Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-04
SURPRISE THE NATIVES
PRESIDENT MAKES TRAMP IN
HIGH SPIRITS.
Children Take Carriage Home, While
Parents Plunge Through
Mud.

A dispatch from Oyster Bay last night
says: With the rain falling in torrents and
the northeaster bowling almost flercely
as on the day when he made his famous
descent in the submarine Plunger, President
Roosevelt today walked home from church.
Mrs. Roosevelt who invariably accom-
panies the President at church, chose to
trudge the three miles to Sycamore Hill by
her husbands side rather than drive home
in the comfortable and covered family car
riage.
The President had chosen for his exploit
the worst day-as far weather condi-
tons are concerned--since his arrival at
Sycamore Hill. The rain had been falling
In torrents since midnight and the roads
were in wretched condition.
When the congregation of the Christ
Protestant Episcopal Church went out at
the close of the morning service the rain
was driven into their faces in binding
sheets before the angry blasts of the north
east wind, which howled dismally among
the trees shook their branches, tore off the
1uttering leaves with the first grip of au-
tumn, and scattered them in confused fur
ries under foot
Most of the parishioners, among them
some of the Presidents relatives. were only
too glad to make haste and reach their car
riages under the shelter of umbrellas.
These projections the footmen had a hard
Job in preventing from being turned inside
out by the angry blasts.
The President had gone to church with
Mrs Roosevelt and several of the children
in large covered carriage, which was in
waiting at the church door to bring the
family back to Sycamore Hill. The Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt Is their stom,
were about the first to leave their pew.
While something approaching stampede
was going on all about him, as other MEM
bers Of the congregation scurried for their
10
drenching rain apparently oblvious of the
dismal weather and giving all his attention
to the task of seeing his children put
snugly away beneath the sheltering canopy
of the three-seater
Urged to Take Carriage.
Then he urged Mrs. Roosevelt to take her
seat in the carriage, but to the great sur
prise Of the onlookers the carriage drove
away, leaving the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt behind in the drenching rain.
Neither had an umbrella. Umbrellas would
have been worse than useless, anyway, at
the rate the wind was blowing, but both
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt wore
mackintoshes and were attired to suit the
weather.
The next moment such of the parishioners
as were still left behind at the church were
treated to the unusual spectacle of seeing
the President of the United States and the
first lady of the land walk off arm in arm In
a bowling rainstorm, chatting gayly and as
unperturbed as though they had been lovers
out for a pleasant stroll with the sun shin
ing from smiling summer skies. AS long as
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt remained
in sight they were followed by the admir-
ing gIances of a little crowd that gladly
brayed the elements to take IN the odd
scene.
President Roosevelt himself is an old hand
al this sort of thing, as his neighbors about
Sycamore Hill all can tell. They have seen
him frequently, when the wind and rain
have been at the highest pitch of fury, ira
versing the roads miles away from his sum-
mer home, his raincoat buttoned up to the
chin and his broad-brimmed SLOUGH hat
pressed down over his eyes They know
that the President often has foregone his
favorite exercise on horseback and taken
walk instead when he has thought the
wee Their might give too much distress to
his saddle horse
Respecting Mrs. Roosevelt her experience
toCay, so far as known, Is the first Of Its
kind. But she trudged along with her hus-
band, bravely sharing the hardships Of the
long walk to Sycamore HILL. In the village
they met few pedestrians, who, with eyes
opened wide in surprise. raised their hats
turned all such greetings with his wonted
cordiality, and Mrs. Roosevelt bowed and
smiled.
Lashed by Wind and Rain.
A little out of the village there is a
stretch Of road exposed to the full fury Of
the northeaster, which came fraught with
rain athwart the sound and outer bay
which, dashed by wind and rain, presented
picture of gloom. On the other side the
shore roads lined with the magnificent es-
tates of the Presidents relatives and other
men of wealth, who had reached home long
before in their carriages, and were at their
Sunday noon meal when the President of
the United States and his wife walked past
their gates.
1t took Mr.. and Mrs. Roosevelt an hour
to cover the distance frN0 church to Saga
more Hill. The President was soaked to
the skin. but in high spirits as he greeted
the secret service men guarding his sum-
mer home and told them to get in out of
the rain and not get wet when there was
no need for il.
No official visitors were received during
the day, although Representative Wads-
worth of New York and Mrs. Wadsworth
were house guests of the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt. They arrived in Oyster
Bay shortly after noon, and were conveyed
to Sycamore HILL Their visit was purely
personal
The President has announced that he will
devote the rest of his stay at Sycamore
Hill particularly to recreation, and that he
will receive as few visitors possible and
will transact no business that Is not OF
pressing Importance. Hes has been greatly
occupied this summer with public business
and has had scarcely an opportunity to en-