Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-19
Tells OF HIS HUNT.
Col. Roosevelt Lectures on His
Adventures in Africa.
DELIGHTS GREAT AUDIENCE
Convention Hall Crowded With Geo.
graphic Society Members.
TALK FILLED WITH ANECDOTE

Met With No Real Hardships and
Only a Mild Amount Of DAN
ger, He Says.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt gave an ac-
count Of the expedition he led into central
Africa for the Smithsonian Institution
last night at Convention Hall. Before
one Of the most brilliant audiences ever
gathered to listen to lecture in the
National Capital. Col. Roosevelt. forget
full for the moment Of all the other sides
of his busy life, addressed the National
Geographic Society and its guests, as a
faunal naturalist. on "Wild Man and Wild
Beast in Africa
When the former President entered the
hall the huge audience rose and applaud
ed vigorously. More than five thousand
persons were in the hall and many more
waited outside for glimpse of Col.
Roosevelt. Justices Of the Supreme Court,
diplomats, cabinet officers, leaders in Off
cial and social life thronged the hail.
Col. Roosevelt plunged right into a dis
cussion of the wild men and wild beasts
of Africa, after he had first given full
praise to the other members of his party
for the work they had done. There was
little Of the socalled travel talk about
his lecture. He did not tell how he got
to the various places he visited in Africa,
with one or two exceptions. but he de-
scribed what lie found there. His talk
bristled with amusing anecdotes. And
though he talked for an hour and half
the audience hardly realized that 1t had
been listening for more than half an hour
Kept Clear Of Politics.
When Col. Roosevelt came to Washing
ton yesterday, arriving at the Union sta
ton at 400 O'Clock, where he was met
by committees from the National Geo
graphic Society and the National Press
Club. the question Of the moment was,
Would he break his long silence on the
political situation? At the Press Club,
whittier he went Immediately after his
arrival. and last night during the lee
ture, the colonel made no comment upon
the defeat of the republican party at The
polls last week. Only once did he get
away from Africa last night, and back to
the happenings of the campaign. and
that happened when he related an Incl
acting as a judge had mado the law
ridiculous because of red tape.
And / don't think the most sensitive
soul could object to my calling that judge
fossilized,' concluded the Colonel with
a broad smile, and a wave Of laughter
swept over the audience, as 1t recalled
the coloners utterances in regard to the
courts and judges in this country.
At the Press Club Col. Roosevelt re-
marked:
Il do not wish to make any comments.
but I was thinking Of one, however, that
x-o,1Id no S,,fficienty commemorative. L
wish to say that every dog has his day,
but the nights belong to the cats"
During the lecture last night; Col.
Roosevelt explained how ne heb had con- on.
Ananias Club long before the sef-styled
discoyerer of the north pole had been
Judged by the rest of the world. Col
Roosevelt said that he was under the
messenger brought him news that the
pole had been discovered by an Ameri-
can.
"Not the Right American"
ut wasn't the right American" said
Col. Roosevelt, land. knowing his noun
tain climbing record. / refused to send
him a message Of congratulation. feeNng
sure that he had never reached the pole
But when word came that Peary had
reached the goal was sure he had won
the prize"
Cart. Peary was in the audience and
was warmly greeted by Col. Roosevelt
at the close of the lecture.
Col. Roosevelt was introduced to the
audience at Convention Hall by Prof.
Henry Gannett, president Of the National
Geographic Society. who read resolutions
adopted by the society thanking Col.
Roosevelt for his distinguished services
to VeOQraphic science.
Col. Roosevelt said in part:
"It is a real pleasure to address the
National Geographic Society this even
ing. I can assure you it required no
pressure to get me to come. 1 have al
ways wished a chance of speaking to this
society, and 1 especially wanted to speak
before it upon my return from the other
side Of the world, to give an account of
my Stewardship
II have always felt somewhat entitled
to praise from the National Geographic
Society. although have never done any
thing for geography. But I have. been
science. Ny going to Africa as the head
of scientific expedition was first sug-
gested to me by Dr. Hart Mer. lam Then
\ got into communication with certain
scientists here, and DR.. WalcOtt of the
Smithsonian, wired me n cordial approval
Of the plan. He said he hoped I would
go for the Smithsonian Institution. He
was my superior, and the entire success
OF nv tr1D III SCleHttIC aspect uepeHu-
ed upon the men whom he sent to accom-
pany me. Mai. Mearns. Mr.. Loring and
Mr.. Heller.
Praise for His Companions.
"No more jealous or earnest men ever
went on a similar expedition. Really 1
was perfectly ashamed of myself at times.
They did all the work. had all the en-
joyment Of the hunt They did all the
practical work. and 1t was q labor Of love
to them.
IAN, excepting myself. did good photo
graphic work. including my son Kermit.
We came back with the only photographs
of white rhinosceri ever taken. In a GER
tain sense. / and my companions were
representing the United States. and am
proud that we did such excellent work.
The collection is especially good in some
large game animals. There were on y two
or three specimens Of the white rhinos-
ceri in the museums Of the world before
our trip. and we brought back Ave. There
were absolutely no specimens of the giant
Gland, and we brought back three.
want to emphasize the Importance Of the
part my companions played and the ex-
cellent work they did.
uas gerry IA rd thing IN tho