The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-07-24
BY wALDoN FAwCETr.

The annual vacation of the First Lady
OF the Land begins about July 1 of
each year and continues well into o.
tober, or perhaps as late as November
There have been mistresses of tbe
White House who discontinued their
Inequalities with the close of the CO.
called Official season" at the advent
of Lent, and were, consequently raod,,
to leave the capital ere the snrino haS
well advanced; but Mrs Roosevelt h
very conscientious in the discharge NJ
her social duties and prefers to remain
at the capital. In order to lend her Aid
ana lnnuence to the social activities
and the many entertainments for obart
table purposes which are held IN tha
morning OF the year. Indeed. II ia no.
too much to say that Mrs. Roosave,t
has been largely responsible for tba
brilliant spring season. which has re-
come during the past year or two
distinctive characteristic of Wasbtng-
ton life.
All the members of the Roosevelt
family are particularly fond of country
life. and especially that form OF It which
finds exemplifcation at their own
farm on Long Island, and thus
young people are more eager for the
time when they can hurry away to
1900 Ao'OAAtc play ground on Long
Island Sound. In order to crafty this
Impotence the junior members of the
household. In charge of trusted serv-
ants and accompanied by their ponies
and pets, are sent to the Oyster Bay
estate as soon as the school year
closes, but Mrs. Roosevelt, who Is
nothing II not a devoted wife, prefers
to brave the heat of Washington until
her husband can accompany her To
their vacation retreat, and 1t Is usually
about the first of July ere the Presi-
dent can leave his office at the White
House.
me Hooseveits usually Journey from
one of Uncle Sans private yachts tho
Dolphin or the Mayfiower. and tins on
Joy the double boon of a pleasant coo
voyage and the convenience of beino
landed at their own dock Mrs. Roosavelt
is. OF course. spared the rather dts-
agreeable experience of "getting cot
tied" which is the bane Of many q
housekeepers life. The Roosevelts
have a very capable superintendent
Mr.. Moan seaman. who has been In
their service LOT II years, and he. with
his helpers, make 1t a point to aluay.
keep the house at Sycamore nm 90
the Roosevelt estate Is known raadv
for occupancy at short notice. In addi,
ton to this, a number of servants froy,
the White House are each year sent -
Oyster Bay in advance of the family
In order to complete the preparations
and even the family carriage which
waits to convey the Roosevelts to their
"home'' upon their arrival, Is drawn bv
horses from the White House, and ON
the box are the coachman and footmen
nho serve the presidential household In
the same capacity in Washington.
There has been an element of antici-
patton in the homecoming of the Roose-
velts this year. for their beloved abode
by the seaside has undergone quite a
number OF changes since last they said
good-by to It. To be sure. the improve
ments which have been made are by no
means pretentious from an architec-
tural standpoint, but they are designed
to extend the capacity of the accommo-
dations for guests and servants, and
this Ii what Is sought by the lord and
lady of the manor. The President and
Mrs. Roosevelt are instinctively hospIt-
able. as has been eloquentIy proven In