The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-19
In Washington for First
Time Since He Left
White Hcuse.
TELLS OF LIFE In
AFRICAN JUNGLE
Distinguished Audience Of 5000
Persons Gives Former Presi-
dent Enthusiastic Welcome.
Cordial Reception Extend
ed by Members Of Ma
tional Press Club.

Washington, ID. o., November 16,--
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt returned ta
the national capital to-day for the first
time since his official departure from
the White House In March, 1909. In
the role of sportsman and scientist. he
camc to relate before the National Geo
graphic Society tonight adventures In
tho African Jungle. Fully 5000 per-
sons, including Cabinet officers, su-
prelne Court Justices and members OF
the diplomatic corps, crowded Convcn-
tion Hall and gave him an enthusiastia
welcome.
Much interest was manifested as TO
whether he would make any reference
20 the recent political upheuval. bue
beyond the remark that every dog haa
: his day, but the nights belong to the
cats" which he mnue In Jest before the
National Press Club, where he was In
formally received this afternoon short
1y after his arrival, the colonel evaded
the mention of politics.
From the moment of his arrival at
i:2o o'clock this afternoon the coloncI
kept up rapid tire of superlatfves
that evinced the hearty enjoyment he
felt at returning TO scenes that re-
called strenuous days of executive ac-
tion.
AT the National Press Club Shere was
a great gathering of newspaper men
and their trr-ais
Addresses Newspaper Men.
Addressing the newspaper men, he
said: My friends, ann very deeply
toucned by your kind way. OF greeting
me, and do hope you understand how
genuinely | ,eet IL. 1 do rot want TO
make any comments" MIR. Roosevelt
/ joined in the laugh that followed and
. adned: Il was thinking of one, how
lever, that woula be atifficieRtlys incl,,-
sive. / wish TO say that every dog has
his day. but tho nights belong to tho
cats"
I when the laughter subsidcd. the
s colonel paid a compliment to the char
acter of the newspaper men of tho
capital.
/ ''fnere wore individuals among you"
:! he said, Tor whoi~ | think | was able
| successfully 10 ,lissemble my love In
( that respect they rank with son1o
| Senators. fcpresentatiVes, piutocrats.
labor leaders and others" The colonel
closed with a bit of humor that oc-
casioned laughter wnen he said: And
now | am going to have a chance
Ito shake hands with every blessed
one who does not think his char
In his lecture at Convention HAL
Tonight he confined himself entirely
to a discussion of tho incidents of the
trip. and told of the habits of the
beasts and the remarkable collection
of specimens which. he declared, ho
was glad the expedition was able 10
obtain.
The colonel was introduced by Hen
ry Gannett. president of the National
Geographic Society, who read reso-
luton of appreciation adopted, by the
society TOR Nh. Roosevclts services to
geographic science
The co,onel. IN referring to the Afri.
can expedition, praised tho work Of
his companions, and mentioned AMONG
the achievements of the trip the TAX
of wild elephants ever taken. and the
only photographs of 1.-Two white rhinoc-
crosses. as we'll as some 1i,0OO specs
mems of much value.
There were no hardships," he con-
tinued. except a mild amount OF dam
ger from shooting Wild beasts ana ana
man of the party was lost"
Hears OF Pole Da.cOycry.
The speaker digressed to mention
that he was just about on the
equatorial line, when news reached
him of the alleged discovery OF the
didn't believe 1t at the time. When
he received news a few days later OF
the achievement of commander Peary.
he declared he was confident that the
pole had been reached. and added that
he was glad or the stand WhlSh tue
National Geographic Society had taken
in defending Peary.
Indirect allusion was made by the
colonel to his recent structures on the
Supreme Court, when he related an In +
cident which, he said, only Mark Twain
could have done justice to.
ANY of us who have had dealings
with government officers know the
tyne of bureaucrat that will keep to
! the rules, even II the heavens fall,
no continued. Captain Smith. the head
of the Irrigation service. in a North
African town, had been trying to raise
vegetables and flowers One night q
zebra came. and ms gardener killed
!; the animal whereat the district judge
promptly fined the gardener for killing
game without q license.
Tho audience laughed as the colonel
added: II don't think the most sensi
/ tive sould could object to calling that
Judge 'fossilised-
After the lecture Colonel Roosevelt
held an improinptu reception, many
officials pressing forward to greet him.
Mr. Roosevelt will spend to-morroW \
here and leave for oyster Bay sun
lny. X {,