The evening world., 1909-03-23
Mrs. Iedwith Took Care O.
Ex-PreSident's Wife When
a Baby and Also Of All of
Her Children.
"EVEN MR.. ROOSEVELT
JUST A BIGBOY TO ME-"
"Not a Better Father and
Mother in the World" Is
Her Description of Couple
Long Her Employers.
BY Ethel Lloyd Patterson,

Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt was always
Just the same as he Is now. am
eighty-three years old. and l have seen
him daily for many years, and I want
to say that the White House never
made any difference In him."
So says Mrs Mary Ledwlth, who has
known our one-time President as lonr
as has his wife.
Mrs. Ledwith. or Aunt Name" az
she has been affect!onatey dpbbed nv
the younger Roosevelt generation, has
long figured as one Of the most impor.
tant members OF the Roosevelt house.
hold.
She was the maid OF Mrs. Theodore
Roosevelts mother, and since then she
has In turn occupied the position OF
nurse to the ex.Presldents wife and IN
each OF their children.
Now. II would be more true TO saw
that the Roosevelt family belongs N
Mrs, Ledwith" than that Mrs. Ledwith
belongs to the Roosevelt family"
i haven't any children OF my own"
explained Aunt Name" 80 just feel
as though the Roosevelt children were
mine. All mine. including Mr.. Roose-
Welt, for he is Just big boy to me.
Love them'' she queried. We'll, you
could not live with people for SO many
years unless you did love them.
Mr.. Roosevelt was always crazy over
outdoor sports,' continued the old nurse
Archie is just like him-wild to be on,
in the air all the time. think Mr.
Roosevelt could not stand It II he wa.
shut up very much. Now he is goins
over to Africa to hunt It's fine thing
for him. but everybody has been prophe.
syng such dreadful things about the
trip that It makes people who love him
worry.
We'll, but there's one thing, though:
he is just as brave as any lion he will
meet. so no harm can come to him
through fear.
That is Mr.. Roosevelts picture Ut
there" said Mrs. Ledwlth. turning In
her chair to point out framed and
autographed photograph OF Citizer
Roosevelt that stood upon the shelf
OF her fo!ding-bed. "and that is Mrs
Roosevelts picture beside II. It is Mr.
Roosevelts favorite picture OF Mrs
Roosevelt taken during the time that
he was Governor OF this State.
He Is very strict man, strong for
discipline, but always kind Just the
same. He was always so good to me,
and l believe that he could have been
President ten times over. and It would
never have made any difference in his
thoughtfulness.
When | was sick. you know, in 1901
| caught a cold at the inauguration OF
Mckinley-I was with my sister here in
New York. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Roose.
Nelt used to come and see me, and all
the time ! was i'll they had trained
nurse for me.
Il have been abroad. too. several
times with Mrs. Roosevelt" announced
Mrs. Ledw!th proudly, and when was
recovering from my Illness they sent
me to Italy for change. with Miss
Caron. Mrs. Roosevelt's sister. Tha,
was in 1904.
Really, haven't word to say
about Mr. Roosevelt" admitted Mrs
l.edwith II suppose there are lots o!
little things that | know that would
interest people, but maybe Mr.. Roose-
relt would not like 1t, so | guess had
better not talk.
There is Just one thing can snS
about both Mr.. and Mrs. Roosevelt" con.
cluded their old nurse. but that is the
very finest thing you can say about
anybody. 1t is that there is not bette.
mother and father In the world"