Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-18
ROOSEVELT At HONE 10
ALL HIS Nt|GHBORs
President hecsVas immense
Thong Of I0waspaepa and
others From Nearby nam'es.
PROVED HIMSELF 4 lIs6UIsT
Chief Executive Had jolly Greeting
for Everybody-surprises German
Singers by Translating Their Rep.
resentative's Speech Into rngIish-
Delivers Complimentary Address.
nv Associated Press.)

(iS ASsOCIutSu
OYSTER BAY. N. Y. Sept IL
President Roosevelt proved himself
the ideal host this afternoon. wheh
he entertained the natives OF this
village at his summer home on saga
more Hill. Each one OF the 1000 or
more persons. who went to see the
President. was made to feel that ne
or she had been especially honored.
For each OF his visitors, the Pr 81
dent had something Of particular IN
tercst to that person TO say.
When the children finally managed
! to press through the crowd. the Pres
ident b AIMED with pleasure and pat
! ted the youngsters on the back win
ali af,ectionate little tap as they fled
by him.
This is n fine little fellow he
would say. or look at this little
| man: he should b. soldier" ana
so Oh as the happy children passed
along.
President Roosevelt held the re-
ception SO that he could renew &C
louasntance with his friends and
tneighbors. and a simple program had
been arranged and was carried out
Mrs. Roosevelt, Mrs. Wemiin
Roosevelt and Mrs. Reeves Merit as
sisted the President In receiving the
guests.
Refreshments, consisting Of punch
and ginger snaps. were served On 'he
lawn. and every one was invited to
make himself at homo. Onicial bus
mess has prevented the President
from keeping ip touch with his towns
people. and he said today that as this
| is his last year In office, he wanted
to renew old acquaintances before nc
leaves for Africa.
The surprise OF the day came when
the President proved to his guests
that he is a linguist.
Forty members OF the German
Saengerbund had journeyed to oyster
Bay from Hicksville, TO sing for the
President and his guests. but before
the singing the president Of the 50
ciety delivered q short speech. lie
apolo,izsd because he had TO make
his speech In German, ahd
told the President that ne
would have the speech trans
lated for him. When the presi
icluded his speech. President Roose
welt arose and very cleverly trans
Hated All the German singer had SAID
This astonished and pleased the
members Of the Saeugcrbund.
Curing the singing President
Roosevelt. his wife. Mrs. Emiif
Roosevelt. Mrs. Merritt. \ group OF the
lnresident's brother Masons. and the
St. Hilda Society OF the Christ Ep,s
lcopal church sat on the yeranda'
while the visitors from the village
made themselves comfortable on the
lspacious lawn. The Saengerbund rem
!dercd "Wald Lied" and "hsima'
lIi.b- IN German and Kentucky
Home in English.
Between songs the president ~ thf
lSaengenbund delivered his address 10
1.-THE President and then the President
!rcplied as follows:
Il want Mr. President. to welcome
Won and your associates: to say nov
much I have enjoyed listening TO you
land how much 7 shall ca1oy listenins
Ito what more you have TO sing: ano
To say also that IN this great country
Of ours. to the make up o! which &c
many rare elements have combined
leach can contribG;e something spe
cial Of good and amoBg he many
contributions OF good made to onf
pcopIc by the German strain araons
Ms. none has been more important
THAN that symbolized by the very y
ltstence Of societies like this.
ON behalf O! my fellow to~nSmen
In wan, 10 thaak you for coming oye'
and TO say how glad Nc are TO scs
Iyoa"
Following this was tn general TO
ccp,ioa turing which the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt shook hands wilt
Everyone present
Il wish you could sce my babies
said one woman as she shook the
Ipres.dent's hand.
n a., aa 49,. ~hw HfSn.f rrsj