The San Francisco call., 1910-03-27
700 AMERICANS
AT RECEPTION
TO ROOSEVELT
Colonel DipIOmaticaIIy Avoids
Replying TO Expressions of
C0untrymen
FORMER President Visits the Old
Mosque and Dimes With
Khedive of Egypt
By JOHN cALLAN o'LAuGHLIN

BY JOHN CALLAN O'LAUGHLIN
Copyright by the Tribune company. Chicago,
I910)
Especial Gable TO The Call
CAIRO. Egypt. March 2e.-"won't
you straighten up old man Taft when
rou get home?" urged an Indianan
when presented to Colonel Roosevelt
at the reception given the Americans
in Cairo today in the garden of shep-
heard's hotel
The colonel avoided comment by sim
ply turning to the next man in lire
whose name was called out and ex-
claiming:
You're from Texas, Mr.. Bryant"
Il am a cousin of William Jennings
Bryan the tourist interrupted.
Tell them I'm coming TO San An
tonic if possible" said the colonel.
You know that was the headquarters
for the Rough Riders regiment when
Il was organized.
Bryan was displaced by a woman
from Illinois
REFUSES TO MAKE SPEECH
we want to see you in the White
y y
ing the former presidents hand. The
next time 7 see you 1 hope you will be
in Washington as president"
With the same suddenness shown
when he was advised to 'straighten up"
Taft. Colonel Roosevelt turned TO the
next woman.
we want you in 1912" she said.
These are samples Of the expressions
used by more than 200 Americans from
every section Of the country from Cali
Iornia 10 Maine and from Minnesota to
Texas.
Embarrassing as it must have been
Colonel Roosevelt showed no sign and
gave no hint Of what was working in
his mind That he thoroughly enjoyed
meeting his fellow countrymen was evil
dent from his attitude. He received
them in compliance with a petition
signed by 500 who came fully expecting
Tesounding speeches. They were dis
appointed in this respect, for when they
fled into the garden which was decor
sted with American and Egyptian flags,
looped gracefully among the soaring
palms, they were informed that he only
would shake hands
The former president looked over the
hundreds Of eNpectant faces and re-
<ponding TO their evident wishes said:
y 4 am not going TO make a speech, but
an pleased to meet you Americans so
FAR from home. I am glad to furnish
YOU evidence that the lion did not do
his duty"
LIKES GEORGIA ACCENT
Then taking position at the end OF
the walk he began to shake hands. The
frst woman said she was from Georgia.
Wei, I am glad to see you,' Colonel
Roosevelt replied. I am delighted to
hear the real Georgia accent gain"
A German from Pittsburg vigorously
shook hands. When you are in Ber-
lin" said the man in German. tell
Kaiser Bill you saw me-"
"All right" replied Colonel Roose-
velt with a smile, turning to the next
man. who announced he was from
Miles City, Mont.
Miles City. did you say?" exclaimed
Roosevelt. How long have you been
there?"
Thirty years" was the reply.
Then YOU must have known me
when I was in the big timber lands"
Il did know you when you were a
delegate to the county convention"
said the Montanan-
President Brinker of Lehigh uni
versity presented a young girl from
Indiana, who was shot in the leg while
in a mosque in Jerusalem.
I am so sorry" said Colonel Roose-
Welt, inquiring about another young
pirl from Pittsburg, who was shot at
recovering. Two men so years old
were introduced. They said they were
twins from New Britain, Conn.
we want you back again." said one
shrin voice.
VISITS Ell AZHAR MOSQUE
1t was noticed that about every fifth
woman had something to say about
washington to Colonel Roosevelt.
When the colonel left the gardens
'Fis Of Thee" with which song he had
been greeted when he first appeared.
The colonel visited the El Azhar
mosque which was completed in 9T5
A d. and has now been converted into
? university. It is an institution where
thousands Of men, boys and girls study
III q Koran.
~ when the former president arrived he
passed through the front door into a
large hall Through doorways came
The drOnfng Of voices of the students
recfting verses from the Koran. He
was conducted through various large
courts where were professors surround
ed by students. to whom they were lee
turning on Mohammedan literature, his
tory. Jurisprudence and science Every
thing was based in accordance with the
feacbings of the Koran in exactly the
same way as instruction was given
] 006 years ago
INTERESTED IN KORAN
Colonel Roosevelt was informed that
some OF the students never leave the
university. Many frequently remain 40
years.
He heard white bearded sheiks join
with shrill voiced boys Of years old
recftfng the teachings of Mohammed.
The visitor was taken TO the library
and shown rare old parchment manu-
scripts in Arabic, many beautifully
illuminated. These aroused the coloners
admiration. He recalled the observa-
ton on Mohammedanism of Marco Polo.
, traveller who flourished in the thir-
teenth century.
There the librarian displayed much
interest and began to talk voluntarily
and bring numerous treasures from
hidden recesses.
Colonel Roosevelt asked for the ad-
dress OF a book store where he could
purchase an old copy of the Koran and
then he returned to his hotel shortly
after HIS arrival Waiiy Bey, a Mo-
nsmmedan. appeared and gave him Il
hooks Of the Koran in Arabic illumi-
mated in gold. He explained that they
were presented because of the coioners