The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-25
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
SPEAKS TO SCH0OLBOYS
Visits Groton, Where His Children
Are, and Distributes Prize
Day Honors.
HEART-TO-HEART TALK

GROTON, Mass, May s4.-President
Roosevelt, who had made the trip from
Washington TO be present at the Groton
school to-day and participate in the annual
prize day exercises. reached Groton at five
minutes past 9 o'clock this forenoon. He
was met at the station by the Rev. DR..
Endicott Peabody. principal OF the institu-
tion at which two of the Presidents sons
Theodore, jr., and Kermit, preparing
for college, and was driven TO the school.
The Presidents trip from Washington
was accomplished without special incident,
save that at a number Of stations which
were passed after daybreak to-day the citi-
zens. and in some cases the school children,
assembled to greet the chief executive
The Presidents party includes Miss Carew,
sister-in-law of the President, and Secre-
tary Loeb.
the arrival of the nations chief executive,
were gathered at the main hall. AS the
carriage appeared in the grounds the scnool
yell, given with all the enthusiasm which
the occasion prompted, greeted the Presi-
dent. The latter said that nc was exceed
ingly glad TO meet and greet them. and
sympathize with the two unfortunates
among you who have presidential father. :"
There some delay in beginning the
exercises in the main hall OF the school,
due chiefly 10 the desire to await the
arrival of parents and friends of the
students DR.. Peabody made. a brief ad-
dress, in introducing the President in
which he said: we like him as parent.
We admire him as President and we love
him man..
The audience rose to receive President
Roosevelt In addressing the students the
President gave what he called % homely
heart-to-heart talk with the boys"
In opening his remarks he addressed the
audience as "Felow-parents and Our
Boys" He said that he would speak to the
students concerning their duties as boys
and men, as the qualities in each were fun
damentally the same. Continuing the
President said that if boy had not pluck.
common sense and decency he was of a
pretty bad sort and a man without these
qualities was even worse. He said parents
had right TO expect much of their boys
and that the lads must conduct themselves
so as TO make their actions count for good
life He admonished them that they must
not in any degree become "prigs'' and
urged them TO be strong, to be decent and
TO be resourceful. Boys and men," he
said. possessing such qualities will not be
snobS- There are in our civic and social
life worse creatures than snobS, but no
creature is more contemptible'
The President referred TO the advantages
OF training in public schools. which train
ing. he believed. TO be most beneficial be-
cause of the democracy of these institu-
tions. 1T is necessary he continued, for
boys in school and in college and for men
in civic or social life to demonstrate that
be able to do their part in life The boy
the must be able to accomplish
something for decency, or he must step
aside for those who can do so-''
The President alluded to the athletics OF
modern school life, saying that he believed
IN athletics and sports and in the spiri,
which is back of them. He said that if q
boy were what he termed 'mollycoddle -
manly boys and men would have little use
for him. and that if he did not possess the
spirit. the pluck and the energy necessary
10 make him successful in athletics, he
probably would amount to little in after
life.
At the conclusion of the Residents ad.
dress DR.. Peabody announced that Presi.
dent Roosevelt would preseAt the prizes
The boys who had won honors during the
year were called TO the platform and Pres
ident Roosevelt shook hands with each one
and passed him the prize. in most cases
book.
President Roosevelt and Secetary Loci
leIt Tor Washington on his special train al
o'o- CLOCK this evening. The train will
MAKE the return trip by way of Worcester
ana Springfield TO Poughkeepsie bridge and
over the pennsylvania road to Washington
HARTFORD, Conn, Nav 2.-President
Roosevelts special train arrived here ar
1880 tonight. The President was nre-
sented with handsome BASKET of flowers
by the Brotherhood of Loc,motfva Erira-
men. The train then left for Poughkeensie
AT various stations along the route from,
Groton the train stopped and the President
made brief addresses to the assembled cir
liens.