Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-23

WOOI0 be the better Tor IT. w ME the HFeSi-
dent was speaking, Pastor Wagner,
man broad-shouidered and of massive build
learned forward in his seat, following close
ly every word and gesture of Mr.. Roosevelt.
So impressed was he that his eyes were
moist, and when he rose to address the au-
dience he faltered. With a decided, but
pleasing accent, he said:
This hour this moment. Is the most
sweet in all my life. l cannot tel you my
feeling. This is my first visit to America.
l have been to all your larger cities, have
been entertained by your great men and by
your poor men, and now, after all this, to
speak in the same place with your PreSi-
dent: ah, this moment will live with me
forever"
President Roosevelt's Address.
The Presidents speech was of consider
able length. He began by saying that this
is the first and would be the only time
during his presidency that he would intro
duce a lecturer to an audience. He de-
scrbed THE Simple Life" facetiously as
mot only a tract, but an interesting
tract" which appeals to every sect and
every creed.
ut is a very easy thing continued the
President, ito address a section of the COM
munity in reprobation of the forms of vice
to which 1t is not prone. 1t is different 10
preach to all the world.
/ Mr.. Roosevelt caused a ripple of laughter
by saying: ''Of all of Pastor Wagners
books, The Simple Life appealed to me
particularly" In closing he urg ed his au-
ditors to listen carefully to Pastor Wagner,
and to profit by his preaching. BE ye
doors of the word he quoted, and not
the hearers only"
one of the prettiest thoughts expressed
by Pastor Wagner during the afternoon
was in his explanation of his own life, how
when a child he wandered through the
fields and In the mountains.
To-day" he said, "as soon as child
liz ic civ a ND
is taught to read. l believe In education,
but not in the use of books as the first
course A book in the hands of such a
child is a screen between its eyes and the
grand outdoor book written by God him
SELF
The lecture was given under the aus
pieces of the Washington Young Men $
Christian Association, and it is safe to say
| that no other branch of that organizatio ion
ever brought together such representative
| audience. Commissioner Henry b. f. Mac
| farland presided and introduced the Presi-
| dent. Among the patrons were John Hay,
| Secretary of State; Secretaries Hitchcock
| and Wilson, Gen. Chaffee and many others
| in high official life. In the audience We're
| members of the diplomatic corps officers
| of the army and navy, and prominent local
| citizens. Mr.. s. w. Woodward and Mr..
| John B. Larner president and vice presi-
| dent respectively, of the Y. NJ c. A, oo-
| cupied seats on the platform with the
| President and Dr. Wagner.
| The President arrived at o clock and
| was greeted at the stage entrance of the
| theater by Dr. Wagner and by DR.. Koenlg
| his secretary; Joseph E1kinton of the So
| ciety of Friends of Philadelphia, Secretary
| Pierce of the Y. NJ. c. A, and Commission
| er Mcfarland one of the vice presidents
| of the Y. NJ c. A
| In PRODUCING the President Mr.. Macfar-
| land said:
| THE idea! man of the Young Mems
| Christian Association is the perfect develop
| ment in body, in mind and in spirit. In the
public life of the world there is no mar
| who is more like this type than he VINO has
| so lived both the simple and strenuous lifl
| as to develop all his powers and to win the
| regard and respect not only of his country
| men, but of all civilized peoples-the Presi
dent of the United States, now more thar
| ever President of the whole country
Tribute to the Simple Life.
The President said. in part:
MIR. Mcfarland. Mr.. Wagner, men and
| women Of Washington:
'This is the first, and will be the only
| time, during my presidency, that I shall
ever introduce speaker to an audience
| and am more than glad to do 1t in this In
stance. because If there is one book which
/ should like to have read as a tract, and
also what is not invariably true of tracts
as an interesting tract, by all our people
1t Is The Simple Life, written by Mr.. Wag
| ner There are other books which he hat
written from which we can gain great good
but know OF no other book written Of re-