The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-06-06
A MARVELLOUS READER.
II is Amazing How Many Books the
President Reads and How Well He
AEsOrbs Their Contents.

The President is doing much reading
these days. He keeps up with all cur
rent literature, and always has book
or a magazine at hand that he can take
up in leisure moment. On his railroad
trips away from Washington he always
reads much of the time en- route. 1t
Is surprising TO his friends how he reads
as much as he does and remembers as
much of il as he does. He reads more
thorOly than most persons, for not only
does ne read carefully, but in very many
instances he knows the authors person.
ally, and he makes it a rule to extend
his literary acquaintance constantly.
Furthermore, he has numerous friends
upon whom he depends for informa-
ton about developments and gossip in
the world of books. They suggest 10
him interesting books that he ought TO
read, discuss with him questions raised
In those publications, and present to
him the various aspects of many pub
locations. He conducts quite an extern
sive correspondence with literary peo-
pie, and probably is as well informed
about books generally as any man in
the United States. His callers are rare
ly able to mention an instructive book
or particularly brilliant description or
entertaining paragraph that he has not
read and cannot discuss intciligentiy.
The President has been an omniVor-
interest in books since he entered the
White House is therefore nothing new
But the surprising thing about his read
ing is that he has extended rather than
curtailed it since he became President.
And he has also found time to write
considerable purely literary matter. in
Guiding several magazine articles.
During the. Summer he takes num-
bers of books with him to Oyster Fay,
and is constantly receiving acceSsionS
from friends and others. He reads with
great rapidty, probably as rapidly as
does Assistant Librarian Ainsworth r.
Spofford, of the Congressional Library,
who has long been regarded as a Won
der in that line. Mr.. Spofford reads a
page at a few glances, and is able to
tell its contents. The President has =,
similar capacity for devouring a page
without going thru it sentence by SEN
tence.
Besides his own literary writings he
has inspired numerous magazine artI-
cles by others. recent instance was
the magazine article about Mature
Taking" which provoked the spirited
controversy with Rev. William j. Long,
a writer on animal topics. A Washing
ton correspondent, Mr.. Edward b.
Clark, of the Chicago Evening Post,
formerly an Army officer, wrote the
article attacking Mr.. Long. after the
treSlUenl naO hhoh
he thought ought to be said. He was
summoned to the White House two OF
three times before the article was en-
tirely to the Presidents liking, and be-
fore the interview which the President
gave on the subject was whipt into sat
isfactory shape.
When he has retired TO private life
the President will undoubtedly resume
book writing. He had written many
books before he became President. and
had made considerable money cat of
them His writings now will have
very large money value. He will not
have to urge publishers to take them.
Several Presidents have made quite
sum of money out of writing. Harrison
wrote book that netted him a good
sum. Ex-Presdent Cleveland has been
writing magazine articles for several
years, and has done well financially out
of it. But Mr.. Roosevelt's literary abil-
Ity and his versatility in numerous top
les will enable him to reap Il much
richer literary reward than any of his
predecessors have done. He can write
of politics, of Government, OF the events
of his Administration, of hunting. of
score of other topics and sell his prod
uct for a high figure.