New-York tribune., 1903-07-19


dents only companions these canters.
If the President wishes to go driving he makes
use of one of some dozen traps md buggies
else phaeton. which he utilized in Washing
ton and which is said to have been in the
Roosevelt family for more than forty years. On
Sundays. when attending church. a capacious
wagonette or a two seated wagon is impressed
for service, according to the number in the
Presidential party.
Virtually all his outdoor sports and recreations
the President shares with his family, six in
number, Alice being the eldest; then Theodore.
jr., next Kermit. then Ethel. his younger
daughter; next Archie and then Quentin, the
youngest of them all
Tennis is another of the Presidents favorite
recreations. Few afternoons pass at Sycamore
Hill without the President challenging Theo-
dore. jr. Kermit, Ethel or certain of their young
relatives who live near by, Mrs Roosevelt her
self being frequently interested spectator of
the game. Rowing is still another Of the Presi-
dents diversions Not many rods removed from
the house is a little, unpletentious wood cabin,
unremarked by the casual paSserby, but known
to the initiate the Presidents boathouse.
Many fine summers morning afternoon the
President will slip quietly from the house with
Mrs. Roosevelt, dispose the cushions for his
wife, and, loosing the painter, set the oars in
Frequently, too, emuating the example of
Gladstone and Horace Greeley, the President,
axe in hand, Will vanish quietly at the back
of the house. and proceed to chop down one of
the tall forest trees that abound on his prem
ises, finding considerable pleasure in the eXer-
else. Soon the swift recurrent hiss Of steel
against wood, followed by the sound of rend-
ing timber, attests the woodsman's skill pos
sessed by the Chief Magistrate
Swimming is a favorite diversion Of the
Roosevelt family. Besides the bathhOuse on the
Presidents own ground, there is a large, airy
bathing pavilion Emlen Roosevelts prem
ises, and it is uncommon thing for the whole
family to take plunge in the bay. Long wood
land tramps, made at such a pace as severely
taxes the endurance of his companions, a
days picnic with the members of his family
are further of the Presidents outdoor amuse-
ments Such a picnic was that INDUCED in
two weeks ago last Friday, the day previous to
the Presidents visit to Huntington Early in
the morning the President and his family made
a trip to Eel Creek, the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt in a rowboat, the remainder of the
party In the small converted United States
steam yacht Sylph. which lies off Sycamore
Hill throughout the summer. There at the
creek a clambake was served in true old
fashioned style. old fashioned clam ovens being
dug in the sand OF the beach. and the clam
bake reinforced by hamper luncheon brought
from the Presidents home. No certain days
or hours be set down for these recreations
of the President. Sometimes especially in
preparation for an unusually arduous morrow
the greater part of the day is spent in relative
leisure. Sometimes, although this is the Presi-
dents vacation, almost the entire day is sur
rendered to the call OF imperative executive
matters needing the Presidents personal at
tentiOn.
Times, too have there already been this sea-
son when. despite arduOus day in which
the disposition of a mass OF vital correspond
ence aIternated with period of vigorous leis-
ure, the night has seen lights still burning in
the library of the big house upon the hill
Such a night was that last Wednesday week,
when the President held an important confer
ence with the first member of the Cabinet. Far
into the night, while the of the village was