Waterbury Democrat., 1902-09-16
PRESIDENT RECEIVES
Many Thousands Shake the
 Hand of MT. Roosevelt.
NEIGHBOR DAY AT OYSTER BAY.
For Three Hours the Steady Stream of Friends and Acquaintances Filed Past the Porch at
 SagRmOre HiII.

Filled Past the Porch at
 SagamOre Hill.
 OYSTER BAY. N. Y, Sept. 16.-Pres- ident Roosevelt yesterday received his friends and neighbors of Nassau coun- ty, aud between 6,0OO and 1000 people shook his hand. The reception was held at his country home, on Sagamore hill, and from o'clock until nearly 6 he was bu Q shaking hands and re- newing old dcquaintances. He met people whom he had not seen for thir- ty years and shook hands with men who had known him when he was g child. The president thoroughly en- joyed the affair and was as fresh when it was over as when he began. He ex- pressed his feelings to woman in the crowd who asked him if he was getting vired.
 Not a bit," he replied. 1t takes more than a trolley car to knock me out or a crowd to tire me-
 The weather could not have been more delightful. The day was just cool enough to make walking pleasant, and there was not cloud in the sky. The decorators did their work thoroughly, and when the sun rose it shone upon village resplendent with color. Nearly all of the business houses and many of the private dwellings were adorned with flags and bunting The most eff fective decoration was along the road leading from the center of the town to the road that winds up Sagamore hill. Here at a distance of every hundred feet were hung large American flags which formed a canopy of stars and stripes, under which the people rode on their way to Sagamore hill. Where the private road leaves the main thorough fare large arch of flowers and flags had been erected, with the word .ssWel- come' in the center. The presidents residence was handsomely decorated with large flags.
 The event, which passed off so sue cessfully, was. in the hands of 8 gen. eral committee, of which Frank C.. Travis was chairman, and number of other committees, of which the fol- lowing were the chairmen: Executive, w.. Emlen Roosevelt; reception, A. U. Cheney; decoration, Julius Blum; trans portation, Maurice Townsend; finance, Franklin Hall.
 The work of the committees was thorough, and everything moved along smoothly.
 The crowds began to arrive early from points on Long Island, and by noon the village streets were crowded. Delegations came in from many of the places near here, and several special trains added their quota to the crowd.
 At 1 o'clock the members of the com mittees, headed by a band, started for Sagamore hill, and they were followed by vehicles of all descriptions filed with Long Islanders, many of whom had come a considerable distance to greet the president.
 It was 2:45 o'clock when the recep- ton began. President Roosevelt stood on his porch and shook hands with all. After passing him the visitors passed off the porch, along road leading to the side of the house, where lemonade was served, and thence by another road out of the grounds. The lemon ade was served in small glass cups on which was inscribed, President Roose- welt, 1902, Oyster Bay" The cups were retained as souvenirs.
 All sorts of people in all conditions of life filed by the president white and black, poor and well to do, women with babies in arms and several with dogs, small boys and little girls. All got pleasant smile and a shake of the hand Many were in line who had known the president most of his life, and their delight in renewing an old acquaintance was apparent, but none gave the president more pleasure than the greeting of the two old family servants Maggie and Bridget Mitchell, who had been servants in his fathers family. They came from New York, where they now live, to greet the presi- dent and to show him photograph of his father and one of himself when he was four years of age. The president was delighted to see the pictures and the old servants and presented the sis ters to Mrs. Roosevelt.
 Mrs. Roosevelt was dressed in Par is gown of cream broadcloth elaborate ly trimmed in applique lace, chiffon and heavy silk cord She also wore a dainty garden hat covered with pink and>White roses.
 None of the visitors was introduced to the president, but when he recog- nized an old acquaintance MT. Roose- welt generally called him by name and addressed some pleasant remark to him.
 
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