Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08
SEAMEN HIS CR0N|ES
Kermit Roosevelt Spends
Leisure at Sailors Haven.
"YOUNG LUBBER" LIKED
Cracks Jokes and Applauds Per.
formances of Tats.
NIGHTLY VISITOR TO RESORT
Invitations to Be Made Man of
by Trip at Sea Extended to
Presidents Son.
"YOUNG LUBBER" LIKED
NIGHTLY VISITOR TO RESORT

welt, second son of the President and
freshman at Harvard, has developed a
hobby.
He has become strangely infatuated
with the men who "go down to the sea
in Ships Night after night he leaves
his cozy quarters in Cambridge to revel
with common sailors, jackies and
marines.
1t is a motley throng of salts from all
sections Of the world whose friendship
Kermit seeks. He whites away many
evenings in this jolly and much-mixed
company.
In the Sailors Haven, on Water street,
in Charlestown, near the docks. Kermit
is a constant visitor 1t is here that he
cultivates his youthful fancy
Here are gathered every evening the
mariners and sailors of all nations, who
make it their headquarters while visiting
Boston. Kermit is their friend and con-
fidant
Long before they knew his identity as
the son of the President the sailor men
took strong liking to the young lub-
ber." Now he is chummy with many
of them, calls them by their first names.
and sits among them each Monday night
at their entertainments.
He listens to their yarns and takes a
joke on himself goOd-naturedly. He has
had his own little jokes on the mariners
and has caused many a guffaw in the
little haven.
Missed at Entertainment.
The absence of young Roosevelt last
Monday night was noted with regret by
his storm-tanned friends. He sent them
word he must spend the night before cleo
ton with his Harvard chums. This was
the only entertainment of the sailors that
Kermit has missed since he took to his
hobby.
He's a lad after me own heart" de-
clared one of his strongest friends among
the sailors I'D like to have the young
lubber along of me to Beunos ,Ayres."
And it develops that many such invi-
tations have been offered. For Kermit
is a favorite.
which the pretty girls pass around, and
relishes his cup of steaming coffee He
isn't fuSsy as to how strong a pipe his
neighbor smokes. He is good listener.
1t pleases the salts to see and hear him
laugh at their sallies and funny yarns.
The haven is run for the sailors The
Episcopalian churches of Boston furnish
the weekly entertainments, in connection
with reformatory work Of the Episcopa-
liam City Mission Society.
Few visitors are invited except on en-
tertainment nights. But Kermit always
finds the door open and a few Of his
cronies about.
The hall where young Roosevelt culti-
Yates his acquaintance with the seamen
is a spacious place. A stage is there,
as in all the Ravens along shore.
A full-rigged foremost stands at the
front of the platform, reaching to the
roof. Kermit always enjoys the unfurl-
ing and furling Of the sail which Is done
by the sailors at each performance.
Although he is liked by all the sailors
the purpose of Kermit in coming among
them has brought forth widely different
and amusing theories. One old mariner
voices his opinion that the Presidents
son is taking "a rough course of sprouts"
among them preparatory to his trip to
Africa with his father Others think he
is simply interested in the work for the
betterment of the sailors
Urged to Go to Sea.
His sailor friends believe that a trip
before the mast would make a man of
him." For Kermit is not robust in APP
pearance. This they have suggested to
him, but none of them has received any
promises.
The sailors are entirely at home during
the entertainments. Jack tar talent
mingles with volunteer singers from con-
servatories of music and elocutionists
from the big colleges.
Kermit is the most interested spectator
Of ALL He applauds the buck and wing
dance of colored sailor with as much
heartiness as he does the recital of
pretty girl elocutionist from the Emer-
son College. He joins in the chorus of
sea songs.
A few of his closest Harvard chums
often accompany young Roosevelt to the
sailors rendezvous, They are urging
Kermit to do his stunt on the stage
Fear of mourning paternal displeasure
has kept him from doing SO, although he
has given a conditional promise for the
future.
The fascination for the men of the sea
grows upon Kermit instead of diminish
ing. He is an habitue of the fo'castle in
back and forth between his coy apart
ments in Cambridge and the haven near
the docks in Charlestown.
Kermit Roosevelt at White House.
Kermit Roosevelt, who is attending
Harvard University, arrived at the White
House yesterday for a short stay.
The President desired Kermit. who is
to be the official photographer of the
scientific hunting expedition in Africa
next spring, to meet Sir Harry Johnson
the administrator of British East Africa,
who was the Presidents house guest
Thursday night. Both the President and
his son were greatly interested in the
visit and of the hunting stories Sir Harry
told them.
Sir Harry visited Secretary Root at the
State Department yesterday and had
long chat with him.