Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-18

White House this morning were fortunate
enough to witness an interesting incident.
About half past o'clock two men APP
peared on the west esplanade leading from
the White House to the executive ONCE
and promenaded down in the sunshine.
their hats of. the older holding the younger
by the left arm and talking very earnestly.
After ten minutes walk the older entered
the Office and the younger returned to the
other end OF the esplanade in double-quick
time and disappeared through the French
window opening from the corridor on the
esplanade. The one was the president and
the other was Theodore Roosevelt, jr.
Presents Many and valuable.
Few brides not of so-called royal birth
ever have been the recipients OF so many
and such valuable gifts as were received by
Miss Roosevelt. For weeks these tributes
Of love and affection have been pouring
into the White House. The bride and the
members OF her family were almost over
whelmed by the number and character of
the presents. II was not that they were
so valuable intrinsically, although in the
aggregate they represent a great sum, but
It was the spirit which animated the givers
which appealed strongly to Miss Roosevelt.
Many of the presents were accompanied
by oral written expressions of the deep
and sincere regard In which the bride is
held by persons OF all classes, not only in
her own country. but throughout the world.
Weeks ago, on behalf of their daughter.
the president and Mrs. Roosevelt let 1t be
known that certain proffered gifts could
not be accepted. 1t was their desire that
the wedding, so far the presents were
concerned. at least, should be stripped of
official character. An intimation was con-
Al L.
was the desire of the president that no
gifts should be made to Miss Roosevelt on
behalf of foreign governments; that pres
ents of such nature properly could be re-
ceived from the executives of the govern
ments through the ambassadors or minis
tiers accredited to the American govern
ment. The only present. therefore, which
may be said comes directly from a nation
is that of the Cuban republic. 1t was pro-
vided for prior to the receipt of the presi-
dents delicate intimation. and in the pc
culiar circumstances could not be declined.
During the last week hundreds of remem-
brances, so particularly precious in the
eyes Of a bride, have arrived at the White
House for Miss Roosevelt. BY far the
greater number of them came from per-
sonal friends and acquaintance.
some Gifts Returned.
Her Joy was clouded in a measure by the
receipt of presents from people of whom
she never had heard. who followed the gifts
Immediately with requests for invitations
to the wedding. Some of the gifts were
costly. but those which were evidently sent
with the idea thereby of obtaining an in
vitation TO the wedding were returned in
stantly to the senders 1t can be said with
perfect confidence in the accuracy of the
statement that, while many of the presents
received by the bride are very valuable
Z some OF them being particularly so be-
cause of the circumstances, the value of
the gifts has been greatly exaggerated
Many OF those who remembered Miss
Roosevelt with presents are by no means
wealthy. and it Is quite certain they could
not afford to make such presents as they
have been credited with having given. The
definite announcement of the president and
Mrs. Roosevelt that no bridal gifts would
be made public was approved cordially by
friends OF the families of both the bride
and bridegroom. but It has placed a pre-
MUM on the exaggeration so greatly depre-
Gated by the president himself
So remarkable have some Of the accounts
of the presents been that their publication
has brought to Miss Roosevelt the un-
fortunate annoyance. Her mail for many
days has been flooded with letters from
women and men in all parts of the coun-
try urging her to Give to them from her
plentiful store of duplicate gifts one thing
or another. Some of the stories of suffer
ing and privation told really were pitiful.
Even in the time of her life's greatest
happiness Miss Roosevelt was made sor-
rowful by some of the appeals to her
generosity. OF course she was unable to
crafty the writer's of the letters. because,
primarily, they had been misled by publ
cations which were quite inaccurate.
Menacfng Letters Received.
In addition 10 appeals for charity. Miss
. Roosevelt received. as a result of the ex