The Washington times., 1905-01-14
ROOSepeLt'S Personality
Impressed NJ. Wagner
Author of Simple Life Gives His impress
sions in Paris of the Strenuous President
and Land He Governs.

PARIS, Jan IA = On the return OF
Charles Wagner to France. after his
recent lecture tour in the United States,
he was interviewed by reporter of LIE
Temps about the things he had seen
The French seem to be much less IA
miliar with NJ Wagner and his book
than people in America, for the French
journal finds il necessary to prefix 10
the interview an explanation of who NJ
Wagner is and description Of his per-
son. Some of his impressions are in
teresting.
Speaking of President Roosevelt. NJ.
Wagner said: "On September 26 l
reached the White House. The Presi-
dent came to me with arms outstretch-
ed There were four persons only at
dinner Mrs Roosevelt West, the Pres
pure French, had come from New York.
Longed for Oyster Bay.
How sorry / am, Mr.. Wagner, said
the President as we sat down. that /
could not receive you at my home at
Oyster Bay. AS an advocate of the
simple life. you might have slept in the
open air, as the more strenuous among
us do Then at once: Where are the
boys?' They have just taken off their
shoes after walk said some one
Make them come, all the same, said
the President
II saw TWO charming little boys of nine
and eleven enter I said to one of them:
My dear friend, I must ask you a Sc
rIous question. When you sleep do you
keep your hands wide open or your fists
clenched?' The child thought and then
said energeticaily: I can't tell. because
ara asleep. The President laughed
heartily; the answer was brief and rc
the point.
Compliments of Loubet.
Il had already conveyed to the Chief
Magistrate OF the United States the per-
sonal compliments of which President
Loubet had asked me TO bS -he bearer
Then We had by turns in English, in
French. in German, 4 long talk that ex-
tended late into the evening. on all sorts
of questions relating to public educa-
lion and to good will between citizens
and nations. Several times when 1 put
stress on my scheme OF simplified and
unified life. the President said TO me:
My dear Mr.. Wagner, / cannot tel
you enough TO what u degree 1 agree
with your local
Roosevelt's Personality.
Il was greatly interested by Mr.
Roosevelt's personality. He is one oI
those men who are on an equality with
everybody because they are of al
heights: close TO the hunblest. equal Il
The greatest AZ the same time he re.
mains Il trne American, representing the
Dest elements of his country. He loves
France and takes pleasure in recalling
that he and Mrs. Roosevelt are descend
ants of Il French Huguenot family
What impressed me most IN his charac
ter, fun of energy and decision, was his
family affection.
- Do you see he said to me. the ele
menta:y family feelings which are com
mon to US all, are the cornerstone o.
human societies.
Regarding American audiences NJ
! Wagner said: For sixty days 1 taIke,
| necessarily, sometimes of the 'Simpl'
| Life" sometimes of France, in clubs
universities schools. churches OF all de
nominations and theaterS. | shall neVe
! forget my impression on finding nysel
after leaving the train alone facing
'lew audience short presentation OF. il
! Il reception room next the hall Their
| crowded cIcrSymcn or all Kinds; Yer.
| often. zoo, which delighted me, Catholi
! priests. then professors. business men
! physicians.
Met On Common Ground.
1T is not for me to tell you how tn
! public received me. But the essential.
| human ana binding doctrine containc
! in Iny writings created at cnce amoni
/ all these meE "A common ground. w
! have spent uaforSettab!e hours in fra
/ tc.1.iziag with the pure substance o
humanity, above all barriers Of interest
OF Class and dogma.
For instance. / spoke to 2.500 Jews a
J the Temple EMANUEL synag agogue. a
I st. Paul ! had :; long tax with Arcn
: bishop Ireland, in which ms love fC
! Franco was constantly shown. /
frank talks with this patriarch of liberia
Catholicism. about whom aa in1Inens
: CRY h ~ grown up within thirty years
! and who has the gospels preached i
: fourteen different languages TO as man
| fragments OF nattonaiit-eS tOinted To
gether IL America, / felT once more tina
! the religion of the heart does not per
/ mir exclusions. How often had l tn
! Scmc impression when talking wit
! priests of Catholicism without anath
| ema.
What Liberty Can Dc.
Il rettrn 10 France comforted by III
sight of what liberty can accomplish .
true democracy can stand contradic
! tons. II saves i,seIf precisely throug
/ those fortunate contradictions that ar
tbt. very logic OF life. IRE enemy n.
f: good qualities. believe me. II life is
| fine balance between contrary force,
/ the logic OF Intolerance by suppressin
! contradictions suppreSSes liIe-
| What do they think or France owe