintance for many
years. When l first knew him he was plain
Mr.. Roosevelt not long out OF college, en-
gagged In literary work as a vocation and IN
a strenuous far Western life a . an aVoca-
ton. Later. | had frequent occasion 10
talk with him when he was a police COM
missioner, earnestly bent upon purging the
force he was set 10 govern of its corrup-
tons and of its lassitude in enforcing the
law. Still later 1 conversed with him when.
as Governor, he had that most difficult OF
all problematical bodies, a New York Leg
islature, ION his hands" In the presidency
he is no whit other than he was in private
life in smaller official places. In all cir
cumstances he is an earnest. honest open
eyed and resolute man, intent upon doing
the duty that lies before him TO the utmost
of his power.
That resolute purpose. as i understand
the man, is what he had i'm his heart and
mind when he coined his splendid phrase.
THE strenuous life" He is strenuous in
every act, and word and purpose. lie Is
strenuous with all his soul in his determi-
nation to do at his best the thing that lies
before him TO do. whether it be TO subdue a
broncho, TO run down grizzly bear, TO
push his way up San Juan HILL or in higher
station, TO make the most and best or his
executive authority in behalf of the Nation
and people he represents. In other words,
Theodore Roosevelt is an ideal type of
American manhood and citizenship in their
highest development.
Robust vigor is as marked a character
istc of his mind and character as 1t is OF
his physique. He hates a lie as he hates
cowardice. Perhaps he views the two things
as Identical, and they are so.
He preserves his youthful enthusiasms in
a remarkable degree. His sympathy with
boys in their manly aspirations is intense.
There was a glisten as of tears in his eyes
when 1 told him the other evening that
stalwart boy had recently said TO me:
Anyhow, Mr.. Roosevelt always stands
for boys when we want to do things"
had seen him receive a boy a few days
before. The boy, a fine lad, with a head
that meant something. had come with his
father to be presented" The father was
received cordially The boy was almost en-
braced.
The President took him by the shoulders
in caress!ng fashion and talked with him
as any good-natured senior in a school
might do with a new scholar who pleased
his fancy. The boy had looked abashed and
was over he seemed to me to be the happi-
est boy in the world-with the exception,
perhaps, of Mr.. Roosevelt.
KNOWS NO FATIGUE.
The President seems really tireless, in the
literal sense of that word. My personal
visit was made on the evening of the day
on which he returned from his comet-like
trip TO the Carolinas. He had got back to
Washington in the morning, after five days
of soul-wearying travel. still more weary
ing speechmaking and function-holding.
and the ceaseless strain of social and
cry other sort of exciting experience. AL
most any other man would have gone to
bed and put business aside for one day at
the least. Mr.. Roosevelt had gone TO his
desk, instead, to clear off the work accum-
ulation of nearly a week. He had then held
an important Cabinet meeting, received