Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-27
Roosevelt Wrote
Over 10000 Letters
During Public Life

1eW 1CIA, sept Go.-belV1QS 1ALO
the mine of 1901 letters which
Theodore Roosevelt wrote during his
public career, Joseph Bucklin Bishop.
the %colonel's biographer. in the Oc-
tober issue of a magazine, brings to
light a number Of gems" in the init
mate correspondence between the
former president Of the United States
and Sir George Otto Trevelyan, Bart,
O. NJ, English statesman and author,
with whom tho great American en-
toyed a rare friendship covering 20
years.
Mr.. Bishops paper. the second Of
the series, entitled Roosevelt and
Trevelyan," reveals the many-stded
Roosevelt as IAN Unsuitable reader Of
books" his warm sympathy for
authors and his broad and profound
knowledge Of ancient and modern
literature. Even amid the cares Of
shown, maintained a regular CORE
spondence with leaders of literary
and intellectual life both il this coun-
try and Europe. In Sir George
Trevelyan, a nephew Of the historian
Macaulay, he found a man singularly
responsive to his own intellectual
tastes and knowledge The corre-
spondence began when he was gov
ernor Of New York and continued un-
velt's death.
II certainly would not Be willing to
hold the presidency at the cost Of fail
ing to do the things which make the
real reason why I care to hold it at
ALL" he wrote to Sir George on May
20, 1904. II had much rather be q
real president for three years and a
half than a agurehead for seven years
and a half. l think I IAN truthfully
say that I now have to my credit a
sum OF substantial achievement-and
the rest must AXE care Of itself"
Previously. in 1888, Treveiyan had
sent Governor Roosevelt a copy Of the
first part OF his history, 'NThe Ameri-
can Revolution" which made azdeep
impression on its recipient and which
he praised for its interest, delightful
hunor, absolute fair m~indedness and
e1actness Of narrative" an opinion
which was shared by Senator Lodge
and E!ihu Root, both of whom later
Joined with Roosevelt in buying q
silver loving cup and sending It to
Sir George Is a token OF their appre-
citation. Roosevelt, his bioNapher
says. was always on the alert for
writers of only even moderate fame"
and OF encouraging them with friend
~ letters and invitations to visit him
at the White House or Oyster Bay.
The books that made tho president
happy covered a remarkable range,
history. fiction, philosophy. travel.
zoology. ORTHODOXY. anthropology,
religion and art and he said they gave
him ease and relaxation he could get
IN no other way, mot v e on horse.
back"
Statements and apot1egms charac.
tertsttcaly Roosevelttan abound in
this collection OF letters. Some OF
them are here reproduced for the first
time In n Newspaper.
and to mankind not to sink into help.
lessness before the powers Of evil
Unfortunately for us, small meu
do most Of the historic teaching IN
the colleges The great historian
must have the scientific spirit able t.
marshal and weigh the facts"
"The presidential once tends to put
. premium upon q mans keeping out
Of trouble rather than upon his &C.
u very apt to vote with IT. b4ck to the
future"
II do not think the average Amerf.
can northumberland q very high tyne
and I do not much admire him. OF
the whole. our people are. spiritually
9 we'll a. materially. on the aefael
better and not worse OF than thes
were 100 year. ago"
Each la knows where his owr
moo ptnches. I have had mos,
vivid realisation Of what It must have
meant to Abraham lincoln, In thu
midst Of the heart-bfeaking anxdedel
LOT the Civil wa, to have to take uS
his time trying TO satisfy candidates
for postmaster"