Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-07
Citizens of Roosevelt
Family's Town Knew
Him As Friend.
NOT LOOKED UPON
AS NATIONAL FIGURE
Regret Not the Passing Of World
Renowned Parsonage But Of Theo-
dore Roosevelt Whom They Knew as
Boy, Husband, Father, Voter and
Fellow Worshiper ip Modest Little
Chureh-Aged Friend Overcome.

. oyster Bay, Jan. 7.-Oyster Bay to-
day mourned Theodore Roosevelt, the
"reminiscences of Roosevelt the bay,
Roosevelt the youth, Roosevelt the
man, Roosevelt the husband and father
in a family intimately associated with
two generations of the life of this quiet
Long Island village were being told
with unconscious simplicity by the
veteran citizens of the town to the
strangers who have been coming 10
Oyster Bay since yesterday in the hope
of obtaining ci-ds of admi.tancc to the
funeral service tomorrow at Christ's
church.
" hen the delegation of United
States senators and representatives an
rives here tomorrow aud men of ma
tioLal and international fame have as
sembled to pay their final tribute 10
the great American whose body VIII
lie in the Episcopal cdiiiCC a few miles
from the Roosevelt home on Sycamore
Hill, these distinguished visitors VIII
find Oyster Bay people regretting not
the passing Of a World-kn hgure.
but of merely a neighbor known to dii
here and beloved by all here for his
pure democracy as fellow voter anu
fellow worshiper.
Perhaps no more sincere tribute to
r-l H.tr n
where in the nation today than this
one accorded him by oyster Bay
neighbors who are relating in ulI-
adorned language their own story OF
the former president as they knew
and loved him.
Loved For Personal Worth.
The honors which the rulers of ma
tions are today bestoWing upon Colo
mel Roosevelt in the form of caole
messages meant little to the oyster
Bay residents in comparison with their
own messages of sympathy sent No
Mrs. Roosevelt sitting bravely in her
hilltop home surrounded by those ot
the Roosevelt children who have BEEN
able to come Ecme.
10 these residents the colonel was,
never a foremost figure in American
history and international events-eVeh
when he was president and MS sons
were growing boys. Roosevelt was
looked upon here rather as towns-
man than as noted statesman.
Such is the impression which one
finds exists in the Course OF CONVEX
sations with :he men and women Oh
OYSTER Ray who throughout their lives
have known the colonel as one OF
themselves.
German Friend Grieved.
- Tales without number were re-
counted in solemn recollection TO-DAY
OF the town life of the former pres7
dent There was the old German
American tradesman whose store stood
az If stands today in the heart OF the
village, when Teddy as boy was
accustomed to pass the little structure
each day. This elderly citizen OF
enemy birth but possessing an Amerl-
canis1n as staunch perhaps as tnat
of the colonel himself. entered the
oyster Bay Inn yesterday when ne
learned of the death Of the colonel TO
demand confirmation of news when
had shocked the world. Informed tHat
what he had heard was true, ne
collapsed in chair and gave ways to
emotion.
"If he's gone-if he is really gone
7 am thru" the old friend Of Theodore
Roosevelt said. There is nothing moro
for me to live for-if Teddy Is never
coming here again. Teddy-why> Teddy
used to sick his dog on me when ne
was boy"
Stuck to oil Lamps.
The food Of "reminiscences which
have swept oyster Bay brought to
public notice a circumstance which the
have long been familiar
with but regarding which the outside
world perhaps has never known.
1t is a circumstance which may be
said to be elouuently characteristic OF
the gentle life of the Roosevelt family
II was said that " was not until about
four months ago that the Sycamore
Hill house was installed with electric
lights.
Noted visitors from many lands.
private men OF renown. alike with In
missions sent by foreign
have come to the Saga
more Hill house to ind the colonel
writing, reading or debating by the
light of oil lamps. Thru his great
home only oil'burning lights were to
be found until few months ago. On
the desk at (which the colonel sat in
his presidential chair during White
House days there stood an oil lamp. It
was neighborly "Reminiscences today
which revealed why at last precedent
was shattered at the Roosevelt home-
stead as oil surrendered its place to
the more moder nelectricity.
"You know" the colonel was quoted
by a neighbor as saying, half apologeti-
cally. we just had 10 put in electric
lights. The servants demanded it,
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