The sun., 1919-01-07
was probably Roosevelts first venture

MS ambition TO be a naturalist, but there |
lie became convinced that all the out of |
door worlds of natural history had been |
conquered and that the only worlds re-
mining were to be conquered through !
the laboratory, the microscope and the
scaipel
In his natural history studies. rs in
all his other undertakings, Col. Roose-
welt was most painstaking and accurate |
and on more than one occasion he |
emerged triumphant from dispute with |
some professional national historian over |
some rare specimen.
Scientists generally acknowledged the
Colonel an authority In this field. Gail
Akeley. head of the elephant hunting
expedition in Africa for the American
Museum of Natural History. and now
connected with the Elephant Hall of the
museum. paid tribute yesterday to this
phase OF Col, Roosevelt's accomplish
ments. Mr. Akeley, while hunting ele-
plants in the African wilds. encountered
the Roosevelt expedition there and
hunted with the party for some days.
Col Roosevelt was an amateur
naturalist. and yet he was a naturalist
Of splendid training" said Mr.. Akcley.
He had the keen eye and mind of
the Ideal naturalist and he was further
'ided by "A phenomenal memory such as
few men poseess. He found infinite Joy
In studying wild animal life In its ma
tive haunts and the least of his pleas
lFe In killing 1t. His greatest pleasures
lay In seeing and learning. thereby
proving him an ideal naturalist.
Many OF his statements on the sub
icct of his explorations and discoveries
were twisted and ridiculed by hostile
md ignorant press HIS enemies made
great fun OF the River OF Doubt. the
ncharted stream he traced to its source
n the South American wilds But the
act remains that he rendered n grca,
service to-~ehe science OF geography BY
coating 1t exactly.
Incidentally. | believe that his ex-
'osure and trials on that Brazilian trip
ed TO his death"
As a nature lover at all times the
President seems to have stood the test OF
being able to see little things as we'll as
oiE things, and of seeing without effort
| and premeHietion. Yet a degree OF ma
| fence was required for the accumulation
| I his KNOWLEDGE in these fields The
| "drolers, both in color and in song. are
| 'hwi!derinG to the experienced ornitholo-
list. Nevertheless. Burroughs say, the
| resident had mastered every one OF
| them
| lie wrote Burroughs one day that ne
| had Just come in from walking with Mrs
| Roosevelt about the White House
Grounds looking up the arriving war
blers
| Puzzled by One Warbler.
Most Of the warblers" he said were
up in the tops OF the trees. and | could
not get glimpse OF them. but there
| was one wit. chestnut checks, with
bright yellow behind the cheeks and a
yellow breast thickly streaked with
black, which has puzzled me. saw the
black burrian. the summer yellow bird
and the black throated green"
But he did not let his yellow breasted
visitor go away without learning his
name. A few days later ne wrote: II
have identified the warbler. 1t is the
Cape May"
During his Presidency Roosevelt was
democratic in his relation with not only
men who had ideas to give him, but with
men who were OF service TO him in living
the strenuous life. Mike Donovan at the
White House boxed with him. and a
jiu-jitsu artist taught the President the
secrets OF that science. In expianins
why he had "as a practical man Of high
ideals who had always endeavored &c
put his ideals in practice" conferred
with Mr.. Hartman, the railroad mag
nate, and Mr.. Archbold Of the Standard
OIL Company. the former President mad,
these assertions:
II have always acted and shall al
ways act upon the theory that II, while
in public Office, there Is any man from
whom l think | can gain anything o.
value 20 the Government, I will send toi
} him and talk 1t over with him, no matt,
how widely differ from him on otheI
points.
II actually sent for, while I was Pres
ident trust magnates. labor leaders. SO
| ii, Tnk, C,,li Ra I'M r. n
son. DR. Lyman Abbott l could go oil
indie lnitely with a list Of people whom
at various times have seen or sent for
And Il am elected President again
shall continue exactly the same cours
OF conduct. without the deviation of
hairs breadth. And X ever l find tina
my virtue Is SO frail that 1t won't stan'
being brought into contact with eithe
trust magnates or Il Socialist or labo
; leader. ] will get out OF public lie
Family All Outdoor Folk.
The whole family was devoted TO ou
of door life. The White House stable
contained excellent riding horses. Tier
was horse or pony for every membe
Of the family. There were two mount
q for the President, one being Rusty.
+. bay heavyweight hunter on which IN
= President frequently jumped fences
, the country to remind him OF the tim
when he once rode to hounds on Lon
a Island.
= Because Of the Presidents examp
q there was probably more good healthf,
= exercise taken In Washington durin
this administration than has been know
p there before or since. Americans al
!. not generally credited with being al
!. iemic, but the official and social duti'
+, Of the capital never before were I
n crowded in between sets of tennis, rid!r
" and walking settos.
Al His contests the President held M
-e only with his boys and other members
It his family, but with Cabinet officers ar
s. foreign diplomats. Capitals of EuroI
X were sometimes highly entertained
lie accounts Of their representatives follow
ing the President, who had invited the
g. for afternoon walks. across fence
D. bitches and through mud ankle dee