The Mena weekly star., 1908-09-24
IN AN IDEAL MANNER
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ENTER TAiNs NATIVES OF OYSTER
 BAY AT SYCAMORE HILL.
MORE THAN 2,OOO GUESTS PRESENT
Each Person Made to Feel Welcome By the Nations Exeeutive--Mr. Roosevelt as a Llnguist--Punch and Ginger Snaps Served-Natives Voted 1t Perfect Day.

Oyster Bay, N. Y., Sept. 19.-Presi- dent Roosevelt proved himself the ideal host Thursday afternoon when he entertained the natives of this viii lage at his summer home on Sagamore Hill. Each one of the 2,000 or more persons who went to see the president was made to feel that he or she had been especially honored. For each of his visitors, the president had some thing of particular interest to that person to say When the children finally managed to press through the crowd, the president beamed with pleasure and patted the youngsters on the back with an affectionate little tap as they filed by him. This is a fine little fellow" he would say, or Took at this little man; he should be soldier" and so on, as the happy children passed along. President Roosevelt held the reception so that he could renew acquaintance with his friends and neighbors, and simple program had been arranged. Mrs. Roosevelt, Mrs. w. Emlen Roosevelt and Mrs. Reeves Merritt assisted the president in receiving the guests. Re treatments, consisting of punch and ginger snaps, were served on the lawn, and every one was invited to make himself perfectly at home.
 The surprise of the day came when President Roosevelt proved to his guests that he is a linguist. Forty members of the German saengerbund had journeyed to Oyster Bay from Hiclxsville to sing for the president and his guests, but before the singing the president of the singing society delivered a short speech He apolo- gized because he had to mako his speech in German and told President Roosevelt that he would have the speech translated for him.
 When the president of the singing society had concluded his speech. President Roosevelt arose and very cleverly translated all the German singer had said
 Following this was the general re- ception, during which the president and Mrs. Roosevelt shook hands with every one present.
 q wish you could see my babies" presidents hand T wish I could, too; why didn't you bring them ilong?" replied the president.
 Father York, of Huntington. was the leader of delegation from his village. While the priest was being welcomed by the president he sudden ly espied one of the women who had come with his party. Here. MT. Pres ident, I want you to meet this lady
 said the priest "She is Mrs. Charles G Reynolds of Brooklyn, and the mother of seven fine, healthy chil- dren.r Mrs Reynolds looked exceed ingly young to be the mothei of seven children and the president said as much. He motioned Mrs. Reynolds to come forward and then said to her: q am impelled to say that you are a splendid speciment of American motherhood, and it is pleasure to
 meet you. Mrs. Reynolds" Mrs. Key holds face flushed with pleasure.
 The reception lasted until almost i've o'clock When it was over the president said that his only regret vas that he had not seen enough of the children. It was unfortunate, he said, that they were kept in the back ground because of the large crowd.
 The natives of Oyster Bay, however, had no complaint to make; they voted 1t perfect day.