Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-11-01
ROOSEVELT AT ROSWELL.
Visit OF the Nations Chief to the Girlhood
Home Of His Mother.

So much has been written of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's Southern tour that
the subject seems well.nigh ex'
hausted, yet the Impressions made
upon citizen of Oconee may be OF
interest to Oconee people, and at the
request of friends, offer to the read.
ers of The Courier this brief account
of his visit to Roswell, the girlhood
home of his mother.
Roswell is justly proud of her dis.
tinguished son, aud the charming
cordiality with whic" President
Roosevelt responded to her enthu-
siasm, and his entire freedom from
affectation completely disarmed us
of preco' ceivcd prejudice.
Arriving in Roswell Thursday
evening, we were driven at once to
the beautiful home Of our host, S. Y.
Stribling, SO well known here, and a
citizen which Oconee yields 80
grudgingly to Roswell. The shadows
of night enYeloped the town, so in
our two miles drive from the station
we passed the handsome homes and
elaborate decorations, all uncon-
sscious till the ligh, of Friday morn
ing revealed t. us the town to which
the eyes of all the nation were, at
that moment, turning. Nesting in
the shadow of the mountains, with
the Chattahoochee rolling near, the
long broad street, shaded by gigantic
trees, and lined on either side by
homes that speak to the wayfarer of
Southern culture and refinement, no
iluttering flags nor draperies of red,
white and blue were needed to ca
forth exclamations of delight at the
surprising beauty of the place.
n citizen remarked to us in his
most apt description of the town,
"'Roswell is three miles long and two
houses deep" and so we found it.
MIR. Stribling was chairman of the
reception committee, little S. Y. a
member of the Roswell band, which
was stationed at the river bridge to
greet the distinguished guest, and
Miss Nina had charge of the decora-
tions, to which she desired to add a
few final touches, hence we were
astir very early Friday morning in
order that each might he ready for
the duties of the day.
When the special reached the sta
tion Mr.. Roosevelt was asleep, just
like an ordinary man after all, and
just a little delay, which the i'm
mense crowd passed very amiably
with laughter and chatter, and much
'craning of necks stationward was ex-
perienced before he had breakfast
and was ready for his triumphal
entry to the home of his mother
From every fence post along the
drive tluttercd flags; the magnificent
trees were twined with red, white
and blue; the homes all cast to the
winds larger flags and tluttering dra-
pcres, while the vast throng assem-
bled to greet the nations chief each
carried the same symbol OF our pride
and power.
At last the notes Of our national
hymn, borne to us from the bridge in
the distance, announced that the
party was EN- route. The mounted
escort soon galloped into sight and
then the line of carriages, in the
foremost OF which sat Mr.. Roosevelt.
lie acknowledged the enthusiastic
cheers most graciously, and his tall
silk hat was worn in mid air mostly
during the drive. If the excitement
OF such moment admits of clear
analysis | must acknowledge feel
ing of disappointment that Mrs.
Roosevelt was seated in carriage
some distance behind that in which
the President rode, and we had but
a tleeting glimpse of her as the party
drove rapidly to Bullock Hall, the
nome of his mothers youth. In a
little while all returned and drove to