The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-10-28
oyster BAY TRIBUTE
Big-Hearted "Teddy" Loved the
Children Whose Memory
They Cherish
CONTINUED From Page onel

drivers OuerlnS 10 snow nlm Tie
Roosevelt sights In exchange for a
none too modest nonorarium. Ii the
wayrarer acceeds, he is driver through
the town over smooth streets, paved
many years ago, he Will be told,
through the pubic spirited EFFORTS OF
ColOnei Roosevelt
AND Ii he sets out Ito walk the mile
or two to the cemetery, he must still
traverse the town and meet with the
constant reminders OF the man whose
lire there has become rooted in the
traditions or the little community
The legend ON the cornerstone OF 9
public building sets forth Colonel
ing; signDoard's hand with rigid
inuex tinger points the way to Saga
more Hill. once the r'Little White
House" and now the residence OF the
former Presidents widow; nearly ey-
cry store mas its lite size portrait, It's
..v-.~u representation or Roosevelt
mounted and in the uniform OF q
Rough Rider, or its poster showing
ann delivering campaign address
from nag draped stage.
The elm and oak shaded highway
leaalng TO the cemetery and continuing
Oh to Camp Upton, where American
soldiers trained for service in France,
is furrowed by the feet of hundreds
OF boys whom Roosevelt entertainer
at Sycamore Hill during brief leaves
when ne used to say he would willing
ly have missed being President to
change places with one OF them.
Scores OF incidents illustrating The
esteem in which foreign visitors re.
gard the memory OF Roosevelt have
been marked before the gate of tine
fnrs nj "a ha
top or conical knoll rising in one
corner Of the little burial grounds. Os
erhead the autumn foliage " eEcir 4
cling locust trees forms the vaulted
ceiling of a natural cathedral. Fac
ing it, mile or more distant across
the silver reach Of Oyster Bay Cove,
rises Sycamore Hill, somDer under its
cloak OF feathery evergreens. Inside
the railing is simple headstone OF
white marble between two sentinel
cedars; beside the grave tiny flag
or two, faded, but erect as was for
merly the soldierly figures OF the man
who sleeps beneath.
A month ago four we'll dressed ltal
ians approached the plot, Kneit at tie
gate and crossed themselves. After
remaining silent in prayer for several
minutes, they again made Tie sign o.
the cross and then began scooping up
handfuls of earth which they put IN
their pockets. At this juncture q
guard interfered.
Mister" one of the quartet plead
ed. I'VE loved Colonel Roosevelt. All
Italy loved him, too. Tomorrow we
dirt from near the grave to his friends
over there" They were allowed to de-
part with their relics.
A few days afterward a man and
two boys, of about twelve and fourteen
years, looked In silence through the
bars for some minutes. Then the eld-
er addressed the others. apparently
his sons.
dy of a mana real MAI who was in
public life from the time he was II
man could ever point the finger OF
shame at him and say he did crook
ed thing. Try, If you can. to be like
him."
Among today's visitors will be more
than thousand Boy Scouts, repres-
enting troops from all over New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut, Colonel
Roosevelt was one of the first honors
airy presidents of the organizations
and did much to advance the scout
movement. The boys will be lead
by Daniel Beard, national scout COM
New York, October 27.-Three let
tiers In the handwriting Of Theodore
Roosevelt, presented recently to the
Roosevelt Memorial Association,
throw interesting light on the early
character of the future President
whose birthday is being celebrated TO-.
day throughout the country.
The great Americans modesty as
L. ;v,cx oryx
ity. is disclosed in q note accepting
the offer Of a trusteeship of the New
York Infant asylum. The letter was
written to DIR. Henry d. Nicoll, the
head of the asylum, in 1881, the year
when Roosevelt, then twenty three
years old, took his seat in the state
assembly.
His absolute inexperience," Roose,
Welt wrote, would prevent his being
of much use," but, with a determine.
ton also evidenced in another letter
to Dr.: Nicoll. he promised to "try my
best"
Ten months later, IN 1882, he wrote
DIR. Nicoll again expressing pleasure
in accepting the position as trustee,
but adding: II only fear that will
by no means come up to your ex-
pectations. But shall do my best"
Roosevelt's early love for outdoor
life, characteristic which had much
to do with the moldtng OF his later
life, and his admiration for pictures
que, characters in frontier history,
come to the front in the third letter,
written In 1890 to Richard Watson
Glider, editor of Century Magazine.
The letter IL In a nervous hasty
script and was written from Wash
ington, where Roosevelt was holding
his first federal office, that Of Civil
Service Commissioner.
In 1t he appealed to Mr.. Glider to
have a biography or sketch Of Kit
Carson.s life written and pointed out
that Carson and his comrades were
men Of real mark" and their work
"of utmost consequence and should
not be allowed to be forgotten"-the
same appeal now being sent out
broadcast by the Roosevelt Memorial
Association for contribution to per-
petuate the memory OF Theodore
Roosevelt.
He suggested thatNMr. Glider obtain
an article on civil service reform
from Cabot Lodge" who, he said,
was "a man of note, and rising one
in his party"
Articles Written BY Lodge
At that time Senator Lodge was a.
In Congress. At Roose
velt's suggestion the articles were
written by Mr.. Lodge in the maya
zine during that and the following year
In 1880, Roosevelt was a prolific
writer Of stories OF hunting and Of
- L = ~.