The Washington herald., 1919-01-07
Of Patrician Parentage on
Both Sides, Forsook Easy
Path to Wage Battle Of
People; Humanitarian;
Constructionist; Soldier.

Copyright. 1919, by the New York
Evening Post Company
Col. Theodore Roosevelt's life was
one long adventure.
He sought dangerous situations
in public life. in the wilds of the
Western United States, in the jun
giles of Africa, and the unexplored
regions of South America
He fearlessly attacked public men
in this country and on one occasion
he spoke in the Guild Hall, London,
berating the British for their treat
ment Of the Egyptians. The British
foreign minister heard the speech.
He criticised American Commercial
spirit" in a speech in Brazil At one
time he defied the German fleet,
giving it ten days to move from
Venezuelan waters and then reduced
the time, declaring he would blow
it out II it didn't move.
Col. Roosevelt was one of the few
Presidents of the United States to
leave the country after his term of
office. His trips to Africa and South
America were historical. Both were
made in the interests Of science.
Eleven Months In jungle.
On his trip to Africa, leaving the
United States March %, 1909, he
covered 2S.433 miles, spending prac-
tically eleven months in the African
jungles. He visited the capital of
nearly every country on the two
eastern continents, hOb-nobbed with
rulers and diplomats. Degrees
were conferred on him by the Uni
versities of Egypt, Leispic. Sor
bonne, Berlin. Christiania, Cam
bridge and Oxford. He was received
in audience by the Kings of Uganda,
Italy. Belgium, Norway and Eng
land; Emperors of Austria and Ger
many, Queen Wilhelmina of The
Netherlands, the Crown Princes of
Denmark and Sweden and the Presi-
dent Of France.
He was the first civilian ever to
review the German and French ar
mics, the flower Of each being called
out in special reviews for him.
His travel in the African jungles
game ever killed in Africa, among
which were several new specimens,
now in the Smithsonian Institution
He had two narrow escapes from
death from attacks by wild animals
He was made special ambassador of
the United States at the funeral of
King Edward of England
Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-fifth
President of the United States, was
born in New York City, October q,
1855, He was of the seventh genera
ton of Roosevelts in America, the first
Of the name, Claas Martenzen van
Roosevelt, having emigrated from
Holland to New Amsterdam in 164g.
Members of the family were promi-
nent in the commercial and public life
of the colony under both Dutch and
English rule, and, subsequent to the
Revolution. in the State. Among them
were merchants and lawyers of dis
tinction. who served both in the provin-
ctal and State legislatures.
On his mothers side, Theodore
Roosevelt was descended from some OF
the best-known families of the South,
combining in his veins the blood of
both Scotch-Irish and Huguenot an
cestors. His great-great-grandfa
Archibald Bullock, was a member of
the Continental Congress. and the first
state Governor of Georgia One of
his great-grandfathers, Daniel Stew
art, was a brigadier general in the
Continental army.
Career In College.
AS a boy Theodore Roosevelt was
not strong physically, being a suf-
ferer from severe attacks of asthma,
but he loved out-of-door life and
sports, and it was his devotion to
these that made him, when he en-
tered the freshman class at Harvard
College in the fall of 1876, fully up to
the normal strength of boys of his
age. At college he continued to build
up his strength by regular exercise in
the gymnasium. and engaged i'll yari-
Gus athletic sports, but never dis
tinguished himself in any of them
except boxing. He was one of the
editors of the Advocate, and was
active in college politics. His record
for scholarship was good, but not
brilliant He took the degree of A. b
in June, 1880, and went abroad for a
period Of study and travel Return
ing to the United States he entered
the Columbia Law School, at the
same time reading law in the office
Of his uncle, Robert B. Roosevelt.
Friend of Cleveland.
oie ne hau competed MS legal
education, however, an event took
place that turned his activities into
other channels than the law, and at
the same time opened up to him a
career OF public service to which he
determined to devote his energies
and talents. This was his nomina-
uon by the Republicans of the old
Twenty-frst District, in the fall of
lssl, as their candidate for the State
assembly. The Twenty-nrst was
something Of blue stocking" dis
trict- and Roosevelt. making a. spir-