The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-09
ROOSEVELT AS A TRAVELLER.
How the President Met the People i'm
His Accent Tour.
key. in Leslie,s Weekly,

G. E. Luckey, in Leslie's Weekly.
Everywhere he went he was perfectly at
nome, ard apparently well satisfied with
things as they were. Nothing seemed 10 dis
appoint or annoy him. Wherever ne spoke
he suited his language to the condition and
character OF his hearers. He could be dig
nlIed and scholarly or plain and familiar,
as the circumstances warranted. His lis
teneTs, however Gnlearned and humble, un-
derstoo6 and responded to him readily be-
cause he so thoroughly understood them
and accommodated ms thoughts and words
TO their ways of thinking and talking. Prob
ably no other American President was ever
so democratic in spirit and act, or so wide
or range in his feelings and ~sympathies.
Mr.. Roosevelt realizes his kinship TO and
mikes we'll with all men. When the train
halted at Hugo, Cal, the President descrled
not far from the track the grub wagon
of a cattle herding outfit. He was some
what hungry. and the vehicle brought 10
his mind rec9llections of his days as a
ranchman and hunter in the West. Joyously
he exclaimed: That's the real thing, and
allghtlng he STROBE TO the wagon, SHOOK
hands and chatted in their own lingo with
the gratihed cook and the cowboys, and
then, just like any cattle puncher,' ne
helped himself to meat and bread and cof-
fee and devoured his homely meal with a
relish. In the attitude thus disclosed OF
the President toward his iellow-men OIL
various sorts there is nothing studied or
affected. He obeys tn. impulses OF a large
well-rounded nature imbued with sincere
good-fellowship.
lt Il SIQOl aANCgS apEN0A0a w NC NoPo-
cially delighted at meeting the children or
the towns where he stopped. Whenever
he came in contact with them the little
ones took TO him at once. lnstinctively they
regarded him as their friend, and he showed
in every way his genuine fondness for them.
He would bestow his warmest handclasp,
his most genial smiles and his klndest
words on the youngsters VINO turned out
TO see him., to present him with bouquets,
to cheer him and TO wave tiny flags in
salutation of him. For the old soldiers,
l.r- 49, SO bod a soft Gnnt in
his heart.
The uniform cheerfulness of the President
during his more than two months of siren
uous movement was simply phenomenal.
He was at all times pleasant and willing
to enter into lively conversation, and his
hearty and infectious laugh was frequently
heard. None of us saw even the falntest
cloud upon his brow in the entire period OF
that whirling and exciting experience.
Whenever he met a member of the party he
would accoSt him cordially aEo evlnce an
interest in him hat seemed 10 the reclp-
lent of the attention individual and speclai.
1t was also invariably with an inexhaustible
flow of good spirits that the President
faced the public. The throngs which saw
and listened to him went away happy.
The Western people all along the line
Enthusiastically showed that they regarded
President Roosevelt as one OF themselves.
Although born and reared IN the East, the
descendant of six generations OF Roose-
veltS in New York city, the PRESIDENTS
years of life in the far West, the native
breadth of his sympathies, his wide knoWl-
edge of men and affairs, and his ready
adaptability have gained for him a marvel
Gus hold on the Western heat, without
regard to party lines. Admittedly he Is the
best posted of all our Presidents on the
practical needs of the great West. These
he knows in general and in detail. The
Western people, indeed, believe they nave
found in this son Of the East a man VINO
comprehends them more thoroughly tnan
does any other public man. even one born
in their own section.