Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-20

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mi friends and neighbors: l hope
need not say how glad 1 am to see
you and be with YOU again. My trip
began on the 23d of March year ago.
when you babe me good bye at the
station and this is the ending, when l
get through speaking. 1t is gooo 10
see you again at the station and walk
up behind the band.
II enjoyed hearing the children sing
and | hope there are some cnlldreh
present from the same school that my
children attended.
Il am glad to see you all again, men,
women and little Oysters.
"A normal school boy passes ms
time in a state of semi-warfare WIFI
his elders and I suppose l was no eN-
ception to the rule. but those VINO
knew me as a small boy seem to nave
forgiven me by this time.
81 can't say how much these nome
comings to Oyster Bay have meant 10
me in the last dozen years. Kho" you
all and I do not think there Is one
among YOU with whom l am not on eooo
footing. / never can forget the welcome
YOU gave me when l came back from
the Spanish American War.
ct have had most interesting trip and
enioved It very much, lions and every
thing. | enjoyed it little more on ac-
count of the lions. 1 started at the mead
quarters of the Nile, where the people
are in a state of savagery, and finished
I'D at the most highly civilized capitol
in the world. l enjoyed everything. Afri-
ca and Europe and the capitals of Eu-
rope and their rulers.
But this is not the occasion to talk
of my trip. Some day l shall tell you
all about it, This is merely a greeting
and wish to thank you all.
1T touched me deeply to have so many
of my neighbors come to New York and
take part in the welcome and the parade.
But 1t touched me more deeply to see you
all here, to live among you again as l
have for the last 40 years. to take up my
duties.
''The first duty of man is in his own
family. Before a man can aspire to re-
form nation he must turn his attention
to the folks at home"
When Colonel Roosevelt had finished a
local Italian society presented him with
an address on parchment. Then the col
onel held an impromptu reception during
which larger part of the people of Oys-
ter Bay shook hands with him. The smile
he wore constantly showed how glad he
was to be back home
One newspaper man pushed forward
and sought an interview
There is nothing more that l can say
replied the colonel.
'One thing 1 want now is absolute pri-
vacy. 1 want to close up like native
oyster. l will go to New York Monday
to attend my boys wedding and will so
to the city on Wednesday to see my edi-
torial duties l hope you representatives
of the press will not come up to Saga
more Hill, because l have nothing to
say"
Then he discovered the newspaper
men in the press stand
I'm overwhelmed with pleasure to
meet ycu all here. gentlemen" he ex-
claimed. waving his hand and smiling
extensively.
We're mighty glad to have you
back" shouted q candid reporter.
Most of the newspaper men had the
colonel's speech in their pockets in adj
vance. He made but one departure
from it.
Mr. Mayor. fellow townsmen. and to
you, my fellow Americans" he began
A tremendous wave of cheering went
up as the word Americans received es-
pecial emphasis.
Did l follow copy boyS?' he asked
as the cheering still fingered over his
closing sentences.
ITO a word' came back an appreci-
alive chorus from the press stand.
The exercises at the battery We're
surprisingly brief and simple and al
most before the people realized it they
were over. Mr.. Roosevelt, the mayor
and Cornelius Vanderbilt were moving
toward their carriages in the line of
parade. Long after they were swal-
lowed into the multitude. the crowd
fingered to exchange "reminiscences.
They had their fill of impressions but
the real excitement of the day was on
ly beginning.
While Colonel Roosevelt and his eS-
cort were waiting in their carriage for
the head of the parade to form. the 144
Rough Riders who had come from ev
cry part of the country, some of then.
from as far as Alaska. had their first
chance to greet their old chief
AS the Roosevelt carriage drew up
behind them they gave long, wild
yell. The colonel was on his feet in an
instant.
81 certainly love all my boys" he
shouted back, and again there was d
yell almost hysterical in intensity.
The parade started at 1870 In
front of the Rough Riders and leading
the line was a detachment of mounted
police. Then came the mounted band
of Squadron A, New York National
Guards, followed by the Rough Riders.
followed by the Roosevelt carriage
followed by 80 carriages, in which rode
the visiting mayors. governors, mem
bers of the House of the United States
Senate and members of the reception
committee. Eight mounted police, all
formerly cavalrymen who served in the
Spanish American War. surrounded
Roosevelt carriage.
The line of march in the lower city
was through a seething whirlpool of
enthusiasm. The tall cliffs of the
canyon that is Broadway were speckled
with faces at the windows.
Everything imaginable was waved
allow and aloft. Whirls of descending
ticker tame thrown from windows in