Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-04
For All the Wi|kesbaIre
Coal Region People.
The Foe Of Race Suicide
Praises the Mothers.
Is Well Pleased With the Result Of
His Social Studies.

in the Wyoming valley. He mingled
with people of all stations in life from
the breaker boys, who earn few dol
lars week, to society women, who
are passing the summer at Glen Sum-
nit Springs, an aristocratic resort
perched high up on the mountain above
Wilkesbarre. Late tonight he started
back to Oyster Bay.
The colonel had the same smile for
them all, but he made no secret of the
fact that his chief delight was in
meeting the wage earners, who spend
the working hours far under the
ground. The miners We're not embar-
raised in his presence and this pleased
him most of all. They treated him as
though he had worked side by side
with them for years. An incident
which was typical of the days hap
penings. occurred at Wyoming, min
ing hamlet. few miles above Wilkes
barre. An old Irish woman stepped
up to him, and, thrusting out her
hand, exclaimed:
Hello Teddy. You're looking fine"
The ex-President grinned with de-
light. and said he was glad to see her.
You're looking fine, too he said.
yes, indeed" said she. I'm strong
as you are and you're a fine lump"
The colonel drove away, still smiling
Today's pilgrimage took the RoOse-
welt party through a wild and pic
turesque region. through villages
ranging in size from few score in
habitants to 10000. In all the colonel
passed through Is towns.
John Mitchell, former president Of
the United Mine Workers of America :;
the Rev. Father ]. J. Curran of the
Church Of the Holy Savior of Wilkes
barre, and the Rev. Father ]. j. O'Don-
nell of Slowell. Pa, were in the auto
mobile with him. The first stop was
made at Brookside suburb of Wilkes
barre. In the crowd which had as
sembled here there was one woman,
who appeared to weigh about 275
pounds. Close by her side was a Wo-
man who looked as if she would not
tip the beam at 100 The large wo-
man brought up six children, which she
said We're hers. every one. and she in
troduced them to colonel. Then she
turned to the small woman and said:
Amt he handsome, Minnie?" The
colonel heard her and then gave the
signal to the chauffeur and amid Choir
us of Good bye Teddy" the car shot
away.
At Pittston. town of 10000. which
lies in the valley 10 miles from Wilkes
barre. Col. Roosevelt went to tine Ital-
ian settlement and visited two homes.
On the street. Mrs. Mary Lewis, an
elderly woman passed through a crowd
of men to the coloners side and said:
IN? the mother of five children
Fine. fine!" Col. Roosevelt exclaim-
ed. He grasped her hand, hardened by
years of heavy work, peered into her
faded blue eyes and said:
DO you know my opinion is that the
average American is always a pretty
good citizen. hut many times his wife
is a better one AS the automobile
moved away. the former President took
off his hat to the miners wife, who was
the mothe" of five children.
Pittston made day OF it. The streets
were filled with crowds. many houses
were decorated with flass and children in
the streets waved the colors. Everybody
was cheering from end to end of the
town as Col Roosevelt passed by. Pass
ing through Pittston Junction. the par
ty went on to Duryea.
First Roosevelt went into the home of
Mrs. Frank Kowalczeck. He found six
women already there and a good many
others rushed in.
The next stop was at ST. Cecilia school
in the outskirts of Wyoming Here an
extremely amusing incident occurred at
nearby country tavern. man who
apparently had been spending a large
part, of the day in the barroom was sleep
ing on the porch. AS the Roosevelt party
rode by the bartender rushed out, gazel
at the travellers and then shook the
sleeper Hey. wake up" he shouted
"Roosevelt's going by
The reveller rubbed his eyes sleepilv
and then sprang to his feet
Roosevelt going to buy?" he called
out gladly, and ran into the barroom.
His disappointment was great when the
colonel did not stop.
Returning to Wilkesbarre. Col. Roose-
welt mad luncheon with the Rev. Father
Curran and 40 other priests and resumed
his investigations at 3 p NJ At Kings
ton, the first stop. the crowd in the
streets was so dense that they frequent
ly halted the automobile At Avondale
Col. Roosevelt spent the happiest mo-
ments of the day. The population con-
sists chiefly of children and they gath
cred about him in clusters. Little Annie
Mclaughlin rushed up breathessly.
My mamma wants you to come right
in and see her" she cried She has got
Il children
The distinguished foe of race suicide
grasped his hat and fastened to the lit
tie house.
One of Mrs. McLaughlin's children in
sisted that the colonel play the piano.
Il can't he protested. well. play any
way" the girl begged. But he insisted
that ne could not do it. and impressed
Father Curran as a substitute. The cler-
gyman played and the children gathered
around the piano and sang
Nantico came next and the Rev. Father
j. Moreland took the travellers through
ST. Francis church. In the parish house
the second luncheon of the day was sery-
ed. Then the party drove to Fairview.
At a hotel at Glen Summit Springs 800
summer visitors were waiting to see the
colonel. At Bar Creek, Col Bert Lewis
gave a dinner in the coloners honor 1t
was well on toward midnight before he
got to Wilkesbarre. He is due in New
York early in the morning.