The New York herald., 1921-01-07
ROOSEVELT HOUSE
CORNERSTONE LAID
Gen. Leonard Wood Eulogizes
Former President Before
Distinguished Throng.
JUssERAND ALSO SPEAKS
King Albert and President
Millerand Send Messages
of Tribute.
JUSsERAND ALSO SPEAKS


The cornerstone of Roosevelt House.
which. as Mrs. William Curtis Demo-
rest, one of the vice. presidents of the
Woman's Roosevelt Memorial Associ-
alton, explained is designed to be "a
live. pulsating memorial. full of civic
activities" was laid yesterday at 70
East Twentieth street. where Col.
Roosevelt was born october "a. 1855.
The original house has been torn down
but the new structure to be erected
rooms which will be exact reproduc-
tions of the old. as we'll as an audi
torium intended to be a centre for all
lime for the teaching OF true Amer
icanism
A distinguished party gathered at
the ceremonies to pay homage to the
memory of the dead statesman on the
second anniversary Of his death. Extra
details of police were necessary to
handle the crowd which packed Twen-
tieth street between Broadway and
Fourth avenue and traffic there was
diverted to other thoroughfares during
the afternoon
Mrs. Roosevelt was seated in the
front row on a platform erected about
the cornerstone and j. J. Jusserand.
the French Ambassador. and Major-Gen.
Leonard Wood. both intimate friends Of
her husband. were OF either side Of her
Other members of the family present
were Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt
Jr.. Mr.. and Mrs. Kermit Roosevelt
Mrs. Douglas Robinson, the former
Presidents sister; Mrs. James Roose-
Welt and Mrs. Franklin d. Roosevelt.
Gen. Woods Address.
The cornerstone was cemented in its
place by Gen. Wood and it was he who
delivered the principal address.
Theodore Roosevelt needs no MEM
orial," said the general. "He lives and
will ever live in the hearts Of the Ame-l-
can people. He is one of the trinity Of
ton, Lincoln, Roosevelt. He has easily
been the most dominant Influence IN
American life since the days OF Lincoln /;
dominant because his life and works
were an inspiration for all that Is best
in public and in private life.
This house is to- be place Of pill
grimage. to which the youth OF America
will come and gather much of inspira-
tion for service. for good citizenship and
clean, helpful living Here Theodore
Roosevelt was born and passed his early
years. Here as a child he peopled the
air about him with the heroic figures of
the past and determined to make himself
strong and flt to play his part to best
serve his country and mankind"
The crowd in the street interrupted
Gen. Wood with cheering when he said ::
Newer has America needed his fearless
voice and his clear vision more than in
the years since his death He was
great. not only because of his achieve
ments. but even more because of his
character and ideals. He had the mod
esty Of true greatness he welcomed adj
vice he sought to surround himself with
the ablest Americans of his time. His
sympathies were as broad as the world,
limited by neither race nor creed. He
stood for God and country; for govern
ment under the Constitution for law and
order; for public and private morality ;
for sound education; for religion. realiz-
ing that a people without 1t are a de-
cadent people. He honored and digni-
fed labor and was against all autocracy,
either of labor or wealth.
''He was brave soldier, a leader
loved, trusted and respected by his men.
This was true not only In war but In
peace. He is gone. but his mighty in
fuence is and ever will be with us. II
we can plant in the hearts Of our people
the principles for which he stood, this
country will stand unshaken through the
ages"
S1,OO0,0OO for Endowment.
Mrs. Robinson explained that the as
ISOLATION needed s1.00o.00O for the EN-
dowment fund for Roosevelt House and
said that the Roosevelt family would re-
store the furniture and art objects there
where her brother first saw the light.
Ambassador Jusserand said that when
Col Roosevelt died France knew IL had
lost friend. and he delivered a mes
sage from President Millerand express
ing the hope that the memorial would
commemorate the friendship between
the two countries.
Baron de Cartier do Marchienne, Bel
gian Ambassador, read a cablegram
from King Albert. which said II wish
to associate myself with the happy
thought which resulted In the Woman g
Roosevelt Memorial Association and |
wish, also. to state on my behalf how
deeply Belgium feels indebted to the
great American statesman for his sim
cere friendship to my country. ! very
highly appreciate the exceptional quail
tiles of President Roosevelt. whose
memory will i've forever among the
Belgian people"
Other speakers included Senior A,i-
gusto Cochrane de Alencar. Rrasilian
Ambassador; Senior Don J. II. Lefevre
charge d'affaires of the Panama Lega-
tion. and DIR. j. B. Hubrecht. charge
d'affaires of tho Netherlands, Mrs.
John Henry Hammond, president of the
association. read kilograms of regret al
their inability to be present from Sena-
tor Harding and the British Ambassa-
dor The police band played national
airs and tho Girl Scouts acted az
ushers
Among those present were Major-Gen
Robert Georges Nivelle, the defender OF
Verdun, who faced the battery OF cam.
era men with Gen. Wood as the corner.
stone was being set; CASTOR Iiehert
French Consul General: Mr.. and Mrs
Henry A. Wise Wood. Mrs James r.
Garfield. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe ID. Rob-
inson. Mr. and Mrs. Henry White, Mrs
Henry a. Alexander, Mrs. A. Barton
Hepburn. Miss Louisa Lee Schuyler. the
Rev. Or. William n. Manning, Or. and
Mrs. Aiexander Lambert, Prof. and
Mrs. Henry Fairfield Osborn, Mrs
racoh Riis Mr.. and Mrs James Sueye,