Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-25
THE PRESIDENTS SUNDAY
PASSED At Groton, Visiting His Son
Party Leaves for Capital.


Boston, Feb. 24-The two Gays Oh Tree
dom from official cares enjoyed ny Fres-
ident Roosevelt, who arrived here yester-
day in the capacity of a private citizen
coming to visit with members of his fam
ilv was concluded tonight when the Pres
;dential party departed for Washington
in a snecial car attached to the Federal
Express.
| AS the train moved slowly from the
Soufh Terminal at SO o'clock, crowd
Of neople who had assembled gave Sc
ries of cheers for the President, VINO &C
knowledged the demonstration by waving
his arms and bowling. Mr.. Roosevelt was
nainlv in a. most cheerful attitude-the
same attitude of delight in the relaXa-
ton. strenuous though it proved, that mas
been with him since his arrival in Mass
achusetts. and especially during his meet
ings Yesterday with the students at Har-
ward University Particularly he seemed
to revel in the cold. clear atmosphere
which prevailed during his visit, the days
being among the coolest of the season III
New England.
To-Day the President devoted tc trip
to Groton, a town about 40 miles from
Boston, where his son Kermit is pupil
at the Groton preparatory school. He
spent the time Informally with the boy
and other members of his family, includ-
ing Mrs Roosevelt and Miss Ethel Roose-
welt, who had proceeded to Groton yes
terGay from Boston. and his daughter.
the wife of Congressman Nicholas Long
worth, who went to Groton with the
President today.
President Roosevelt stopped last night
at the home Of his friend, DR.. William
Sturgis Bigelcw. and there this morning
had breakfast together with few per-
sonal friends These included Governor
Curtis Guild, Jr., George III. Lyman. col
lector of the port -fiBoston. Judge Fran
els G. Lowell Of the United States cir
cult court and Major w. Austin Wads
worth who vas formerly STAFF officer
in the Philippines. H.
The early morning was spent quietly at
the Bigelow home, and about 1890 o'clock
Mr.. Roosevelt was driven to the North
Terminal where special train was wait
ing to take him TO Groton.
Mrs. Longworth arrived before her
father and greeted the Presidentifrom the
special car which with two coaches made
up the train. Several hundred people
We're grouped along the approaches to the
tracks when the President and DIR. Big
Glow appeared, and the President was
given a cordial greeting as he passed
through the station to his car. AS the
train pulled out about II o'clock, Mr.
Roosevelt stood upon the platform and
waved a friendly good bye to the spec
tators, who cheered repeatedly until the
train was lost to view
Just as the train was passing slowly
out there was an incident which plainly
aroused the fears of the two secret SER
vice men who stood at either side of the
President, and at the same time alarmed
many other people who CHANGED to see 1t.
A middle aged man ran quickly down
the platform behind the Presidents car,
and when he had reached within a few
feet of it he deliberately threw what
looked like a paper parcel at the Presi
dents feet. One of the detectives tried to
ward off the article before it struck the
car, but it landed safely though HARM
lessly. The missile proved to be small
silk flag enclosed in a paper bag.
After an uneventful trip the train
reached Aver Junction shortly before
noon. Professor William A. Gardner
teacher at the Groton school, was at the
station with n big six-seated Russian
sleigh drawn by two fast horses.
The first thing the President did after
alighting from the train was to shak ,
hands with the engineer and fireman, and
then he responded to the cheers of tho
little group of people who had assembled
in his honor ut the station
The sleighing is excellent in the cour-
try and the President and his daughter
had splendid and invigorating ride of
abou. three miles to Prof Gardeners
home, which is adjacent to the school
buildings. At Prof. Gardeners house the
visitors were received by Mrs. Roosevelt
Miss Ethel, Kermit Roosevelt and by
Rev. Endicott Peabody. the principal of
the school,
As soon as the family dined at Prof.
Gardeners home the President and others
passed to the Hundred House" one of
the school buildings. where Mr. Roose-
Welt was introduced from the platform to
an audience made UP of about $50 stu
dents and parents and friends of the pu-
| Pills. The President gave what he was
! pleased to call a "short sermon to the
boys"
1T always seems good to me to visit
Groton," he remarked in opening. land I
! intend in the future years to make many
! trips here. I am rather Of one graduate
| from this school, of one of the boys now
| here, and also of two other boys who
/ will attend here later
| Mr.. Roosevelt continued by saying that
when he finished his college course his
friends advised him not to enter the gov
erning class, as it consisted mostly of an
undesirable type of persons; but he told
! them that he FULLY made up his mind to
take part in the work of government. He
resolved also. he said. to enter the cav
airy service so in case of trouble he could
/ do his own fighting and not depend or