The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-10

were such. But he never wasted time in
mourning, explaining or vainly regretting
them. 1t is also true that the middle
way did not attract him. He was apt to
go far, both in praise and cehsure, al
| though nobody could analyze qualities
and balance them justly in judging men
better than he.
| He spoke out with the most unre-
strained frankness at all times and in all
companies.
when he had reached his conclusion
he acted quickly and drove hard at his
object and this it was, probably, which
gave an impression that he acted some
| times hastily and thoughtlessly, which
was a complete misapprehension Of the
man. His action was emphatic, but en-
phasis implies reflection, not thoughtless-
ness.
HE had no hostility to a man because
he had succeeded ia business or because
he had accumulated fortune. He had
but one standard. one test, and that was
whether a man, rich or poor, was an hon
est man, a good citizen, and good Amer
lean"
Theodore Roosevelt had the largest
personal following ever attained by any
man in our history. BY personal follow
ing is meant here that which supports
and sustains and goes with a man simply
because he is himself, a following which
does not care whether their leader and
chief is in office or out of office, which is
with him and behind him because they
one and all, believe in him and love him
and are ready to stand by him for the
sole and simple reason that they have
perfect faith that he viii lead them
where they ought to 60"
Roosevelt's courage and sense of hu-
NOR drew many to him, Senator Lodge
observed.
mo man ever had a more abundant
sense of humor-joyous, irrepressible hui
mor--and it never deserted him. said tho
senator. Even at the most serious and
even perilous moments, if there was a
gleam of humor anywhere he saw it and
rejoced and helped himself with it over
the rough places. He loved fun, loved to
Joke and cbah, and what is more uneom-
mon, greatly enjoyed being chaffed him
self. Even more generally effective than
his humor was the universal knowledge
that Roosevelt had no secrets from the
AIHel Atdh peopIts
Another quality, "homely, generous hu-
manity," was emphasized by Senator
Lodge,
Tile never by any chance bored the
American people" he said. "They might
laugh at him or laugh with him, they
might like what he said, they might
agree with him or disagree with him, but
they were never woaried of him and he
never failed to interest them. He was
never heavy, laborious or dull !
mo man ever priced sentiment or hat
ed sentimentality more than he.
He preached increasingly the familiar
morale which lie at the bottom Of both
family and public life
Concluding, Senator Lodge said:
Theodore Roosevelt's ideal Of public
service was to be found in his life, and
as his life drew to its close he had to
meet his ideal of sacrifice face to face
All his soBs went from him to the war
and one was killed upon the field of hon
or.
This is not the place to speak of his
private life, but within that sacred circle
no man was ever more fortunate in the
utter devotion of a noble wife, and the
passionate love Of his children The abb
selute purity and beauty of his family
life tell us why the pride and interest
which his fellow countrymen felt in him
were always touched with the warm light