The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-31
ROOSEVELT BOYS HAVE
FUN At WHITE HOUSE
Gay Times For Them Dur
ing the Holidays.
GAME OF BALL ON THE ROOF
Archie Building a Yacht and Hopes to
Christen 1t Shamrock"
in the Spring.

| The Roosevelt boys are having one of
the best times Of their lives this week
With riding and driving. hunting In
dians. bicycling. playing ball, and build
ing navies. and with all the good cheer
! incident TO the Christmas season, time
is not dragging on their hands.
Stirring about from morning until
night. the boys are finding their way
( from the cellar to the garnet of the
White House The other morning how
ever. they concluded not to stop at the
/ garnet Persons passing through the
/ grounds of the Executive Mansion were
amazed to see them up on the roof
/ They were engaged in playing ball, and
I TO all appearances were having the best
/ kind of a time. Supposition is that they
We're not eXerting themselves to get
within range of the parental eye.
! Some one suggested they would be
climbing the flagstaff next. and after
the manner Of Uncle Jerry Smith, turn
ing the flag union down. The flagstaff.
/ however. was not interfered with. and
the boys busted themselves at ball un-
I til tired. and then descended for their
/ morning ride.
At Oyster Bay.
The scene at the White House with
the boys on the roof reminded those
who were at oyster Bay last summer
/ Of some of the scenes there when the
boys used to climb on the roof OF the
steep-gabled residence and chase each
other up and down its slopes. AT times
when the older boys got up on the roof.
Archie would stand below and bonn
bard them with a bean shooter.
Every one Of the boys has developed
, into a good horseback rider. Even
/ Quentin. but five years old. is no exccp-
! ton. He has taken to riding Arches
/ pony. which for some weeks has been
| doing a measure of double duty. QUEEN
1 tin is looking forward 10 having pony
( of his own For the present. however.
he is using Archies Inasmuch as
Archie is devoting a great deal of time
/ to his wheel. the stress on the pony
/ is not as severe as 1t otherwise would
| be. Theodore, jr., and Kermit, the two
older boys. who are attending school
at Groton. and are home for the holt
/ days, are both fine riders. Theodore
I may sometimes be seen mornings in
company with Lieutenant Fortesque, go
ing out in the country for a galiop.
In the absence of the two older boys.
Archie is the center Of much attention
among the attaches Of the White House.
He is a general favorite. Just now he is
]
Planning Yacht.
AS soon as spring comes on and warm
weather opens up. Archie is going TO
have a launching compared 10 which
the sliding Of a battleship down the
ways will not be much. He is Compel
ing with Sir Thomas Upton now. and
is building yacht or his own He is
going to launch it in the fountain out
l.. -.
yard and christen 1t with due ceremo-
MES He has planned ITO build a chute
down which the vessel will slide lie
has concluded TO call IL the Shamrock.
He has secured the cOlors Of the Royal
Ulster Yacht Club. and he viii hoist
these to the masthead. He will also
float the private flag of Sir Thomas
himself to the breezes. The construc-
ton Of the yacht is busily going on up
in a secluded part of the garnet.
This is not Arches first experience
in the construction of vessels Up to
now. however he has been engaged
chiefly with men-of-war. He has whole
navy Of battleships in the White House.
He has a great liking for the sea. and
is as keen on naval matters as his
father When he grows up. he hopes to
join the navy. He frequently goes
around the White House ard wearing
/ a sailor suit. and weeks age. when the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt received
a body OF marines and seamen at the
White House. Archie's longing to go to
sea became stronger than ever. Quentin
also IS said to be developing love for
marine affairs.
Like Other Boys.
The President boys are treated Just
about as other boys by the attaches OF
the White House. Archie frequently
comes around the Office rooms In
case Of a snowstorm he is pretty
apt to be seen in the course OF
the day throwing snowbaIls at anyone
f; who has time to return the fire. Some
time ago Colonel Montgomery. the code
operator. and Archie engaged in a snow
ball duel. AS they were chasing each
other through the lobby. the colonel
hurled a good-sized pack OF snow at
the fleeing boy. The President had just
/ stepped out Of the door Of his Office and
| the SNOWFALL few past his mead, coming
within about two inches Of IL.
AS usual. the President entered heart
! lily into the sport. That's right, that's
right" he shouted. evidently delighted
TO see the fun and regretful that he
could not join I'm IT.
All the Roosevelt boys have reputa-
/ ton for honesty and straightforward
ness. II have never seen two more
honest and lovable boys that Archie
| White House recently. Il see less of the
/ older boys. as they are away at school
They seem to share their fathers d.
| rectness and straightforwardness When