The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-05-22
ROOSEVELT GIVEN
BIG OVATION At
OYSTER BAY
Entire Population Takes Part
In the Greeting
NO MENTION OF POLITICS
Colonies Remarks Confined TO an
Appreciation Of the Welcome
Of His Nelshbors

OlnN'I Day aas 80 ~ e-N HN
town OF Theodore Roosevelt, yester-
day. there was celebration which
went straight TO his heart His old
neighbors, friends OF a lifetime, wei
coined him back from the jungles,
and they did II in a way which made
the former president strangely silent
as he arose to face them and put an
unwonted huskiness in his voice
oyster Bays main street, lined for
the most part with low wooden build
Ings. was filed with crowd which
COMPRISED every one in the village
who was neither too old nor too
young TO be on hand. and Pine Hoi-
low, a Negro colony OF 400 inhaDi-
tants near there was present TO the
last resident. Long before Mr.. Roose
welt returned from New York, where
he had spent the day. the people were
awaiting him. On the buildings ana
strung across the street we're flags
and bunting. Nailed to a telegraph
pole was a huge sign which read
1916 and victory"
| AT last there came a shout, ana oV-
er the heads of the crowd could be
seen a big white straw hat waving
back and forth, Everyone knew IT
was the colonel. The people crowded
about him, and for quarter OF an
hour there was mild scramble 10
shake hands with him. The village
band played This is the Life. AT
ter that was over the crowd grew ST.
lent and 600 school children began
their song. AS they came to the Choir
us the crowd caught up the words,
which everyone knew, "Home again,
home again, from foreign shore.
Mr.. Roosevelt stood silent and grave
Of face while they sang.
The only hint Of politics came in
the speech of welcome of Robert Du-
vail, an Oyster Bay lawyer. who at
tackled the policies of the Wilson ad-
ministration. He concluded by say
ing that the eyes of the nation were
not on Washington but on Sycamore
hill. In his speech Mr.. Roosevelt
avoided politics and expressed his
heartfelt appreciation of the well
come extended by his townsmen.
81 have always been peculiarly
'ouched." he began, "by the way you
men and women have stood by me.
The first and only celebration to
which have consented on my return
| from South America, was yours. The
| older men here | have been brought
up with Those who are still a little
! older remember me, not always with
pleasure, as boy. don't know any
/ | boy who had god time who is al
ways remembered with pleasure by
! his elders.
I Now that have come back have
| got TO 90 off again and see another
!. | son get married. / am thankful to
+ say they've got the habit. / have Just
| returned from seeing my second grand
| child. and all the back counties are
/ not heard from yet. When | come
Q | back from Spain I'm going to ask IL
}. can't be given chance to address
y YOU and tell you something of my ex
+ periences in South America, which
: we're varied and not always pleasant
{ | That is something have not done
L vet anywhere. Ny old neighbors here
e have a peculiar claim upon me. Not
S only has your friendship held me, but
n | II always made me feel that | was un
/. der very solemn obligation to yot
to bear myself, both in private and IL
public life, so that, whatever your po
litical opinions must be, you woult
have no cause TO feel shame and re
gret that was your fellow-citizen.