The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-20

at $40 o'clock tonight for the first time in seven months. His home coming was quiet affair in sharp contrast with the noisy welcome he received when all New York turned out to greet him on his return from Africa four
 years ago.
 A group of 30 persons, old friends
 and relatives, stood quietly on the sandy
 beach at the cove on oyster Bay, just down the hill from Colonel Roosevelt S
 home, as the former President, leaning heavily on cane, and assisted by two
 men. toiled up the gangway from the
 landing place. It was a shock to his
 old friends, to whom his.unusual physi- cal vigor had been always a source of wonder, to note the change.
 But though Colonel Roosevelt had
 paid this penalty for his researches in the jungle he gave no sign of change in manner. His voice had the same ring, his gestures were as vigorous and his teeth came together with the same sharp click, as he stood there on the beach to greet his old friends. 1t was a picturesque scene. Since long before
 sundown the little group had been waiting on the beach. As night fell | two lanterns were brought. Here and i there thin finger of light, from the waiting automobiles parked on the l shore. shot across the dark waters of | the bay. Across the water the lights l of the village glowed. Few words were | spoken as the little company awaited the first glimpse of the lights of the tug bearing the former President from | New York harbor.
 Tug Is Sighted
 | Shortly after o'clock the tug was l sighted. She steamed in slowly and after what seemed to those on shore , like an interminable delay rowboat l put off and crept up to the wharf | Not word was spoken until a ia miliar voice was heard across the
 water. Why. hello" cried Colonel
 Roosevelt. hello there"
 A little cheer went up as those on shore caught sight of bronzed face, | lighted by the rays of the boats lam | tern. Mrs. Richard Derby Colonel Roosevelt's youngest daughter, ran | down the gangway and put her arms
 about her father as he was helped slow
 ly from the boat to the wharf. He
 made his way up the incline to land
 and stopped to greet his friends By George, it is good to see you all, | he said with the broadest kind of a smIle !, How do you feel?" was the first ques- l ton put to him.
 "Fine, fine. just fine,' he exclaimed. The next question he cut off short No politics, no politics." he said Not word of politics. I'm going to stay
 here quietly in Oyster Bay for 10 days,
 until I leave for Europe for my son s l wedding. I shall go nowhere except to Washington to speak before the National Geographic society,"
 Washington is a bad place for you now broke in someone.
 'I wish you were there now, Theodore, , came from a gray haired woman. | The colonel laughed at this remark. ''If I la. Some Big Stick
 1 But he decided not to say what he would l do. He stopped short, then, raising his 1 cane, said with laugh, You see I still ! have the same big stick
 ''It seems good to be hOme," he con ! tinued. warding off further questions 1 In spite of Colonel Roosevelts weak | ened condition and his loss of considerable weight his relatives showed no uneasiness as to his condition. They said he had
 nearly overcome the effects of the jungle fever and that after a weeks rest at l his home he would be as fit as ever. 1 There was a family reunion at Saga
 more Hill tonight. It was Mrs. Roosevelt who devised and directed the arrange
 ments to make her husbands home-com- 1 ing quiet one. Few persons in the
 village of Oyster Bay knew when the | colonel would reach here or how he would l come. The village band had been prac- ticing furiously for week orf Hail to the Chief" the school children had been drilled in singing America and a great store of flags and bunting was on hand to decorate the village One citizen pur- chased keg of gunpowder with the avowed intention of firing a salute of | 21 guns with a rusty old cannon in the 1 public square, but Mrs. Roosevelt pre-. l ferred to have the celebration delayed ! fearing her husband would be too tired l to go through with it. It is expected
 that Oyster Bays official welcome will 1 take place Thursday.