Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-11-01
TYPICAL soUTHERNER
Mr.. Roosevelt Visits Home OF
His Mothers Friend

Mr.. Roosevelt Visits Home OF
His Mothers Friend
Among the incidents of the
Presidents Southern trip the dis
patches tell of the following:
"Calling him Theodore and pat
ting him on the shoulder, Mrs. W.
E. Baker, a dame of old Southern
regime, received President Roose-
welt last Friday, in Darlington
Hall, her home. at Roosevelt.
"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 Leob said this could
not be as it was contrary to all
precedent for the President to
visit private homes during an it
inerary.
"The President missed Mrs. Bak-
err at the Bulloch home and asked
for her. Secretary Leob told of
her refusal to attend a public re-
ception and the President said he
must see his mothers bridesmaid.
So he decided to cut out establish
ed presidents that he might meet
anc chat with the girlhood friend
of his, mother, and at his sugges-
tion Darlington Hall was included
in the itinerary.
"When President Roosevelt en-
tered the old home 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 ives the picture of content
ment.
"'And this is Theodore she
said, extending her hand. Il am
so glad to see you, Theodore
Then patting the President on the
shoulder, she told him how his
mother looked when she was
married"
No American who values and
admires exalted womanhood will
fail &c rejoice and take pride in
the gentle dignity of this gracious
old lady. The President is the
son Ct her old friend, and to her
he is little more than a 10y, and
that she, occupying no official po-
sition which compelled her to dc
SO, should go into a public receipt
ion to see her old friends son was
contrary to. &her ideas and the
theory of her training. Wher
Mrs. Baker told Secretary Leot
that if the President desired to SEE
her he must come to see her, il
caused the secretary y distinct
"iar." He could not find any pre-
cedeBt for such an extraordinary
thing in all the annals of the Cir
cumlocution Office. Such an ig
noIing of precedent, not to say
-redtapery, the shocking secretary
had never conceived. :
But the President did not view
; it that way. He has an independ
, ent way of making precedents 81
, well rs following them. and so b.
put his hat on his head and tool
his wife on his arm and stalked OF
to see his mothers old friend. /
was the act of gentleman, ant
that Is all there is to be said abou
| it. He fouGd the old lady sitting
; enthl oned like queen in her an
, cestral home, and he and Mrs
Roosevelt got such a reception a
, must have delighted their hearts
[ 1t was not the President to whom
/ she gave her hand. 1t wa
= Theodore" the con of a dea
> friend of her youth, about whom
= she had doubtless received man,
!, letters from that friend OF loni
l ago. "And this is Theodore,
Z she said-not "Mr President
0 and doubtless Theodore was de
lighted. He might search i
every land without finding tn
superior of the dignified, graciou
and pious Southern woman o
which this lady is a true type
: Baltimore Sun.