The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-22
SNAP SHOTS AT THE ROOSEVELTS
How They Appear at the Theater and at the
White House
By A. D. F. LARNER,

Washington. Nov. 21.-President
Roosevelt gives a lesson in sprinting
to the secret service men every Sun
day morning. The President Is never
failing church-goer, and, as he inVari-
ably walks, a small crowd assemblies
on pleasant Sunday morning, at 10:45
o'clock, to view the distinguished pc
destrian leave the White House
grounds. The President is called the
swiftest walker in Washington, and
he gives the men who are known as his
personal guardians a breezy chase
when he takes to the streets. Attired
in the nattiest of frocks coats, silk
hat and carrying his gloves, the chief
executive steps out like a professional.
He rarely carries a stick and wears
an overcoat only in extremely cold
weather. His characteristic quickstep
is, in itself, something to attract public
attention. and coupled with the hur-
riedly following secret service men.
about five yards in the rear, the Presi-
dent is the Sunday sensation of the
Lafayette Square neighborhood-
AS the President leaves the north
entrance to the White House on Sun
day mornings, his small son, Archie"
usually canters out of the executive
stables on his famous pony, Algonquin.
The young man is one Of Natures wor-
shippers, and he sits the little animal
that has been up and down In the
White House elevator with the inherit
ed skill of Rough Rider.
Archie on his pony and the attend
ant groom make detour around Penn
sylvania avenue to avoid meeting the
White House carriage which conveys
Mrs. Roosevelt to historic st. Johns.
When President Roosevelt attends
the theater, he enthuses the actors
and the audience alike. Though an
excellent talker the President is a good
listener, too, and knows when to laugh
and when TO applaud. Mrs. Roosevelt
is the real theater-goer of the presi-
Dental household, and she sees literal
ly everything that comes to Washing
ton. Among the different friends who
accompany Mrs. Roosevelt, Senator
Lodge is the one steady and never
failing cavalier. Mrs. Roosevelt never
poses for the public. She rarely faces
the audience, and between the acts in
variably turns her back upon the body
OF the house and converses animatedly
with her personal guests.
Not so with the President. When
he enters theater box it is the sig
nal for a series of bows and smiles
in response to the spontaneous applause
that bursts from the audience. The
President steps to the front of the box
and bows repeatedly, then seats HIM
self directly in the center of the group,
where every play of his expressive
features can be studied by the on
lockers.
The face of the President is a fasci-
mating one to watch. He is always an
absorbed and enthusiastic listener. 1t
is apparent that he throws to the wind
all problems of state and enters heart
and soul into the life depicted behind
the footlights He is the first to burst
into laughter at a clever joke, and
usually leads in the hand-clapping. The
President is a sincere man at all times,
and a big boy sometimes-especially
when he goes to the theater for dis
traction and recreation.
Every pleasant afternoon during the
week the familiar blue bodied two
seated open carriage, in which Mrs.
Roosevelt delights to drive, whirls out
of the White House grounds, and goes
north. The President and his wife
occupy the back seat, and the smart
liveried driver. and footmen sit inn
movably in front. The President wears
a wide brimmed soft hat of the cam
paign variety and is buttoned snugly
into a rough overcoat. Mrs. Roosevelt
is all in black, close, stiff Derby hat
shading her eyes and embellished with
the inevitable American veil that
trails half a yard or more upon the
wind. A tight fitting three-quarter
length black coat completes all that is
visible of her toilet.
Mrs. Roosevelt is in striking con-
trast to the Fades whom she meets
driving in their yictorias and whose