The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-20

ing on a log before the fire, bent over,
as though DOING He shouted, but
there was no response. And no Won
der that the man did not answer, for
he was dead! The demon bear had
stolen up behind him and torn his
scalp off, after which he had wrecked
the camp. again and gone OF on his
hind feet. The surviving trapper did
not stop to pick up anything, but
lleaped upon his horse and rode OF at
top Of speed looking back every mo
ment over his shoulder in fearful ex-
pectation that the huge black form
was pursuing him on hind legs through
the forest. But it neither came run
ming after him, nor did it step out
from among the trees and pull him
from his horse; and he escaped from
the demon bear, to tell the story as
am now telling it to you"
| A F'renchman, who has taught him
| fencing, tells me that the President is
poor though enthusiastic fencer. /
will not say who it was that added
His natural weapon is a club" He
seemingly takes as much JOY in re-
ceiving blows as in giving them.
When he used to play at singIesticks
with Gen. Wood. the latter remember
ing that his opponent was President,
refrained from hitting him at first, but
at last, warming up to the work, would
crack him without mercy, for Wood
is the Presidents superior in this ex-
ercise AS soon as the blows began
to reign upon his body, Mr.. Roosevelt
would leap about, 1 am credibly in
e Got -I,- ;o1-S do
light"
a characteristic story was told of
him by a man now residing in Wash
ington. Mr.. Roosevelt was hunting
foxes in Genesee county with an in
/ innate friend, and his glasses. without
which he is near-sighted as an owl by
sunlight, were knocked of by a
branch.
Blank" he shouted, 81 can just see
you. You keep on and III follow"
His companion could hear him crash
ing and laundering through the thick
ind erbrush. and when they emerged
Mr. Roosevelt's face was decorated
and bleeding profusely.
The same strength OF chara cter that
enabled him to overcome his physical
| delicateness is shown today in his
manner of enforcing the law, no mat
ter how powerful or wealthy the sup
posed Offenders may be. There are
many who consider the bravest act of
his career the order to Attorney Cen
eral Knox to investigate the great
railroad merger. 1t is in connection
with such acts that the President is
compared by some to the farmers
pugnacious bull.
The farmer was proud of this little
bull because it would tackle anything,
and generally came out ahead. But
a railroad was built through his field
and one day the bull was seen on the
track with his head lowered, waiting
for the oncoming locomotive.
'.Wall!' said the farmer, 81 admire
yer pluck, and always she'll, but durn
| yer Judgment!
1t is by butting against locomotives
and sometimes derailing thenn-that
MY. Roosevelt makes powerful and
bitter enemies; Yet we must not forget
that this is the same man, who, at
80. opposed his will to that of his en-
tire party on the floor of the New
York Legislature, ard was reelected
twice. because the people GENEROUSLY
demanded him. It seems to have been
the people who have been demanding
| him most of the time since.
Another friend of the President
was mentioned by him in the message
on the Postoftice scandals as the man
who first called his attention to the
deplorable state Of affairs which has
since become a matter Of general
knowledge.
Il told him. said this gentleman to
me, that this investigation might
j strike members OF Congress. 1t might
come very near to the throne. He re-
piled, I don't care where it leads or
strikes. Even if it invades the White
House, or comes TO my very feet, the
investigation must take place
I When he related this incident the
| gentleman snapped his teeth together
and his lips few back from them, in
imitation of the Presidents well.
known manner-an expression of
countenance, by the way. which the
caricatures have not been able to eX.
aggerate.
Roosevelt could no more lie than a