The Washington times., 1910-11-19

Likewise, he saw the magnificent or
ntthOicEical collection which the expe-
dIt1On secured IN Africa and with the
enthusiasm Of one trained in bird lore
he told stories Of the weaver birds, the
ihises, the storSss The ostriches, and
countless species that have been Sc
cured for the Government exhibit
Many His Own
Many OF the specimens, especially Of
big game, the colonel had himself shot,
or Kermit had shot, or he was able 20
recall under what circumstances they
had been shot by other members OF the
party. He recOunted uumberless aneC-
dOtes with relation TO these In going
through the collection of African birds,
which is said 10 be the finest IN the
world, he told Of having shot several
OF the specimens on the wing
In the collection Of big game animals,
he was especially interested in seeing
the heads and skins Of the bOngO, the
g1ramesY The hippOs, the Thinos, TIE
elephants, and the antelope. With DT.
Merriam and the scientists he talked
about the various animals, their char
acteristics, and their habits with the
eagerness Of a born hunter, and with
the accuracy Of man trained IN sCien-
tito knowledge Of such matters
LectuTed From Ladder.
On arriving at the National Museum,
the Colonel, before he had hardly set
foot into the building, got into an ami
mated but goOd-natured argument with
Dr.. Merriam on the subject OF protec-
tive celebration In animals. Recently
Abbott b Thayer has been here and
has been giving voice TO his views on
protective cOloratiOns in which he is a
great believer.
Colonel Roosevelt doesn't think much
OF the business Of protective colOration-
He doubts II Nature has been embark
ing In the protective COlOTing scheme TO
any great extent He sad so, and IN
his energy stood on top OF a ladder
DitiOn Of African animals, and gave an
animated lecture on the subject
Flag Presentation
A pleasing incident Of the visit to the
National Museum was the presentation
10 the museum OF the United States
flag that accompanied the expedition
During the entire trip in Africa the
flag, carried by a native, preceded the
column when the expedition was on
the move, and when a. rest, it was
planted IN front Of the COlOnei's tent
The depOsiting Of this interesting relic
was due to Colonel MearnS.
One Of the most satisfying features of
Colonel RO6Sevelt's visit TO the museum
was the assurances he received from
officials that the collection from Africa
was certain TO prove Of great scientific
value
BY Georger' said the colonel. I'm
glad TO hear you say that. I'm glad TO
hear the trip did good
Colonel Roosevelt had nOthfne. to say
He is a guest at the Longworth home
while here This morning he received
a number Of old friends at the Long
worth house
Net General Wood
Among them was Gen Leonard Wood
-
entists. After that. as soon as he could
break away. he headed for the Museum.
where Secretary WaIcott- Of the Smith
snnian and other officials received him
warmly
After the visit to the Museum, Colonel
Roosevelt went TO lunch at the homo
Of Gilbert H GTOsvenOr, editor Of the
Geographic Magazine
This afternoon at 40 Mrs. LOngwOrth
opened her home 70 a number OF Off
Gals and their wives, inCludiu- CabI-
net members and their wives Colonel
Roosevelt wanted to call on large
number OF old official friends while here,
but he found 1t impossible 10 do So
Hence Mrs LOngwOrth arranged to
have this informal reception at her
home
Tonight the colonel will be the guest
at 2 dinner AT RaUsCher's, given by
Charles D Walcott, secretary Of the
Smithsonian Any number OF old
friends were insiStent on seeing the
former President today He saw al ne
could find time 10. but il was impossible
70 meet eli OF them He viii go TO Oys-
ser Bay tomorrow morning His visit %
Washington is the first he has made
alnce he left the White House
Net Genuine Welcome
The Colonel had a typical Roosevelt
ian time after his arrival IN Washing
ton at 40 yesterday afternoon At the
Press Club he met a hundred or 50
washington newspaper men, many OF
r--+= r.-Tr 81 las7
with him during the seven years Mr..
Roosevelt spent In the White House
at night he told the most distinguished
audience ever assembled In Convention
Hall about Wild Man and Wild Beast
in Africa"
At both receptions the Colonel was
enthusiastically greeted, the welcome
was genuine and the Colonel expressed
his appreciation that II was So There
was hardly breathing room at the
Press Club and the guest privileges had
left at Convention Hall, which was
filed with diplomats JuTlSJS, OaDlneI
officers, and men and women proull-
uent in the official. social, and CONNER
ciaI life Of the Capital
Careful On Politics.
Those who expected the colonel TO
break his silence while in washington
concerning the recent elections were
disaDpoiuted- At the Press Club and at
the contributing editor and faunal nat
l1raiist let slip just a sentence or 50,
clothed with ambiS guilty. which possibly
might be construed as a reference 10
politics Every one prIcked Up ears
only to have the colonel dart of upon
another subject without explaining
what he meant
81 do not want 10 make any com
meTits he said at the Press Club. II
was thinking Of one, however, that
would be sufficiently Inclusive. I wish
TO say that every dog has his day, but
The nights belong 10 the cats"
What did the colonel mean2 Must
one infer that the colonel already has
had his day. or that II Is yet TO Gomez
And who are the cats2 The cid guard
the reactiona-ies2 Every body is en-
sitied TO a guess
Again, at Convention Hall, the colonel
discussing an African judge
4 don't think the most sensitive could
object 20 me calling that judge fossil
lied. - And, once more
- titled buTeaEcrat viii keen the
rules. though the heavens fall
That Is about the sum total and the
substance Of everything the former
President Of the United States has had
20 say since ais arrival IN WASHINGTON