El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-26
Letters Published By RooseOeIts
Biographer, Reveal The CoLoneL's
Intimate Knowledge OfAHLiterature

NEW YORK. Sept. e6.-Delving into
1.-THE mine Of 10000 letters which
Theodore Roosevelt wrote during his
public career, Joseph Bucklin Bishop.
the coIoneTs biographer. in the Octo-
Der issue Of Scribner's magazine.
brings to light a number OF gems" in
the intimate correspondence between
the former president Of the United
States and Sir George Otto Trevelyan,
Bart. o. NJ. English statesman and
author. with whom the great Ameri-
can enjoyed a rare friendship covering
20 years.
Mr.. Bishops paper. the second Of
the series, entitled Roosevelt and
Trevelyan," reveals the many sided
Roosevelt as an Unsuitable reader Of
books his warm sympathy for
authors and his broad and profound
knowledge Of ancient and modern lit
erature- Even amid the cares Of the
presidency Mr.. Roosevelt it is shown,
maintained a regular correspondence
with leaders OF literary and intellec-
/ tual life both in this country and
Europe. IN Sir George Trevelyan, a
nephew Of the historian Macauley. he
found a man singularly responsive to
his own intellectual tastes and knOWl-
edge The correspondence began when
he was governor Of New York and con-
tinued until a few months before Mr.
RoOsevelt's death
Wished to Be Real President.
4 certainly would not be willing to
hold the presidency at The cost Of
falling TO do the things which makes
the real reason why / care 10 hold Il
at all, he wrote 10 Sir George on May
%, 1904. I had much rather be a real
wv Pr ~ hnN
than a figurehead for seven years and.
a half / think / can truthfully say
that / now have TO my credit a sum
Of substantial achievemenr-and the
rest must take care Of itself"
Previously, in 1893. Trevelyan had
sent governor Roosevelt copy OF the
first part Of his history, The Ameri-
can Revolution" which made a deep
impression on its recipient and which
he praised for its interest delightful
humor, absolute fairmindedness and
exactness OF narrative" an opinion
which was shared by senator Lodge
and Elihu Root, both Of whom later
Joined with Roosevelt in buying a sill
yer loving cup and sending 1t TO Sir
George as a token OF their apprecia-
ton Roosevelt. his biographer says
was always on the alert for writer's Of
only even moderate fame" and Of en-
couraging them with friendly letters
and invitations to visit him at the
white house or Oyster Bay.
The books that made the president
happy covered a remarkable range,
history, fiction, philosophy. travel, 20
ology. ornithOlogy, anthropOlogy, re
igion and art and he said they gave
him ease and relaxation he could get
in no other way. not even on horse
back"
Roosevelt Apothegms.
Statements and apothegms charac-
81 g.
this collection Of letters Some Of
them are here reproduced for the first
time in any newspaper;
"A great, free people owes Il to
itself and 10 mankind not 10 sink into
helplessness before the powers of
Unfortunately for US. small men
do most Of the historic teaching IN
the colleges. The great historian must
have the scientific spirit. able 70 mar
shall and weigh the facts
The presidential office tends 70 put
a premium upon a mans keeping out
of trouble rather than upon his &C
complishing results. The electorate
is very apt TO vote With its back TO
the future"
7 do not think the average Ameri-
can multimillonaire a very high type
and / do not much admire him. on
the whole, our people are, spiritually
as well as materially. on the average
better and not worse off than they
were 100 years ago
Each man knows where his own
shoe pinches. I have had a most vivid
realization Of what IT must have
meant TO Abraham Lincoln. IN the
midst Of the heartbreaking anxieties
Of the civil war TO have TO take up
his time trying. TO satisfy candidates
for postmaster"
There are numerous and grave
evils incident TO free government. but,
after all is said and done. I cannot
imagine any real man being willing 10
live under any other system"
was shot through the woof of his wild