The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-29
Sycamore Hill, Sept. q. 1907

Sycamore Hill, Sept. 81. 1907.
Blessed Archiekins:
We felt dreadfuIly homesick as you
and Kermit drove away; when we
think of the dory; and we mourn
dear little Skip. although perhaps it
was as well the little doggie should
mass painless1y away, after his happy
little life for the little fellow would
have pinned for you.
Your letter was a great comfort:
we'll send on the football suit and
hope you'll enjoy the football. Of
course it will all be new and rather
hard at first.
The house is '4put up: everything
wrapped in white that can be, and all
the rugs of the floors. Quentin is
reduced to the secret service men
for steady companionship.
Quentin's Snake Adventure.
White House, Sept. %, 1907.
Dearest Archie:
Before we left Oyster Bay, Quentin
had collected two snakes. He lost
one which did not turn UP again until
an hour before departure, when he
found it in one of the spare rooms.
This one he left loose, and brought
the other enc to Washington, there
being variety of exciting adventures
on the way; the snake wriggling out
Of his box once, and being upset on
the floor once. The first day home
Quentin was allowed not to go to
school but to go about and renew all
his friendships. Among other places
that he visited was Schmids animal
store where he left his little snake.
Schn7E presented I'm with three
snakes, simply to pass; the day with
a large and beautiful and very friend
ly king snake and two little wee
snakes. Quentin came hurrying back
on his roller skates and burst into
the room to show me his treasures.
was discussing certain matters with
the attorney general at the time, and
the snakes were eagerly deposited in
my lap. The king snake, by the way
although most friendly with Quentin
had just been making a resolute eff
fort to devour one of the smaller
snakes. AS Quentin and his me-
nagerie were an interruption to my in
tervieW with the department of JUS
tice, I suggested that he go into the
next room. where four congressmer
were drearly waiting until l should
be at leisure. I thought that he an6
his snakes would probably enliven
their waiting time. He at once fel
in with the suggestion and rushed III
to the congressman with the assur-
ance that he would there find kindred
spirits. They at first thought the
snakes We're wooden ones, and there
was some perceptible recoil when the,
realized that they were alive. Their
the king snake went up Quentin:
sleeve-he was three or four feet long
and we hesitated to drag him bacl
because his scales rendered that diff
ficult. The last I saw of Quentin
one congressman was gingerly help
ing him off with his Jacket, SO a.
to let the snake crawl out of tn
upper end Of the sleeve
In the fall of 1907 the presiden
made tour through the west an
south and went on a hunting trip il
Louisiana. In accordance with hi
unvarying custom he wrote regularl,
to his children while on his journey
ings
Trials of travelling President
On Board the q. S. S. MISSISSIPPI
Oct. /, 1907.
Dearest Ethel:
The first part of my trip UP to tn
tiIie tHdC we embarked on the rive
at heokuk was just about in the or
binary style. 1 had continually t
rush out to wave at the people a
the towns through which the trai
passed. If the train stopped any
where had to make a very shor
speech to several hundred people VIII
evidently thought they liked me, an
whom l really liked, but to whom
hao nothing in the world to say. A
canton and keokuk l went throug
the usual solemn festivitieS-the com
mlttee of reception and the guard Q
honor, with the open carriage, tn
hnes OF enthusiastic fellow citizens t
Whom l bowed continually right an
ieft, the speech which in each cas-
went on rather better than 1 dare
hope-for L felt as if 1 had spoke
myself out When I got on the boa
however, times grew easier. I sti
nave 10 rush out continually, stan
on the front part of the deck, an
wave at groups of people on shor,
and at stern wheel steamboats, drape
with American flags and loaded wit
enthusiastic excursionists. But I hay
great deal OF time to myself, and b
gentle firrnness l think have succeed
gu N impressing on my good hos
endt rather resent allopatic dose
VI information about shoals and dyke
the amount of sand per cubic foot
water, the quantity OF manufacture
supplied by each river town, etc.