The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-31
Tuesday, October 81, 1905
ROOSEVELT AND MRS. BAKER.

The press dispatches in giving an
account of President ROosevelt's visit
to Roswell, Ga, stated in q few words
that he had paid a visit while there to
Mrs. Baker, the lady who had been al
close friend of his mother and who
acted as brides maid at her wedding.
There was nothing said about how
the president came to pay the visit to
the old lady in her home, instead of
her attending The public reception and
meeting the president there. The
Baltimore Sun gives the inside history
of his visit and of what led up to 1t.
1t makes ii very interesting story. 1t
shows the chivalric side of the presi-
dents character and also the true dig
nifty with which the southern danes
still demean themselves. The Suns
account of this affair is:
Calling him Theodore and patting
him on the shoulder. Mrs. w. E. Bak-
er. a dame of old Southern regime,
received President Roosevelt last Fri
day in harrington Hall. her home. at
Roswell.
Mrs. Baker was bridesmaid when
the Presidents mother was married
She had been invited to the reception
at the old Bulloch home. but said the
president must come to her.
Secretary Loeb said this could not
be. as it was contrary to all precedent
for the president to visit private homes
during an itinerary.
The president missed Mrs. Baker at
the Bulloch home and asked for her.
Secretary told of her refusal to attend
a public reception and the president
said he must see his mothers brides
maid. So he decided to cut out es-
tablished precedents that he might
meet and chat with the girlhOOd friend
of his mother. and at his suggestion
Darlington Hall was included in the
itinerary.
When President Roosevelt entered
the old HON with Mrs. Roosevelt he
found Mrs. Baker seated. dressed in
black. trimmed with white lace about
the collar and cuffs. She wore a lace
cap and was the picture of content
ment.
"And this is Theodore" she said. ex-
lending her hand. II am so glad to
See you. Theodore" Then patting the
. president on the shoulder. she old
him how his mother looked when she
was married.
Mrs. Baker was perfectly right and
Mr.. Roosevelt, as soon as he had the
statement from Mr.. Loeb, recognized
the correctness of her contention and
he showed his manliness and his gen.
tlemanly instincts and raising by &C
ceding to the old lady the respect and
attention due to her from him.
Vy,o poJti,,o,o C,,n., ,,,oon ~, +L;c
little episode of the presidents south
ern tour is:
President Roosevelt is a son of Mrs
Bakers old friend. and to her he is nc
more than a boy. and that she. occu-
pying no official position which com
PEELED her to do so. should go into a
public reception to see her old friends
son was contrary to her ideas and the
theory of her training. When Mrs
Baker told Secretary Loeb that if the
president desired to see he must come
to see her. it caused the secretary G
distinct lar" He could not find any
the annals of the decentralization Of
fee" Such an ignoring of precedent
not TO say redtapery. the shocked sec.
rotary had never conceived.
But the president did not view i
that way. He has an independent way
OF making ~DrecedentS as well as fol
lowing them. and so he put his ha
on his head and took his wife on his
arm and stalked off to see his moth
er's old friend. 1t was the act of 8
gentleman. and that is all there il
to be said about it. He found the ole
lady sitting enthroned like a queen il
her ancestral home. and he and Mrs
Roosevelt got such a reception as must
have delighted their hearts. It was
not the president to whom she gave
her hand. 1t was Theodore" the sor
of the lear friend of her youth. abou
whom she had doubtless received
a letters from that friend Ions
ago. And this is Theodore" she
aid-not Mr.. President" - an6
doubtless Theodore was delighted. He
might search in every land withou
finding the superior of the dignifiet
gracious n pious Southern woman
of which this lady is a true type.
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