The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-16

and cultured and refined to the high
est degree. Each is a student. Each is
a writer, as well. Senator Lodge and
the president conaborated in the au-
thorship OF several noted historical
works. Each has the highest aims in
his public service; each IS honest, clever.
manly. There IS perhaps not a senator
of more ability or integrity than Mr..
Lodge; there certainly has not been a
cabinet minister Of the past generation
of higher attachments than Root And
both are the close personal and political
friends of the president.
OF course. the party became much
observed at once. There was suppressed
excitement and interest, the whole big
playhouse over. Ladies and gentlemen
politely glanced lit is a better word than
stared at the distinguished occupants
OF the box: and scores and hundreds Of
glasses were leveled at the box without
delay. Up above there was a rustling Of
feet, q swishing Of skirts, and men ard
women even stood for moments look
at the president and those with him.
But presidents are just ordinary men,
after all. Roosevelt did not mind at
all the interest aroused-seemed uBcon-
scious Of it. After disposing of Mrs.
Roosevelt and the little Roosevelts, he
studied the stage q moment, and then
fell into conversation with his secretary
of war and his senatorial friend The
conversation became engrossing, evi-
IDENTIFY. for the play was neglecaed for
some time. II may have been some Pc
litical Incident; possibly something OF
the play that caused the three men TO
have their heads together for several
minutes. But soon there was the audi
bic laugh Of the president; those famous
teeth gIlstened in the dazzling electric
light; the Massachusetts senator Joined
and the secretary Of war turned TO the
play. Then all became interested in
what was going on on the stage. The
pretty scenes; the delightful acting Of
Miss Adams. received attention for some
time Not the least interested was the
president himself. The meanwhile. the
ladies OF the party had been first in
conversation and then in attention 70
the play. and occasionally would ad-
dress themselves TO the gentlemen. And
so it progressed
It was an interesting study TO watch
the little RooseveIts. Kermit and Ethel.
who sat well to the front. Little Kermit.
a lad perhaps nine or ten, was all at
tantion. He sat well forward. leaning
sometimes over the box rail. His little
sister Ethel. who always accompanies
her father. with all the dignity Of seven
or eight years, held her fan in her
white-gIoved hand fully as well as did
her mother and the ladies of the box.
II she laughed, It was in a manner fully
out Of proportion to her years. She
and her brother often apparently dis
cussed the play, and the manner in
which they did it was such as to invite
a smile. Once, between acts. it was evil
dent the little Miss did not understand
some detail. Senator Lodge handed her
over TO where her father and mother
we're. Then the picture was a pretty
one. Little Ethel climbed upon the arm
of her mothers chair, arm around the
Iatters neck, and leaned forward while
the pdesident "strenuousIy' explained
the doubtful point Little Kermit be-
came interested. He leaned over the
rail toward his father, and the senator
and the secretary of war appeared fully
as interested. After it was all over,
the children resumed their places. and
their attention TO the play. II was a
pretty little scene, and was viewed by
the big audience with as much appreci-
alton as the scene later enacted on the
stage after the curtain went up for the