Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-14
SIDELICHTS ON PERSONALITY AND
CAREER OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT
FROM HARVARD DAYS
HoD From a Wedkling Youth He Developed Sturdv
ConstHution-He Cultivated EDery Natural Adpan-
tdge and Concerted Liabilities Into Assets-A
otent Moral Influence
By CHARLES G. wAsHBURN

NO one who, like myself, met
N Theodore Roosevelt for the first
time in 1875, when he entered
college, would have rallied to be sur
prlsed to be told that he had been a
delicate child, subject to severe at
tacks of asthma. He is described
by a member of his family as having
been a rather small patient and suf-
fering boy, but always the head of
the nursery at 2S East Twentieth
street, New York, where he was born.
He there amused his companions
with stories relating to strange and
marvellous animal adventures, in
which the animals were personalities
quite as vivid as Kipling gave to the
world a generation later in his jun
gle Book" His father transformed
one of the rooms in the house into
an outdoor piazza gymnasium, to
which he introduced his son, as l
have been told, in the following
words: Theodore you have the
brains, but brains are of COMPARE
lively little use without the body;
you have got to make your body,
and it lies with you to make it. and
it's dull, hard work, but you can do
it." This was Theodore Roosevelt's
first fight, the struggle to become
physically strong, which he began at
the age of nine years.
One of his most striking charac-
tcristics. even at this tender age, was
his power of concentration. Because
of his inability in his early childhood
to engage in rough sports he spent
much of his time in reading and
writing: while so occupied he was
always able to detach himself from
whatever was going on about him.
This characteristic he preserved
throughout his life. Because of his
frail health he was educated by tu-
tors until he went TO college and was
of necessity more or less of n recluse.
When he was about fourteen years
old his father lived for part of the
year. at least. at Oyster Bay. As
Theodore grew older and stronger he
developed a great fondness for the
water. He did not care TO sail there
being too little physical exertion in
that: he preferred the smallest boat
that could live in the bay or sound.
He would row himself and made
long excursions shooting ducks. his
pleasure increasing as rough water
and fog made the trip more perilous.
He was also busily engaged in col
lecting and studying the habits OF
birds and animals, OF various kinds,
which he stuffed and skinned him
self. His love Of natural history and
literature was n passion throughout
HE life. During all this time he rode
ran and boxed, and at eighteen. when
he went 10 college had become a
strong and normal Young man. near
sighted to he sure. hut able TO he
very respectable figure as n fencer
and lightweight boxer.
In speakinP Of hts early political
life. Roosevelt said in speech he
made ~ the Harvard Union in 1907,
while he was President
"As soon as left college 7 wanted
| IN take an interest In political life
( 7 wanted ~ find out how tho work
~ governing was reallv done. Quite
number % nice pennle ". New
Yark along Firth Avenue solemnly
advised mo not 10 ioin hnv Of the
regular noiitieai limitations. be-
eaure 7 would find that they were
enm posed on'w OF 'muekers' not oi
'sentlewen. The answer was easv;
sThep thev ara the ones that govern
II n IL tho muebera that govern. !
want IN see II ! cannot hold nv
own with them I will iotn with
them IN governing YOU " ven are
ton weak ~ severn vaurEeiwes' 7
intend te ne one ~ the class that
eavs rms. rot ore ~ the eIass that IL
eavarnsd. Ra 7 inine4 the Balitiea
club IN nv district I mined u Just
az III the National Guard"
Meantime. In 1899. when he was
twenty-fouF years old. bis fiFst book,