The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-04
President ROOseyelt's Visit at
Sharon Springs.
Attended Church and Heard
Sermon By DIR. Carter.
TWO GIRLS HAPPY.
Invited Children to Occupy His
Pew.
Held Hymn Book and Sang
With Them.
TOOK A LONG RIDE.
Went Thirty Miles Into the
Country.
Stay at Village Marked by a
Lack Of FormaIity.
Stay at Village Marked by a
Lack Of FOrmaIity.

Sharon Springs. Kan. May 4.-The
two proudest little girls in Kansas to-
day are Anna Bracken and Myrtle
Coats. who live fifteen miles from
Sharon Springs. They shared the pew
of the president of the United States at
his invitation in the services here sun
day, he held his hymnbook for them to
sing from, ana when the service closed
he shook hands with them and told
them how glad he was that they had
shared in his worship.
This incident illustrates why Theo-
dore Roosevelt has such hold upon
the hearts Of the people. He is thor
oughly human. He is constantly show
ing friendly interest in the people he
meets. and his kindly. genial nature
makes them forget that he is President
Roosevelt, the head Of the greatest ma
tion ON earth, but only Teddy Roose-
Welt their friend and champion
Another incidertof the same character
took place Immediately after the ser
Vice. The president had passed out Of
toe little church ahead OF the people
put instead of starting at once with
ms party for his train he waited until
me people came out, and there on the
broad prairie that he loves, with the
Dlue sky above and his head barred To
the prairie breeze, the president of the
United states, the equal of the greatest
OF earth's monarchs. gave an informal
reception to the people Of the farms ana
ranches
1t was a great thing. the acr or
5ss -. .llsal.' re made the people feel
Llls interest in them and as thew rrC,q,s.l.,i
nA0A4U MIN and he ~N
the nand he gave every one "a -,
anu friendly word. Probably no ,,5.s-,f
uent since Abraham Lincoln was ss,r,'
DlS VI such a thing. Farmers and Their
N.ESs' COWBOYS and young folks ana
children all crowded around him - -
mere were any who had ever been M,
l1lendly TO him they did not remain en
ne visit Of the president to sharon
2lI uiss Drought out in forcible man
Nst the character of the people who a1e
cohquerlng the west One Nould nat
ufaily expect to find more or Iese of
tie uncouth in region so new and so
sIaisely settled. Instead. the president
louhQ rennement and culture and bs
heard sermon which for scho1are1,i,
ana deptn was the equal of the aver
age ot those preached i'm the metropoli-
tan churches Of the east.
Lhe services in the little Methodist
cnurch AT sharon Springs Sunday
morning could not have been more
simple nor scarcely more impressive
ne spectacular element was entirely
lacking. Ihere was no attempt to do
anything for show. The sermon Nv
Rev Or. Carter pastor of the First
Presbyterian church of Kansas civ
was Of the solid. substantial VARIETY
and the entire service seemed To come
elreet from the heart. The Sharon
springs people some time ago secured
a large tent from Kansas City. with
view to holding the service i'm that i'm
order to accommodate all the people.
but MT Loeb. secretary to the presi-
dent fearing something of the snec-
tacular promptly vetoed the arrange
ment and the tent was shipped back to
Kansas City.
Tt is true that the little church would
not begin to hold the people who wanted
TO attend the service. for it seats only
about 200. and not more than twice
that number could crowd into it. The
balance stationed themselves at the
windows as far as possible.
There were probably thousand peo-
pie on the townsite- They began com
Ing early in the morning. The ranches
for fifty miles around contributed. On
bronchos, in lumber wagons and in car
riages the people came and the trails
leading over the hills in Sharon Springs
were used more than they nave been
before for years.
The service was held at II o'clock.
Six pews were reserved for the presi-
dent and his party and the newspa per
men. The president followed by Sena-
tor Long and Sena tor Burton. walked
up the center aisle of the church The
president ushered the two senators into
his pew. and the balance of the party
filled the other pews, but there was
still room for two persons in the presi-
dents pew. The first thing after be-
coming seated the president bowed his
head few moments in silent PRAYER.
Following the party came a number Of
little girls. who took their seats around
the edge of the platform. Little Misses
Coats and Rucklin were the last ones
and the space was filled before they got
seats Then the president came TO the
rescue and motioned for them to come
into his seat. ushering them in past him.
The little girls accepted the Invitation
with an innocent unConsciOusness of
the honor which was theirs. When the
hymn was announced and the congre-
cation rose to sing, the president held
his hymn book for them to sing from
and they Joined their voices with his in
an unembarrasssd but modest manner
which greatly pleased the president.
The girls realized nothing of their
honor until the services We're over Then
as the people crowded around and spoke
to them about ii and the newspaper
men asked for their names. they sud
denly became conscious Of the fame
which was theirs. and they became so
excited that their teeth fairly chat
tered
Rev. A. n. See. a Methodist minister
living at SaIina. presiding elder of the