The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-11
ESSAYIST MAG|NES
SELF AS CHUK Of
FORMER PRESIDENT
Evelyn kIusman Tells How
Roosevelt Acquired Phys.
ioaI Strength
Editors Note: This Is one OF
Nv ESSAYS aMardsd p pr ! n III, a
marck committee on Navy Day
observance. Another Will appear
in Mondays Tribune.
!. ROOSEVELT AS "A BOY
BY EVELYN KLUsMANN, YOUNG
TOWN.

own.
Teddy and 1 were great chums. I
always felt sorry for him. Ns was SO
pale, and thin. He never could play
real boys play because his asthma
would almost choke him to death
every time he tried.
Teddy's folks were wealthy Sc he
lacked no comforts that riches could
buy. l envied him many Of his toys
and books. He would say, well. Bill.
Ill trade you my toys and books for
your healthy body" When he talked
like that, it made me pretty thought
full for awhile, then I'd feel pretty
lucky to have what I did have and
forget what I didn't have.
Teddy never went to school where
I did. He had q special teacher all
by himself, but he really never learn
ed any more that way than we did
having teacher for forty OF us. I
guess he had that because he wasn't
well enough to 60 outside to school
most Of the year. When I went to
his house we would play school.
Sometimes I was the teacher and
sometimes Teddy. It always worked
out better when Teddy was the teacher
because he wouldn't mind me Is he
should. Teddy would rather study
plants and animals than anything
else. So I had q hard time trying to
interest him in geography. He never
would pretend to 60 places with me.
One day something very interesting
happened. His father had just talked
with a new doctor. They decided
that they weren't going about 1t
right to make a strong healthy man
cut Of Teddy. From that day on there
va a new routine in force. Both
Teddy and I liked It better. I didn't
get to see him as much after that but
we had lots to talk over when va did
get together. y.
This new order Of things planned
that Teddy would be outside lots Of
the time. We would take long hikes
far out into the country. Teddy
picked up the strangest things 70
keep; all sorts of rocks and stones:
different kinds of frogs ana toads. I
guess he just liked to 30 doing some
thing, but he always kept them. I
can't imagine what he wanted With
a lot OF old rocks, toads, ana butter
flies. II he had wanted to keep flow
ers or leaves I think he could have
made q nice book like I have.
He had to take fencing lessons, aud
lessons in boxing and wtestlit6. I
never went with him but wA would
practice together. He would try to
teach me all that his teacher had
taught him.
We each had q pony. My pony's
name was Twinkle and Teddy's was
Jack. Teddy. liked to 50 horseback
riding. Whenever We could we would
race our ponies out into the country
or In the park. Sometimes he got
asthma from the dust. He was getting
stronger, and his asthma did not
bother him as much as before he
started this outdoor life.
One day Teddy called to ME, "Hey,
Bill, / am going to France, Germany
and all over with my Daddy"
I was stunned. AL I said Wa.
"When?"
He said, ."soon. I'll miss you ana
Jack. You'll ride Jack for me once
in a while, SO he won't get too stiff"
Sure, but it won't bs the same rid
ing alone"
While Teddy was gone he sent me
many beautiful postcards Of all the
places he had been. I made 4 book Of
them and named 1t MY Trip to
Europe" I guess that's Is close to
Europe as I will get for q long time,
too. Teddy takes many trips, but
shorter ones; this one lasted so long.
During the years that he was gone
I was lonesome but even ~ ! was
happy knowing that Teddy was i'm
proving in his health and would re-
turn some day as well and hearty
as I am. When he returned he vas q
young man.