Evening star., 1903-08-15
President Roosevelt s Interest
in Hunting and Fishing.
FAMILY TENDENCY
HOW HE BECAME A RANCHER IN
MONTANA.
infatuated With the Wild Life Of the
Mountains-Rifemen Pure
and Simple.

Written for The Evening Star.
AS everything relative to President Roose-
welt possesses the greatest interest, some
thing touching his tendencies and tastes as
a sportsman is in place at this time. And,
apropos of the subject, there IS no word In
our language that is more abused and mis-
construed in it's meaning than sportsman
| The term is applied to all sorts of callings
! followed by those who deal with games or
| chance more or less direputable in their
| character. The yachtsman and short-card
dealer are alike termed "sportsmen,"
| though there is no more similarity in their
pursuits than there is between day and
night
President Roosevelt comes of a family
| that have been lovers of the rod and rife
! and double gun for over 100 years. His
uncle. Robert B. Roosevelt, is the author of
one Of the best works upon small game
shooting that have been given to sporting
literature in the last half of the nineteenth
century. President Roosevelt became big
game hunter more by accident than any
thing else. Over a quarter of a century ago
he invested in cattle ranch in the widest
part Of Montana. Circumstances that need
not be entered into here made 1t necessary
that he should become actively Interested
In it's management.
How He Became a Rancher.
'If there was anything in the world OF
which l was more ignorant than the man
agement of a ranch at that time I don't
know what it was,'' he said to friend
who inquired how in the world he ever
undertook such thing. Somebody had to
go out there 1 suppose the wild freedom of
the life and surroundings tempted me.
Then, too, hard course Of study had be-
gun to leave its effect upon me. particularly
in my eyes; my general health required the
tonic effects of an out-of-doors life, in a
pure, cold, dry atmosphere and in region
elevated sufficiently above the sea to be
absolutely free from malaria. All these
considerations had their effect in determin-
Ing me to take the course did. I had al
ways fancied I would enjoy the life of the
mountains further west. The combination
was too interesting to be thrown away, and
have always been glad 1 availed myself
of the chance that was offered. There
learned many a lesson that could never
have been taught me elsewhere. The noun
tain air and life was a healthful tonic SIM
ply beyond price, know of nothing that
has a greater charm for the man in good
health with love of nature. with an un-
impaired nervous system, than the daily
routine and variety of life in the noun
tains."
President Roosevelt is a born sportsman
He does not to shoot at birds thrown
from trap-at thirty yards rise'' for the
money that may be won, though he does
not at all condemn this phase of sportsman
ship. Each to his fancy" he says, 80
long as the fancy is not degrading or lack
ing in humanity, But his fancy is for the
rifle and the free mountain side, where no
other chimney's smoke than your own can
be seen from the highest neighboring peak
Then 1t is that one gets closest to the
great heart of nature. And one cannot helm
but fancy that the fnvincible love of truth
and that honesty and frankness of express
sion that has SO distinguished the President
have been greatly developed and stimulated
by his communion with nature in her grand
est moods, as seen in the stern solitude OF
our great western range of mighty noun
ta1ns Among all mountain men, too there
is frank simplicity that seems as natural
TO them as the air they breathe Their
codes or morals may not quite coincide with
those current farther toward the rising sun,
but what would you? The mountain man
does not think 1t crime if you "get the
drop on your enemy and pull the trigger
second sooner than he does A discussion
td tdo ,his d question involves casuistry that is
100 deep Tor the average mind. MANY
men. many manners" and this Is the man
ner among the far western mountain born
The life is a healthful and clean one. far
from the temptations that beset the unwarv
in the great cites of the east
Not Bird Hunter.
The President Is not a bird hunter. ex
cept on rare occasions. He likes the mr.
suit Of the big game of the farthest west
mountains, and enjoys its dangers. Manv
night has he passed wrapped I'D In his
fur-lined blanket and encouched in his
sleeping bag. A sleeping bag" is a huge
sack made of canvas generally as an out
side and a thick lining of fur skins within.
1t is a difficult thing to get in or out of.
but more comfortable device was never
contrived. With the THERMOMETERS any
where below zero. with your feet to the
camp fire. sheltered from the falling snow
by an IA tent, you can sleep as comfort