The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-14

PERTAINING stories of his trip. such as
of the gun-bearers struggles with
English and their great pride when,
discovering an ostrich chick, they
blurted out.
Look at the bull cowpups."
Bully" calculated Colonel Roose-
Welt once, and then he stopped.
Il mustn't say bully any more" he
continued. "A distinguished critic has
said this word is used only by child
rem and ex-presidents.'
The distinguished traveller chaffed
Cunninghame about his enormous beard
declaring he would have to make his
acquaintance over again when 1T was
removed. and promised him the freedom
of New York, provided he had proficient
influence with the police authorities.
The colonel talked amusedly of the
letters bich penetrated even to mid
Africa from strangers desiring him to
send such trifles as a water baby or a
2Q0-pOund live snake. tigers claws for
Shriners and all-pink baby elephants,
not too old to train or too young to
bring up
Pitied the Helpless Rhinos.
The colonel received many letters of
criticism; one man asking how he had
the heart to kill poor. unoffending
rkinoceroses. He suggested that prob
ably the writer had never been charged
by an angry rhinoceros in the long
grass.
Colonel Roosevelt manifested the
sionaries whose stations he visited
throughout his long line OF march. He
declared he found them Whole-hearted
men and women sacrificing themselves
for the advance of Christianity.
The last station the colonel visited
near Gondokoro he described as but a
transplanted Emporiasss Kan, done, in
etony. = - =
cially keen in regard to American poll
ties, but the colonel declined, as on all
occasions, to discuss politics
Politics TaboOed.
AS, indeed, throughout the dinner
politics was absolutely tabooed.
The distinguished traveller takes the
results of his expedition decidedly seri
ously. He is not only personally salts
fed with having acquired all the par
t1cular specimens whereupon he had set
his heart, such as white rhnoceroses,
giant eelands and the digdig, but says
the scientists will agree that no such
collection ever came out of Africa be-
fore. He has series of the species
when in London to visit the British
museum and verify certain specimens
believed to be nameleSs.
Colonel Roosevelt entertains a high
re gard for his guns and has made an
interesting collection of the bullets
" bich brought down notable game, for
instance. the nickel sheathing of the
bullet which saved his life from a
charging elephant and the fiattened
shell which killed desperate rhinoceros
in the nick of time.
The colonel will have the story of his
trip and his book complete when he
reaches Khartum. He says then he will
put it out of his mind and devote him
self to the business and pleasure of his
return trip.
The preparation of the matter has
taken a great deal of time and labor.
Every word has been written by hand.
During the years expedition the only
newspaper constantly read was New
York country weekly subscribed for by
Mr.. Mearns and publishing chiefly i'm
portant items about Bill Williams new
buggy, Neighbor Jones' painted barn
and the weekly sewing circle.
Dressed for Company.
The pigskin library proved a valued
friend. The volumes appeared well
thumbed and the colonel said they had
been read under all conceivable cir
cumstances. He added to his library
the October Scribner's.
At the last station where the Dial
obtained wood, the colonel had landed
and strolled among the matched, conf
cal native huts, followed respectfully
by half naked blacks, curious for
sight of the Bwana Tumbo, of whose
progress rumors had reached them.
He was followed by a native gun bear
er picturesquely undressed in khaki
pants reaching six inches above the
knees and red fez.
Kermit Roosevelt and Mr.. Heller
also landed with their gums and shot
ducks for dinner. In looking for a
bird Kermit carried his firearm ready
for action and fired unerringly. From
the point on the bank where Colonel
Roosevelt stood appropriateness fire.
quently were seen, while the scaly
backs of crocodiles rose above the wa
tiers along the shore.
Coming down the stream Colonel
Roosevelt frequently met officials and
was invited to hunt special game. But
all the invitations were declined.
The colonel dressed in their honor,
buttoning his shirt at the throat and
adding a green silk tie.
Colonel Roosevelt's success in
shooting in the Soudan a dozen ante