The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-07
NEIGHBORS IN TRIBUTE
Knew Roosevelt From Boyhood Until
Day of His Death.

Oyster Bay, Jan. 7.-Oyster Bay to-
day mourned Theodore Roosevelt the
neighbor. "reminiscences of Roose
welt the boy; Roosevelt the youth;
Roosevelt the man; Roosevelt the hus-
band and father in a family inti-
mately associated with two genera
tons of the life of this quiet Long
Island village were being told with
unconscious simplicity by the veteran
citizens of the town to the strangers
who have been coming to Oyster Bay
since Monday in the hope of obtain
ing cards of admittance to the funeral
services Wednesday at Christ church.
When the delegation of United
States senators and representatives
arrives here "Wednesday and men of
national and international fame have
assembled to pay their final tribute
to the great American whose body
will lie in the Episcopal edifice a few
miles from the Roosevelt home on
Sycamore Hill. these distinguished
visitors will find Oyster Bay people
regretting not the passing of a world
known figure but, of merely a neigh
Dor known to all here and beloved by
all here for his pure democracy as
a fellow voter and a fellow worshipper.
Perhaps no more sincere tribute to
Theodore Roosevelt is being paid any
where in the nation today than this
one accorded him by Oyster Bay
neighbors who, recalling incidents of
could not be described as strenuous
are relating in unadorned language
their own story of the former presi-
dent as they knew and loved him.
The honors which the rulers of
nations are today bestowing upon Col
Roosevelt in the forms of cable mes
sages meant little to the Oyster Bay
residents. in comparison with their
own messages of sympathy sent to
Mrs. Roosevelt.
To these residents the colonel was
ever a foremost figure in American
history and international events-even
when he was president. Roosevelt was
looked upon here rather as towns
man than as noted statesman.
Tales of His Youth.
Tales without number were recount
ed in solemn recollection today of the
town life of the former president.
There was the old German-American
stands today, in the heart of the viii
lage when Teddy" as boy, was ac-
customed to pass the little structure
each day
This elderly citizen, of enemy birth.
but possessing an Americanism as
staunch. perhaps. as that of the colo
mel himself, entered the Oyster Bay
death of the colonel. to demand con-
firmation of news which had shocked
the world. Informed that what he
had heard was true, he collapsed in a
chair and gave way to unrestrained
emotion.
IF he's gone-if he's really gone
I'm thru the old friend of Theodore
Roosevelt said.
There is nothing more for me to
live for if Teddy is never coming by
here again. Teddy-why. Teddy used
to sic his dog on me when he was
a boy
The flood of "reminiscences which
has swept Oyster Bay brought to pub
lie notice circumstance which the
townspeople have long been familiar
with but regarding which the outside
world perhaps has never known. It
is a circumstance which may be said
to be eloquently characteristic of the
gentle home life of the Roosevelt fam
lily. 1t was said that it was not until
about four months ago that the Saga
more Hill house was installed with
electric lights.
Used Oil Lamps.
Noted visitors from many lands,
private men of renown with inter
national missions sent by foreign gov
ernments, have come to the Sycamore
Hill house to find the colonel writing.
debating or reading by the light OF
oil lamps. Turnout his great home
oil burning lights only were to be
found until few months ago. On
the desk at which the colonel sat in
his presidential chair during White
House days-there stood an oil lamp.
1t was neighborly "reminiscences today
which revealed why at last oil sur