The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-24
Addresses Students al Union
Established By HigginsOD
A MAGNIFICENT RECEPTION
Escorted to Advocate" Which He
Used to Edit-Presden In His
Address, Advocates Con-
tinuance of Athletics.

Boston, February 23.-The visit to Har-
ward university today of Theodore Roose-
welt, who came not as President of the
United States, but graduate COM
ing to meet his fellow men at Harvard,
including his son, Theodore Roosevelt,
Jr. developed into one of the busiest
days of his career, Harvard hospitality
was showered upon the President during
his two distinct visits to the University
City during the day, and in Boston his
personal friends claimed all his spare
time and did all things to make his trip
most enjoyable
The principal event of the day. how
ever. was President Roosevelts address
TO the Harvard students In the afternoon
at the union founded by Mai Henry I.
Higgnson as institution which all
Harvard men could join and one as
which would serve in a measure to de-
stroy the social barriers which ordinarily
divide students in college life
1000 Harvard Men.
Two thousand Harvard men, mostly un-
der graduates, gathered in the great liv-
ing room of the union and there gave the
President a magnificent reception.
The presidential party arrived from
Washington shortly after a. m. and
proceeded at once to the home of friends
on Chestnut HILL The President went
Immediately to the home of his friend
DR.. w. S Blgelow, where he ate break
fast. Half an hour after breakfast Mr.
Roosevelt had become godfather of the
child of his Rough Rider and Harvard
friend Guy Murche. After that there
was n visit to the rooms of a well known
publishing house where Mr.. Roosevelt
was absorbed for a time In examining
some rare volumes, and an automobiies
drive with DR.. Bigelow to Chestnut ffiil
whore Mr.. Roosevelt saw lis wlfe and
daughters before their dcparttlre for
Groton to see the Presidents $ son Keffnit
then motor car journey across the
Charles to Cambridge.
Was College Editor.
Meantime the Harvard students had
been assembled in the Harvard union and
there was crowding space only at the
hour of the Presidents arrival which was
shortly after o'clock. When Mr.. Roose-
welt was at college he was editor of the
Harvard Advocate, and upon his arrival
at the union today he was escorted TO the
Advocate rooms and there presented with
medal in recognition of his services as
an editor.
Immediately afterwards the President
and officers of the union moved to the
temporary platform in the living room,
where the President delivered his ad-
dress. The Presidents appearance was tho
signal for many cheers. p. ID. White. vice
president of the union, introduced the
President.
The prpsfdantfg Address IarpaIu IN
the question of athletics. lie took a decid-
ed stand in favor of the continuance OF
athletics, more especially of inter-coliegi-
ate football His remarks ON this subject
were received with tremendous applause.
Mr.. Roosevelt spoke over an hour, and
at the conclusion of his address there was
another great demonstration.
Son Initiated.
The succeeding plans for the day in
cluded a return to Boston. where the
President was the guest of Bishop Law
renee at tea and another visit TO Cam
bridge, where the President took part in
notable gathering at the Porcelain club.
The Presidents son was initiated into
membership tonight.
The function was of a distinctly private
nature, and at its conclusion the Pres-
dent returned to the home of Dr. Bige-
low to spend the night.
Tomorrow he will visit Groton. where
he will join Mrs. Roosevelt and Miss
Ethel at Groton school, and return TO
Boston later and leave for Washington
tomorrow night.
Today President Roosevelt declared em-
phatically that he thought Harvard or
any other college could best attain
healthy athletic conditions by giving
proper encouragement to the champions
of sport, and this could only be done
By encouraging intercollegiate athletics.
T 'c did not want to see Harvard or any
other college turn out mollycoddles. in
stead of vigorous men, and added that he
did not in the least object to sport be-
cause II was rough.
The President said
"In speaking here at the Harvard union.
| wish to say first special word as ono
Harvard man to his fellow Harvard men.
| feel that we can none of us ever be
sufficiently grateful to Colonel Higginson
for having founded this Harvard union.
because each loyal Harvard man should
do all he can to foster in Harvard that
spirit of real democracy which will make
Harvard men feel the vital sense of soit-
darity so that they can all join to work
together In the things that of most
concern to the college. IL is idle to ex-
pect, nor indeed would It be desirable that
there should be. in Harvard a uniform
level of taste and association Some men
Will excel In one thing and some in an
other; some in things Of the body, some
IN Things OF the NINA, ana Wnere tnOu-
sands are gathered together each will
naturally find some group of specially
congenial friends with whom he will form
ties of peculiar social intimacy. These
groups-athletic. artistic, scientific, So
cial-must inevitably exist. My plea is not
for their abolition.
Right Focus.
MY plea is that they shall be got into
the right focus in the eyes of college
men; that the relative Importance of the
different groups shall be understood when
compared with the infinitely greater life
OF the college as a whole. Let each man
have his special associates, his special
interests, his special studies mad pursuits.
but let him remember that he can not
get the full benefit of life In college If
ne does nothing but specialize; and that.
what Is even moro important, he cannot
do his full duty hv the college unless his
first and greatest interest Is In the college
Itself, In his associates taken as mass.
and not In any small group.
zone reason why l so thoroughly be-
Iieve In the athletic spirit at Harvard 10
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