The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-23
Ex-PREsIDENT LEAVES TODAY FOR
 AFRICA.
Spends Last Evening At Home Quietly With His Family-Citixens of Oyster Bay Present Him
 With Resolution.

Oyster Bay, March 22-closing a strenuous day which was taken up chiefly with the final arrangements for dore Roosevelt tonight spent the hours on the eve of his departure across the Atlantic. in the heart of his family and bidding goodbye to the scenes about his home at Sagamore Hill.
 All Is in readiness for the long jour ney on which he Is to set out tomor- row; the baggage was today put aboard the steamship and after in- specting the quarters set aside for him aboard the vessel, MT. Roosevelt re- turned to Oyster Bay with his wife and children. With his family. MT. Roose- welt will take an early train tomorrow for New York. and proceed to the Ho- boken pier. where he will board the Hamburg.
 While Mir. Roosevelt Is grateful for the demonstration that has been planned for his departure by hundreds of people. who are desfrous of cheering him as the Hamburg slips out into the stream and heads seaward down the bay. he again today expressed the hope that his leave-taking may be regarded as that of a strictly private citizen and that it be considered as no unusual oc- currence.
 MT. Roosevelt said that no matter how many came to the pier, he would not make speech.
 A delegation of the local town board. headed by Chester Painter. presented to Mir. Roosevelt this evening an engross- ed resolution commenting him as a cit- ixen and fellow-townsman. This occa- sion at Sagamore Hill. which lasted only a few minutes, was the final pub lie function in which MT. Roosevelt took part before going away.
 When the delegation moved down the hill in the twilight. the figure of Mir. Roosevelt was seen standing on a knoll near the house. silhoutted against the darkening sky and watching the rib- bon band of dark water off Long Is- land Sound that glanced here and there under the departing light.
 The former head of the nation then turned his steps to the house and sat down to supper with family. The eve ming meal time passed quickly in the good cheer of family communion. and none was more happy than Mir. Roosevelt.
 After the meal MT. Roosevelt spent the. evening quietly with his family. retiring to rest at an early hour to be ready for the start tomorrow morning.
 Though most of Mr. Roosevelts time has been taken in the preparation of
 
 ments to reading Darwin's book. ''The Voyage of H. M. S. Beagle" which he carries constantly in his pocket. On the train, riding between New York and Oyster Bay today. MT. Roosevelt plunged with great zest into the vol- ume and paid no attention to his fel- low passengers. He described the book as "bully" and advised all the cor respondents to read 1t.
 A pretty incident, showing Mir. Rooseveit's love for children and his readiness, even whom otherwise engag- ed. to amuse them. was shown on the return trip home today on the rail- road The former chief magistrate had taken his seat in the ordinary passen- ger coach and was busily engaged with his book. when Mrs. Warren Bowman. wife of the Methodist minister at Oys- ter Bay, with her four-year-old daugh- ter. Ruth. walked through the train In search of a seat.
 This Is Mir. Roosevelt" said Mrs. Bowman. stopping in front of the for