New-York tribune., 1908-09-18
ASAGAMORE RECEPTION
TWO THOUSAND GUESTS.
The President Entertdins HIS Oyster
Bay Neighbors.

Oyster Bay, Sept. 17.-President Roosevelt
proved himself excellent host this afternoon
when he entertained the natives of this village
at his summer home on Sycamore Hill
Each of the two thousand more persons
who went to see the President was made to
feel that he she had been individually well
coined For each of his visitors the President
had something Of particular interest to that per-
son to say. If he was shaking hands with the
father mother Of large family the Presi-
dent would increase the pressure of his hand.
and when the children of the village finally
managed to press through the crowd the Presi-
dent beamed with pleasure and patted the
youngsters on the back with affectionate little
taps as they filed by him.
This is a fine little fellow he would say; or.
Look at this little man: he should be soldier
and so on as the happy children passed along.
There has never been anything like it in
Oyster Bay. President Roosevelt held the re-
ception so that he could renew acquaintances
with his friends and neighbors, and a simple
programme had been arranged and was carried
out Mrs. Roosevelt, Mrs. W. Emen Roosevelt
and Mrs. Reeves Merritt assisted the President
in receiving the guests. Refreshments were
served on the lawn, and every invited to
make himself perfectly at home. Official busi-
ness has prevented the President from keeping
in touch with his townspeople, and he said to-
day that, as this was his last year in office, he
wanted to renew old acquaintance before he
leaves for Africa
PRESIDENT AS A LINGUIST.
The surprise of the day came when President
Roosevelt proved his linguistic ability to his
guests Forty members of the German Sanger
bund had journeyed to Oyster Bay from Hicks
Vile to sing for the President and his guests.
but before the singing the president OF the sing
ing society delivered a short speech He apollo
gized because he had to make his speech in
German and told President Roosevelt that he
would have the speech translated for him.
When the president of Il singing society had
closed his speech President Roosevelt arose and
translated into English what the German singer
had said. This astonished the members of the
Sangerbund. and also immensely pleased them.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt received
book of German songs from the members OF the
Sangerbund Every one seemed to enjoy the
songs rendered by the choristers. but none more
than the President He applauded loudly at the
end of every song.
During the singing President Roosevelt his
wife Mrs. Emlen Roosevelt Mrs. Merritt, a
group of the Presidents brother Masons and
members of the st. Hilda Society of the Christ
Episcopal Church sat on the veranda, while
the visitors from the village made themselves
bund rendered "Waldled' and "Heimatuebe'
in German and Kentucky Babe" in English
MR. ROOsEvELTS SPEECH
Between songs the president of the Sanger
bund delivered his address to the President.
The President replied as follows:
Now in the first place. am going to act as
an interpreter for those among you, very few, of
course who did not understand what the presi-
dent of the singing society said The president
was kind enough to say that in coming here 10
sing the German songs the society of which he
ia president not only desired TO have the pleas
IIre of singing but that they also wished 70 meet
me and my family and 70 pay their respects TO
us personally and that while they could not be
here next month, when / have a birthday stu
they would be with me in spirit, and then he
went on to say q number of pleasant things
about me- which I shall not translate.
And now in response l want, Mr. President,
TO welcome you and your associates; to say how
much | have enjoyed listening to you. and how
much l shall enjoy listening to what more you
have to sing; and to say also that in this great
country OF ours TO the makeup CT which so
many race elements have combined. each
contribute something special of good: and
among the many contributions OF good made
10 our people by the German strain among US
none has been more important than that SYM
hoI1zcd by the very existence OF societies like
fhis-a contribution 10 the national character
NJ tbe quality OF which there Is no exact Eng
Iish equivalent. Gemutlichkeit which means
the quality OF being good Fellow In an unob-
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