Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-11-22

not attempt the jest of Old English
monarchs at nightfall. Our most dem
ocratic former presidents never parad-
ed their democracy as virtue. 1t
simply happened that they were plain
minded people. They did not change
their characters because they were
Presidents. | doubt if we could find
any SIS effusive and as satisfied with
the publicity CLEANED from such de-
mocracy as Mr.. Roosevelt However,
this is all matter of individual opinion,
and without presumption that Mr..
Roosevelt believes he has a personal
mission TO perform he must take the
means which seems most adequate to
accomplish his end | can see a play
full smile creep over Washington's thin
lips if told that among his duties as
President he was to personally super
intend the moral welfare of the COM
munity. AS matter of fact it is un-
usual for the President of the United
States to mix into the small affairs of
the outside world.
As argue this and other such Incl
dents in my own mind, find apparent
explanation in the belief that "Mr.
Roosevelt cannot keep up to his own
pace" He is showing the first rash
peevishness. 1t is something like draw
ing mental picture of Richelieu pot
tering around his scullery pulling down
griddles and pans from dusty shelves
and berating the attendant.
have only once met Mr.. Roosevelt,
and that was when he thought | was
someone else (my father). He came
out from the room where he was lunch
ing and warmly shook my hand, while
his left still clutched napkin. Some
people of a retiring disposition are
disconnected by an extremely hearty
handshake from an absolute stranger.
was affected in this way. 1t betokens
too much spot cash confidence. l do
notquestion the thought and action as
most kindly on his part; however, as
this trivial incident sifted itself into
space the only idea remaining was that
l knew of no one for whom l would
leave the table without at least placing
my napkin where it belonged. l ac-
knowledge the disposition very churlish
as compared with that of Mr.. Roosevelt.
To return again to the subject. /
have read of the personal magnetism of
Mr.. Roosevelt's grasp ofhand 1t may
be there, but did not experience it.
Perhaps it was not fully ripe at the
time l made the encounter. l am in
clined to believe there might be mag
netism if the one shaking hands was
weak in his belief. To such an one
the strength of the clasp might lend a
feeling of courage but itmight be some
thing like Dutch" if the manual salu-
tation were followed promptly by re-
quest or favor. do not believe a
strong individual nature would feel the
slightest thrill in contact.
On writing of subject like Mr..
Roosevelt it is extremely difficult to
keep ones mind in the groove. The
subject himself runs in such diversities
that to pursue him would be a good
deal like a picture of Mr.. Hornaday and
the Rev. Mr.. Long attired in gum boots
chasing an elusive butterfly. 1t is not
the idea to recount the thousand and
one" incidents that have marked his ad-
ministrative career, but to get, if pos
sible, the ultimate result of this era, or
@Rooseveltian Dynasty"
AS youngster / remember being
taken around to the White House by
one of my relatives whom / was visit
ing to pay my respects to Mr.. Garfield.
Years later in the same manner l had
the pleasure of shaking hands with Mr..
Cleveland. Both occasions left the
same pleasing, old-fashioned memories.
There was an air of dignified simplicity
about the 'blue ROOM" In homely
way the entire establishment seemed to
fit the history of the country. 1t did
fit the, country. but it was decided
misfit for the regime which Mr.. Roose-
yelt inaugurated.
fancy that our standing in the eyes
of the foreign ambassadors who sojourn
in Washington has not been benefited
by the change. Before, the White
House stood as tapestry only as old
as the country itself. Now it gives
the impression of an imitation Gobelin.
We were none of us built to wear
crowns, or else our ancestors would
never have been permitted to come to
this country. 1t is amusing to hear
people dilating on their descent from
noted ancestor, either Irish king OF
| William the Conqueror, and then draw
little thumb-nail sketch of how the
ancestor in question really looked when
he struck Bowling Green. 1t is foolish
to delude oneself with any idea except.
ing that they were undesirable citizens
in their own land, and came here only
to make a new start. Crossing the
ocean was not like being on the Lusi
tania those days. / do not think Mr..
Roosevelt's ancestor was much better
than mine. l freely acknowledge tha
official record shows that my progenitol
was at once arrested in New Amster
dam 1880 on his arrival for trying t,
evade custom duty on cargo Of boot
held in the hold of his boat, "The Arm
: of the Rensselerwyck. 1t is fortu
nate thing that blood, like dice, make
new throws.
vaar aoo In Wacb;noto, bad occo