New-York tribune., 1910-10-05
ROOSEVELT EXALTS DUTY
At Freeport Holds Up Fireman
as Example of Performance.
"HIT THE LINE HARD" AGAIN
Tells Children of Delights OF
Play Earned by Results of
Serious Endeavor.
"HIT THE LINE HARD" AGAIN
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune. J


Freeport. Long Island, eighteen miles from
here. was in gala dress this afternoon in
honor of Theodore Roosevelt, who made
two speeches at the fifteenth annual con-
vention of the Southern New York Volun-
teer FYremen's Association, which opened
there to-day.
Neither Of Mr.. Roosevelt's speeches was
Of q political character. He addressed an
audience of several hundred men and wom-
en-. who filed every available foot of space
in the miniature Freeport Opera House.
taking for his subject Good Citizenship.
Later he spoke in the open air TO thou
sand school children. who occupied seats
on two large grandstands.
4 committee from the firemen's conven-
ton. Of which J. Huyler Ellison was chair
man. called at Sycamore Hill early in the
afternoon and took Mr. Roosevelt to Free
mort in an automobile. a promise to speak
to the school children was eXacted from
him on the way over. and one of the COM
nittee stopped at Jericho and sent the
word ahead in order TO have the children
on hand.
Small triumphal arches had been erected
over the towns principal streets, and
every building was brilliant with flags and
bunting. The townsreople lined the streets,
awaiting the ex-President, and when he
anneared in the automobile he was cheered
al the wav TO the hall where he spoke.
AlIusion to Politics Ignored.
Mr.. Roosevelt talked twenty minutes on
the essential attributes of good citizen
shin. and held up the fireman who per
forms mis- duty as an example of the man
with the right kind Of stuff in him. He
Maid his usual tribute to the mothers III
the audience, and dwelt on the cardinal
virtues. necessary to the home TO rear the
right kind Of future American citizens
There were cries of How about Sara
-oga?" and Whats the matter with Stlm-
son?'' but the speaker ignored the allusion
10 Dolitics, and merely answered the queries
with a broad smile.
The ex-President was in good humor with
the school children, and kept them laugh
ing and applauding him while he spoke.
Il am always glad TO greet the grown
ups.'' he said, but still more glad to greet
the young folks
7 am interested in all your crops. but
there is none 1 approve of more than the
crop OF babies, as you know The funda-
mental task Of the father and mother
in the home is to bring up and edu-
cate the boys and girls who will control
the future destiny of the country. There is
inst one person more important than the
teacher and that is the mother / will
guarantee that the mother sometimes has
al she can DO.
II want TO speak a word 10 the children
themselves / don't know as ! am very
competent to speak 10 the little girls but
with the boys it is different, for l was a
boy myself But let me tell you to try
your best and make yourselves useful in
vour home No one has much time for the
little girl who will run her legs off al play
but can't go upstairs TO get something when
her mother wants her to-"
Tells Boys. "Hit the Line Hard"
When the ex-President turned in the
direction where the BOYS were the thickest
and said, Now for the boys" they respond
ed with a hearty cheer. When he told the
Youngsters not 10 play in school there were
loud cheers Of boyish laughter
play hard out Of doors so you casl sit
still in school" he said. IF you play foot
hall on your school eleven hit the line as
hard ar you can and try to go at your
hooks in the same spirit thoroughly be
lieve in enjoyment, but IT is for the best
when II comes as a sequel of work When
you play. play hard. but when you work
don't play al all
The FreepoTt committeeman drove Mr
Roosevelt 10 Oyster Bay in their automo
bile. Congressman W. ". Cocks, who wa;
reuomlnated to-day from the Oyster Bay
district, ioined them on the return trip
Mr. Roosevelt had little comment To make
when lie was told that Ezra T. Prentice had
I cen selected as chairman OF the Republican
state Committee
Mr.. Prentice IS good. fair choice fol-
the place" he said
Denies Report of Auto Accident.
Colonel ". r. Nelson, proprietor of ''The
Kansas City Star" and Ray Stannarf
Baker, a magazine writer were guests al
Sycamore HilI for luncheon to-day. There
were no political visitors
Mr Roosevelt rode cross country OF
horseback for several hours this morning
lie denied the report that his horse had been
struck by an auto and lie had bareiS
escaped a bad fall.
1t is true that I was out riding my
favorite horse" he said. but we met with
no accident or Inconvenience"
Mr.. Roosevelt viii go into New York &C
the Office OF The Outlook Tomorrow
afternoon. He speaks on Good Citizen
shin" in Brooklyn tomorrow night and re-
mains in the city over night He starts Oh