Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-21
HOMECOMING OF ROOSEVELT
Oyster Bay Expects Him There for the
Towns Anniversary Celebration.
TEN STRIKE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Surprising Number of People DESTROYS
of Living In the same
Town with the chief
Executive.

at Sycamore Hill. walks along the main"
street OF the quaint little Long Island VII
lage:
How do, Noah?" It begins from the first
villager he meets.
"Lo. Bmr answers the "frst farmer in
the land"
''what'd you hear from the president7'
"Nawthing"
"When's he a-coming back to u.s. NoahF
'I can't tell you, Bill"
Loosen up, Noah. when's he a-comingT'
THE folks are coming on the sth, hear,
Seaman finally volunteers.
And the presidcntP
''weli IL you must know he's coming
back on June 90" and Noah moves on, to
be questioned by the next visitor and to
evade answering just long as possible,
for, like the other employees on the presi-
dents farm, he believes that what people
don't know don't hurt them"
on June q oyster Bay is going TO cele-
brate its 10th anniversary, and will pre-
face It by a rousing reception for the presi-
dent when he reaches the village. The
oyster Bay Board Of Trade has taken
charge Of the presidential return celebra-
tion, and it's plans are practically com
plete, with due allowance made for possible
change of date f. Morgan Griffin, presi-
dent Of the Board Of Trade, and a commit
arrival and escort him to his home. 1t Is
said that the celebration will surpass those
previously given in honor Of the chief
executives Homecoming.
Town on the Boom.
To realize how much oyster Bay thinks
OF President Roosevelt one must have seen
the village at the head Of one Of the most
beautiful Long Island indentations. 1t is a
sleepy little place, dignified with age self
satisfied in the beauty Of Its surroundings,
peculiar not alone in its octagonal hotel.
The older villagers always knew that some
thing, they knew not what was going to
happen to Oyster Bay. 1t started to hap
pen when Colonel Roosevelt became gov
error. but he was almost within the White
House before Oyster Bay awoke 20 the op-
portunity.
The town has grown wonderfully in the
last two years. Five business blocks OF
brick have gone up, and one is building
The Independent order of Odd Fellows
have new hall. with the three links done
in red. white and blue on the front.
Then there is the building which for two
months this summer will be the virtual
capital of the United States. For executive
Offices the president has secured the entire
second floor and It is now being fitted up
for him. The blinds are already hung
and the man who bought them must have
been color blind No sky ever showed
brighter more noisy blue than those blinds.
The building is the Moore block, on one
Of the four corners about which Oyster
Bay life throbs. 1t is owned by the man
who keeps the grocery on the street floor
There have been other improvements
since the boom began. There is 100 feet OF
cement sidewalk in front of the city hail.
Gravel and sand did we'll enough before
Hiram Smith has painted his barn. The
folk consider this rather careless of Hiram
The photograph gallery still keeps open
Just one afternoon a week.
Rents on the Jump.
It is impossible to rent or buy house in
Oyster Bay at this time, unless is
burning money and doesn't care what he
pays 1t is surprising how many people
want to live in the town the president
calls home Realty prices have scared.
Lots which would have been dear two
years ago at $500 are worth $1,000 now.
One piece of property jumped from $4,000
to $4,000 while New Yorker was thinking
about taking option. The president
is the best thing that ever happened to
Oyster Bay" is the general cry.
Prices do be high" declared Deacon
Jacob Smith White, the dean of the hack
Joe Aproy. who lives over by the Mister
Presidents, He's been the only poor fellow
out that way fur long time, He's got
nothing but a little garden plot and he re-
fued an offer of sl1 900 for 1T
do you think he'll ever SELF" asked the
reporter.
'Taint likely now" said the deacon
pulling his white beard. II clean forgot
to tell you that Joe amt poor no more
lie married woman with income. a
monthly income"
Much of an income?"
oh, Lordy. yes-s6O a month"
Deacon White has refused some realty
offers himself. he declared when passing
an old graveyard in which six gencrn tions
OF his gran6fathers are buried. A rich
man wanted 10 add the cemetery, remoy,
the bodies at his own expense and pay
5000 besides Tho deacon I'D not con
slider the offer.
PeculiaFitieS of Vi.itorH.
When the president nd his family are a
home the old man h,s a neavy incom,
driving visitors to and from sycamore hil
Il had a curious woman aboard"-Oystei
Bay hackmen spe1k u-,ough their re
markable rigs were Sound sloops-"th,
other day" he related ''and all the wa,
out here she kept sayins things abou
the president which were not altoRethe
favorable or proper II was plain she didn'
like him. and them sort are so rare tina
for bit l was surprised silent
Finally, says l, 'What is the matte
with you. anyway says !: 4 believe yoi
are tainted
What do you mean. srr says she I
me. sort OF drawing herself up
Tn sure you're tainted says I again
You're n rebelp
You are right; am q rebel. and an
proud OF it
Well says I, you must rot talk TIM
way about the president In my hearing. w
are personal friends. and Il won't do"
In this the hack driver was essentiau
Oyster Bay Every one In the village Is IN
presidents personal friend, whether M,
Roosevelt knows It or not and no ono ca
talk about him In an unfavorable way
At Sycamore Hill they are preparing 70
the family's return and its accompanyin
horde OF the curious The haclxmen hay
the privilege Of driving through the mode,
grounds II they keep their fares" froI
touching the shrubbery. The visitors al
told TO take branches from the trees on n
other side OF the rail fence-a bit Of proI
erty the president does not own.