Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-06-06
a BOY ANp THg PRESIDENT.

Chat About Outdoor sports.
One boy-one Of many had the
honor of meeting the President, now
acts as II Mi. Reosevelt'ss eyes were
constantly on him. This lad was not a
small boy when he was presented; !. he
was big enough to play baseball with
skill&and energy, and on ordinary occa-
stons he was naughty sophomore
This boy wanted TO see the President,
but his outward calmIess was disturb
ed by the intlmation from his sisters
that he would have to make three bows
as he approached the President and
say, Your Excellency y The courage
that had stood six hours exposure In.
heavy sea on the keel Of an upturned
boat weakened before this prospect. A;
benevolent friend corrected the alarm
Ing suggestions Of the sisters by telling
him that he would simply be expected
to say, Mr.. President. to stand until
everybody was seated. and to go when
the President should rise. This seemed
easy still. 1t was evident TINT the fear
less athlete was reyerently practicing
Mr. President with his lips as he ap-
preached the White House. All uneasi.,
ness disappeared, however, when the
President catching sight Of the boy.
stepped forward and called him by his,
surname. Sit down" lie said. and
then he began to talk about a subject
dear to the lads heart--the recent races
at Poughkeepsie. Etiquette was for
GOTTEN the boy held fast to "Mr. Pres.
ident," when he thought Of 1t, In the,
delight Of talking with somebody who,
really knew" all about the ms and
outs Of intercollegiate races, but some.
times he forgot and merely said ..you.,
The boy was palned for a moment to
discover that the President could not
play baseball. To near-sighted man
who must wear glasses baseball flying
at large Is much worse than bullet,
The lad admitted this, and said after
ward that III Thackeray were alive and
played baseball instead Of cricket he
would have had the same dificulty.p
The President showed him a very scien.
tihc Jiu-Jitsu grip And this was fol.
lowed by an Interchange Of lore ON this
interesting japanese science Of physi.
cal culture, with Illustrations, In which
the boy entirely forgot his fear Of the:
court presentation and talked and
acted with entire respect, but entire
freedom. The boy seemed to think that
American muscle was match for ORR.
entals skill. but he was plainly con.
WINGED that the President had both
Questions Of boxing and riding came
up, and the President spoke as an ex-
pert, and the boy listened and talked as
one who understood but felt his limlta.
tons Young Theodore, who has this
year entered Harvard, was then AZ.
school but every, now and then HID
father culled g bit from his sons ex-
perience in out.of-door sport Ii was
plain that, through sympathy, in these
matters he had the same point Of view
rs his sons. During all this interview
the PRESIDENT was us enthusiastic on the
various subjects discussed as the bov
and he seemed to enjoy 1t as much as
his boy visitor did. - q =
me talk drew out Of the President
MS knowledge of the games that boys
love. - ~
When Y comes to boxing or riding:
ne said. with conviction. II think tEat
my boys and ! can hold our own. And
several times the we was repeated in
way which showed that Mr.. Roose.
welt and his sons were to he considarat,
e happy family Of boys thoroughly, i'm
accord It Is not convenient to take
bis large boy family" on his Western
and Southern bear-hunts but the Presi.
dent does the next best thing. Every
summer he goes into camp" with his
boys few miles from his summer home
at Oyster Bay-St. Nicholas.