The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-06-21
TEDDY'S HOME
Vast Crowd Welcomes Hunter Back
From Elbaesque Jungles.
AROUSINC WELCOME

Men Prominent in all Walks of Life
and from all Parts Of the Coul-
try Were On Hand to Bid Him
Welcome. Will Have Nothing to
Say About Politics.
Theodore Roosevelt set foot on
home shores for the first time in
about fifteen months and received
a rousing welcome on Saturday as
he landed at New York
The sharp crack of the familiar
presidentian salute awakened Mr..
Roosevelt at seven o'clock as his
ship, the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria,
drew into the harbor. From the
mists of early morning emerged the
drab hull of the battleship South
Carolina, two lean, swift destroyers
and two torpedo be h5hind her.
Then spoke the gun. Blue clad
sailors lined the decks in c.2se
packed ranks, while massed on the
quarter deck Of the South Carolina
stood the marine band, solid splash
of scarlet coats, pounding out Tho
Star Spangled Banner"
1t did not take the colonel long
to get on the bridge, dressed for the
formalities of the day in a frock
coat and a top hat. For a moment
he stood bare-headed and waved to
the men in silent answer to their
cheers. Then the sight of the South
Carolina touched heart string.
"By George, that's one of my
ships, he exclaimed, doesn't she
look good. l built her and these
torpedo boats, too
He bore with his usual boyancy a
day of heavy fatigue, public duties
and private emotions comingled and
at 4:40 o'clock that afternoon left
the city he had surveyed the same
morning from afloat, reviewed in
parade ashore and greeted by ex-
plicit word of mouth to be welcome
more intimately by his lifelong
meighbors at Oyster Bay, L. l., that
night.
AS a private citizen he was still
the same vigorous man the city has
known for 30} years in various pub
lie offices from assemblyman to
president.
He had an expansive smile for
everybody, CHEEKY word for the
boys" his old friends the newspaper
men, pat anecdote for politicians,
especial greetings of affection for
his old command, the Rough Riders,
and quick eye for absolutely every
thing.
Roosevelt good luck" still fol-
lowed its namesake. Though hot
and sWtry, the weather held fair
until the marine parade, the exer-
cses at the battery and the march
up Broadway and Fifth avenue to
Central park had been carried
through with punctuality and precis-
ion. Then it rained great guns. A
rorreltial thunder shower, accom-
panied by high wind that did
much damage, swept suddenly down
on the homeward bound visitors, but
cleared again shortly before five
o'clock.
The welcome of Roosevelt was
shot through with damatic expec-
fancy which long ago found popular
expression in the typical phases,
1.-The return from Elba."
His welcome brought men prom
inent in all walks of life from all
parts of the country-therefor it
was national.
The first zest Of public curiosity
satisfied, speculation now turns on
what share Roosevelt will take in
an acute political situation within
speculation must rest unsatisfied.
The Col. has positively declared his
intentions by wireless the night be-
fore: Il shall have nothing whatever
to say in the immediate future about
politics." He kept his word.
Therefore there was nothing IN
the only speech he made at New
York Saturday that could be con-
strued as. applying specifically to
this or that phase of immediate
State or national issues. That he
will be importuned to take hand
in the New York campaign this fall
is a foregoEc conclusion, but by
his own declaration he will not COM
nit himself to any expression or
cpiniCn Until he has acquainted HIM
self ct first hand with just how the