The Washington times., 1908-11-12

President Roosevelt is the star literary
man of the community Just at this time.
He is going TO write a lot Of literature
at one dollar the word. according TO
report; and, while the price isn't so
high as Mr.. Kipling is reputed 10 have
received, yet most casual consideration
OF the comparative outputs and capaci-
ties of the two viii lead TO recognition
that the President has decidedly the
better Of II.
Mr.. Roosevelt would have been lit
erary man If he hadn't been publicist.
He would probably have been a great
soldier if he hadn't been primarily a
man of peace. He might have been a
politician of the first rank If he hadn't
been a statesman. And he would have
been a great naval authority If ne hadn't
been a chief Of rough riders.
His Medium.
But down at the bottom. his business.
his medium of expression. has been
writing. He went 70 writing histories
and biographies as soon as he sOt out
Of college, and has written some of the
best American biography. IL is not
widely known. perhaps. that he Is a
student of world history, and has a re-
markable acquaintance with historical
students and specialists. Everybody
knows he is an authority Of American
history; but when It comes TO ancient
Rome, 10 the middle ages, to modern
constitutional history, he is likewise a
good deal Of a specialist. How he finds
the time to do the reading, and how he
is able TO retain it's products in his
memory, nobody has ever calculated
But ne does it.
Just at present # is stated by his
friends. the President is in great de-
mand as an editor. Ambitious publish
eTs want his name to appear as one of
the "ioint editors" OF all sorts OF
things. He IS going TO become an
editor Of a periodical; but what the
publishers especially want is that he
should give his name as a joint editor
Of all sorts OF works. Think how a set
Of Gibbons Rome, or Macaulay's Eng
land. or the writings Of George Eliot,
OF Lord Chesterfield. would sell If It
were edited by Theodore Roosevelt and
Tom Smith, or anybody else.
Ye Canny Editor
Ye canny publisher doesn't insist on
the Presidential editor breaking himself
down with work; what is wanted IS
such casual association with the work
and the financial incidentals, as VIII
justify use Of his name on the morocco
back Of the volumes and on the fly
leaf.
The President is rejecting al such
delicate advances. He doesn't propose
TO appear as editor OF anything 40
doesn't edit. The reputation of the
first private citizen Of the wOrld-that
will be Mr.. Roosevelt after March -
isn't going to be sold for money.
But, while not selling the use OF his
name. Mr.. Roosevelt Is going to do a
vast amount Of literary work, if helf
the stories are true. 1t is known by
some Of his friends that he IS now
making a study OF the sOCialistic move
ment, its philosophy and its aspirations
He proposes later to publish something
on the subject, and in preparing him
self he Is aiming to view the theme
from every possible standpoint; 10 know
the theoretical aad the practical as
poets; to understand what the leaders
Of the cult expect to accomplish when
they get the mandate; TO be fully in
formed Of the workings Of sOcialistiC
experiments wherever they have been
tried.
Socialism Next.
Himself a devout Individuals. IL "a
President proposes TO know his sub
ject before he discusses it. He Is go
ing into it with great thoroughness;
and somehow ne finds time for it. along
with the multiplied duties of his office
and his political relations. His friends
expect that his discussion Of socialism
will be one Of the most effective and