The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-18
ROOSEVELT. HAS
 HOME RECEPTION Oyster Bay Natives Gather at
 Sagamore Hill
PRESIDENT MAKES SPEECH
The German saeneerbund Sings at the Gathering, After Which MT. Roose- welt Shakes Hands With All and
 Hands out Refreshments.

Oyster Bay. N. Y, September ff.-Pres- ident Roosevelt proved himself the ioeal host this afternoon when he entertained the natives of this village at his summer home on Sagamore Hill. Each one of the POGO or more persons who went to see lhe President was made to feel that he or she had been especially honored. For each or his visitors, the President had something of particular interest to that person to say When the children finally man kaged to press through the crowd the Pres ident beamed with pleasure and patted the youngsters on the back with an affection ate little tap as they filed by him. This
 is a fine little fellow" he would say, or Hook at this little man; he should be soldier" and so on, as the happy chil- dren passed along.
 Presiednt Roosevelt held the reception so that he could renew acquaintance with his friends and neighbors, and a simple programme had been arranged and was carried out. Mrs Roosevelt, Mrs. W. Elm lin Roosevelt and Mrs. Reeves Merritt as sisted the President in receiving the guests Refreshments, consisting of punch and ginger snaps, were served on the lawn, and every one was invited to make himself perfectly at home. Official busi- ness has prevented the President from keeping in touch with his townspeople, and he said today that as this is his last year in office he wanted to renew old ac- quaintances before he leaves for Africa. The surprise of the day came when Pres ident Roosevelt proved to his guests that he is 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 signing the president of the singing society delivered short speech. He apologzed 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 the singing society had concluded his speech President Roosevelt arose and very i cleverly translated all the German singer had said. This astonished and pleased the members of the Saengerbund.
 Germans Sing.
 During the singing President Roosevelt, his wife, Mrs. Eml1n Roosevelt Mrs. Merritt. a group of the residents broth CT 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 com fortable on the spacious lawn. The Saen- l gerbund rendered "Wa1d Lied' and 1 "Heimat Liebe" in German and Ken 1 lucky Home" in English. Between songs l the president of the Saengerbund deliv- i cred his address to the President and then ] the President replied as follows:
 T want, MT. President, to welcome you and your associates; to say how much I have enjoyed listening to you. 1 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 of which so many race elements have combined. each can contribute something special l of good: and among the many contribu- 1 tions of good made to our people by the German strain among us, none has been more important than that sym bolized by the very existence of socie- ties like this, a contribution to the na- tional character of the quality of which l there is no exact English equivalent, gemutlichkeit which means the quality 1 of being a good fellow in a very ob- | ! oughly good fellow, friendly, Kindly, I pleasant, joining with other people to make both of you have a good time, you are showing one phase of the qual- ! ities denoted by the word gemutlichkeit.
 'I believe in work and I believe that ] while a man works he sfiould not play at all; but l believe in play also, for the sake of the man, for the sake of tn e country, and for the sake of the man s work and it's a real contribution to American life to teach Americans how ] to enjoy what is ennobling and not de- 1 basng; how to get enjoyment out of 1 associations such as this association of singers. which have come here thi i afternoon And on behalf of my fel- i low townsmen I want to thank you for i coming over"
 Big Handshaking.
 l Following this was the general re- ception, during which the President and Mrs. Roosevelt shook hands with l everyone present. l T wish you could see my babies. !" said one woman, as she shook the Presidents hand.
 "I wish I could, too; why didn't you bring them along?" replied the Presi- ] dent.
 1 Father Yor<e of Huntington was the