The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-07

ever, supported Blaine and worked hard
for him right up to election day.
During the year of the Blaine cam
paign the first Mrs Roosevelt (she was
Miss Alice Lee of Boston and became
Roosevelts wife shortly after he left
Harvard) died. leaving daughter,
Alice, who is now the wife OF Repre-
sentative Nicholas Longworth OF Ohio.
A widower at twenty-s!X. his thoughts
began TO turn toward outdoors and the
broad skies. He closed his affairs in
New York and went to North Dakota,
where he bought two cattle ranches near
Medors. Oh the Little Missouri. There
for two years. he punched cows and
studied his widest West 20 thoroughly
that the tang of 1t ever after was with
him. Also on his ranch he laid the
foundation for n series OF books, THE
Winning Of the West" which were pub
lished at intervals from 1883 to 1896
Undoubtedly his Bad Lands experiences
had much to do. years after. with his
organization OF the Rough Riders
Great Gains by Western Life.
From ranching life he acquired skill
with horse and gun and the rugged con-
stitution euch as he had long sought. At
the same time he learned the lesson of
valuing associates on their worth as
men. No one has ever denied to Roose-
welt an understanding OF the mind and
temper Of the man OF the plains. His
sympath.es with the North and the
South were bred in him. but This init
mate knowledge of the West was his
own achievement"
He had not been long in the West be-
fore he discovered that certain peculiar
social conditions prevailed. and common
tators have observed that II was from
adapting himself TO these circumstances
that he learned that n man stands or
falls as he masters natural conditions
and the circumstances about him.
In the public room OF n frontier hotel
where he was to spend the night Roose-
Welt was reading one evening after sup
per shortly after his arrival in the West.
The room was dining room. barroom.
office and living room, and II was
crowded. A staggering fellow stepped
UP to the bar and ordered everybody to
drink Only Roosevelt remained seated.
He continued reading.
Who's that fellowT' demanded the
man at the bar.
He's a tenderfoot." was the response.
Hey. you. Mr., Four-eyes!' shouted
the Westerner, Il asked this house to
drink D'you hear
No reply came from Roosevelt. The
westerner pulled his pistol. fired across
the room and advanced on the tender
foot with his smoking weapon.
when I ask n man to drink with me
I want him to do as l ask" he shouted.
The tenderfoot. who had watched the
advance across the room from under his
glasses. glanced up and asked to be ex-
cused.
Not much" was the reply. THAT
don't go down here. Order your drink"
The tenderfoot got up easily from his
chair. remarking: Very well, II must,
With the pause In the words came n
full right swinging jolt that took the
Westerner on the point Of the Jaw and
laid him on the floor,
The tenderfoot was astride him and
pinioned his arms. Then he threw the
bully's pistol across the room and. glar-
ing at him through his glasses. snapped
through the teeth that later were Ia
become so familiar to the American pub
tile: "And when intimate that ] don't
caro- to drink with you. just understand
that don't care to drink"
Referring to this incident after he had
erased TO be tenderfoot. Roosevelt him.
self made this comment: II was never
shot at .maliciously but once. My assail-
ant was a broad hated ruffian Of a
cheap type. The fact that l wore
glasses. together with my evident desire
to avoid fight. apparently gave him
the Impressions mistaken one-that
would not resent an injury"
showed His Moral Strength Too.
| A characteristic incident showing
Roosevelt's readiness 10 throw down the
moral gauntlet occurred later at Medora
at n meeting of cattle men. The county
had three prisoners who were the last OF
a gang Of outlaws, and 1t was shown
that deputy sheriff. who was in his
unofficial moments n COW thief. was In
alliance with them. The ranchmen hest
tated to denounce the sheriff when he
strolled in TO take part In the meeting
OF protest He was n two gun" man
with q nasty temper and wore a brace
| Of the most restless six shooters In the
Kildeer region OF the Bad Lands"
Roosevelt was the one who explained
20 the sheriff In no uncertain terms the
evil Of COW stealing. The disappearance
Of the next COW. he said. might become
tho signal for declaring the corrupt of1.
oial's Office vacant, and Il was not with.
out the pale OF possibility that certain
Of Roosevolt's friends. whom he NIGH,
be unable to restrain. might invoke the
assistance OF a rope or Winchester ir
preventing their herds from depreda-
tionA
Contrary TO expectations, the sheriff
drew neither Of the guns projecting from
his belt gave no resentful sign. Hi
look mt Roosevelt was one of startled
understanding Of an unpleasant determj
nation. But that was all--and tn.
ranchmen OF the Kildeer mountain re-