New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-10-12

on WHICH pOiut NolOHel NOOSeNclt pl
recall very wildly an incident
which made me wish most heartily
that he had never taken more than
a passing interest in snakes. One
day, upon my arrival at Sycamore
Hill, Colonel Roosevelt was busy
with caller in the renowned North
Room. | went Immediately to the
library, put my things in readiness
for instant attention the moment
Colonel Roosevelt should arrive. In
quickly laying out my worl, l did not
notice a large glass jar on the desk
alongside Of The silver horseshoe
penholder stand, presented by Bob
Fitzsimmons, and just behind the
elephant hoof inkwelD, containing
snake in alcohol, until l started
around the desk to lower the shade
It the west window. I'll warrant
10 one ever moved as fast in that
historic mansion as / did when |
aw the snake. ] regained my equi-
ibrium in q moment or two, and
nortly afterward. when Colonel
Roosevelt arrived, the first letter he
dictated was to the sender of the
snake, identifying its species and
telling him it was non poisonous
yariety.
Economy
Efficiency said Colonel Roose-
yelt, "saves time" He abhorred
waste motions Of mind or body. In
meeting men, and he met scores
daily, at his office or the Harvard
Club, or at MS home or elsewhere,
he knew just what he had to say to
each and went right to the point,
without delay or even preface. SO,
IN the other hand, he expected each
nan to be ready to say to him just
THAT the man had in mind. One
ach interview was sufficient TO
ZACH man this lesson, and none
yer forgot or neglected it; without
which Colonel Roosevelt could not
cave accomplished all ne did
On their first meeting with the
Colonel, by appointment, frequently
many Of ms callers felt hopeless as
they saw the throng which awaited
aim; yet, after this first call, they
never worried, having seen how
quickly he disposed of large numbers
Of people, Probably no man in the
Torld had wider circle Of friends
and acquaintance than Colonel
Roosevelt, yet lie never seemed to
forget face or Il name; indeed, IL
nlnety-nlno cases out of 4 hundred
ne asked his visitor some personal
question in regard to his family or
MS business, or remarked about
some Incident Of mutual interest Of
years back. Precedence seldom was
SHOWN IN greeting his callers, the
Colonel greeting them in the order
IN which he happened to meet them.
While talking with one man he
might single out one or two and in
urn beckon To them.
IF you don't mind" he would
Whisper, Il would like to ask you
" Wait, as / have something to say
" you" yet not for an instant was
mere the slightest apparent inter
'op,ion or break in the conversation
IN which he was engaged.
on few occasions he has been
N"o"n 70 turn over certain visitors
" trusted aid Who happened to
~ present, with the assurance that
"'s aid could handle their subject
as well as himself, and ~ save his
'HiNrs time, but such cases were
extremely unusual, az has custom
"as u talk n each caller in person.
~ ms dealirYs, Immediately and
af'nouf pretezt, he would come 10
,"e p'int n the matter in hand He
"s'o IN especial ne9ard the person
"ho met The UNPLEASANT duties with
w waste II time, and when he had
alsagfeeabIe taek he did not put
. OF, but dispogcd Of IL at once.
one u his biographers writes III
'"'oTs: Il remember once hearing