Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-25
PRESIDENTS RETURN
ALL-NIGHT RIDE FROM BOSTON
TO WASHINGTON.

BOSTON, February 25.-President Roose-
welt, who arrived here yesterday on an
unofficial visit with members of his family,
departed for Washington last night in a
special car attached to the federal ex-
press. He is due in Washington about 10
o'clock this morning.
AS the train moved out Of the south
terminal at SOP o'clock the crowd that had
assembled cheered heartily and the Presi-
dent acknowledged the demonstration by
waving his arms and bowling. Mr.. Roose-
he had shown great delight in the meetings
at Harvard and with old Massachusetts
friends during his two days visit.
The President devoted Sunday to trip
to Groton, which is forty miles from Bos
ton, where his son Kermit is pupil at the
Groton Preparatory School Mrs. Roose-
welt and Miss Ethel Roosevelt were al
ready there, and the President was ac-
companied by his eldest daughter, the wife
Of Representative Longworth.
President Roosevelt Saturday night was
the guest of DR.. William Sturgis Bigelow,
and he breakfasted there yesterday with
a few personal friends. These included
Gov. Curtis Guild, jr, George H. Lyman,
Francis c. Lowell of the United States
circuit court, and Maj. W. Austin Wads-
worth. who was formerly staff officer in
the Philippine Islands. The early morning
was spent at the Bgelow home, and about
1890 o'clock the President was driven to
the north terminal, where a special train
was waiting to take him to Groton. Sew
eral hundred people were grouped along
the approaches to the tracks when the
President appeared, and he was given a
cordial greeting as he passed through the
station to his car. Mrs. Longworth ar
rived before her father and greeted the
President from the special car, which, with
two coaches, made up the train.
Flag and Not Bomb.
Just as the train was moving slowly out a
middle aged man ran quickly down the
platform behind the Presidents car, and
when he reached within a few feet of it
deliberately threw what looked like paper
parcel toward the President. One of the
detectives tried to ward off the article be-
fore it struck the car, but it landed safely
though harmlessly. The missile proved to
be a silk flag Enclosed in a paper bag, the
gift of an admirer
The train reached Ayre Junction shortly
before noon
A teacher at the Groton School was wait
ing with a big six-seated Russian Sleigh
seighing was excellent the President and
his daughter had a delightful drive of
about three miles to the school. At the
house of Prof. William A. Gardner the Wis
itors were received by Mrs. Roosevelt and
Miss Ethel. who had remained there over
night: by Kermit Roosevelt and the Rev.
Endicott Peabody, the principal of the
school. After dinner the party went to the
Hundred House, where the President
was introduced to an audience made up of
about $50 students and parents and friends
of the pupils. The President gave what
he was please to call short sermon to
the boys
Among other things Mr.. Roosevelt said
that when he finished his college course his
friends advised him not to enter the gov
erning class, as 1t consisted mostly of an
undesirable type of persons, but he had
told them that he had fully made up his
mind to take part in the work of govern
ment. He resolved also, he said, to enter
the cavalry service, SO that In case Of trou-
BILE he could do his own fighting and not
depend on others to do it for him.
Again Upholds Foot Ball.
The President talked little on the SUBJ
ject of foot ball. and told the boys to take
advantage of their education rightly and
always play the game of foot ball fairly.
He expressed the opinion vigorously that
intercollegiate foot ball should by no means
be abolished.
II have given you a sermon. though
short one" concluded the President, land
now 1 wish good luck to all of YOU
The succeeding function of the visit was
a reception for all the boys of the school
at Prof. Gardeners home, where all had
an opportunity to personally meet the
President.
Groton is covered with snow and the cold
of the last few days had frozen 1t hard.
The day was typical cold New England
country day, with the snow in abundance
everywhere, and the President often spoke
of his interest and delight in the winter
scene as he walked about the school
grounds with several of his friends.
The big sleigh took the party back to the
railroad station.
Goodbye, ALL" the President said from
the rear platform as the train started and
the cheers of the villagers reached him. The
return trip to Boston was without Incl
dent and later the Presidents car was
coupled to the regular Washington express.
A detail of 300 police was at the station
to preserve order and to guard the train,
with the result that the crowd did not get
very near the Presidents car. Shortly be-
fore o'clock Representative Longworth ar
rived at the station and entered the special
car in which he proceeded to Washington.
Late Getting to Providence.
PROVIDENCE, r. l., February 25.-The
federal express, with the Presidents car
attached, came into Providence at 0:2J pm.
twenty minutes behind schedule. with a
broken steampipe connection between a
Pullman and the day coach, which delayed
the train twenty-six minutes more before
leaving for New York while the passenger
coach was disconnected. The President
appeared on the rear platform and shook
hands with 100 persons. Mrs. Longworth
waved her greetings from the doorway.
The train left here at 9:51, minus the day
coach.
Journey Homeward.
President Roosevelt passed through Balti-
more on his return to Washington at 1905
o'clock this afternoon.
Owing to an accident to an accommoda-
ton train the Pennsylvania tunnel here
which blocked the tracks the Federal ex-
press. to which was attached the .Pres-
dents car, was shifted to the tracks Of the
Baltimore and Ohio at Bayview, just east
| of Baltimore and the train proceeded over
the Baltimore and Ohio from that point At
Anacostia Junction, near Washington, the
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