The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-03-09

was stationed, an exciting experience In
more ways than one. "At fourteen and a half
If was in love with one Rough Rider, was in
love with twenty even though did have pig
tail and short dresses
The Rough Rider colonel returned to ride into
Office as governor of New York. "That was the
first campaign in which we had the indescribable
excitement of our father running for office. :. +.
1t was purely personal and emotional interest
centered my father. He was Right, and Van
Wyck, the Democratic candidate, was Wrong
and that was all there was to that"
The governOrship of New York is commonly
regarded as stepping-stone to the Presidency
But some of the politicians tried to sidetrack
Theodore Roosevelt by sending him, albeit I'M
willingly, back to Washington as vice president
That meant more excitement for Princess Alice"
and the other young Roosevelts.
II remember how that night (of the inaugural
balD perched on the arm of chair until some
one suggested that ought not to, as Mrs Nc
Kinley was seated In it, fact of which / was
totally unaware. When was amused and stimu-
lated by occasion, was never very conscious
of those whom did not know who made up the
occasion. At fathers own Inauguration in 1904, /
stood in the front of the box and gesticulated
exuberant greetings to the friends 1 recognized
in the crowd until father rather firmly told me
to sit down. I had not had the slightest idea
that was making a show of myself l sat
down, feeling reproved and resentful He had
been greeting friends whom he recognized in the
crowd-so why should not do likewise?"
Her fathers accession to the Presidency was
no surprise to Alice II was as superstitious as
any savage, and as ruthless had made
magics from the time my father was nominated
to the vice presidency; made them as busy
and believingly any primitive man. when
the news came, though had proper sense of
horror at the crime (the assassination of McKin-
ley) on the civilized side. the savage it
brought a sense of fulfllment-"
But she took it so much matter of course
that she wasn't especially impressed by going to
live in the White House whose interior lat that
time was both ugly and inconvenient" She made
her debut in the White House. but the mustard
colored carpet then on the East room floor, took
some of the edge off her Joy. 1t was necessary
to put crash down over this carpet for the dane
ing which she considered personally humiliat-
Ing and the fact that punch was provided in
stead of champagne was horrid blow to my
pride"
By this time the little pig-tailed Alice had
grown up into Princess Alice" Then came the
coronation of King Edward in England and talk
of her going to England for the event. But her
family asked her not to go because there was so
much absurd discussion" as to social precedence
and what rank she would take.
trip to the Orient with congressional party
headed by William Howard Taft, then secretary
of war. promised to be less spectacular as
theme for gossip but 1t got an amazing amount
of newspaper space for those days. II
series of delights for Princess Alice" She was
presented to the emperor and empress of Japan
and to the old empress dowager of China. Every
where presents were showered upon her-"Alice's
loot" her family called 1t when she brought 1t
home.
The empress sat a high throne and her min
listers kowtowed with their foreheads touching
the floor; the nominal emperor sat ION the low
est step of the throne, limp and huddled, his
mouth little open. his eyes dull and wander
ing" By contrast this is what befell the Amer
lean princess:
"The empress and her suite finally withdrew
and we wandered on through the gardens. The
others were on foot, but was given a chair, a
yellow chair tasseled and cushioned. In which
led the party, high on the shoulders of eight
bearers and surrounded by chattering court Off
Gals and eunuchs through the lovely grounds OF
the summer palace, along garden walks. past
ponds and pavilfons. the yellow or green tiled
roofs of the buildings showing through the
trees.
.'My bearers made a better pace than the rest
of the party and for while none but Chinese
were in sight. 1t fantastic. incredible, Cathay
of the old tales"
The trip had one important result for Alice
One of the members of the party was young
Nick Longworth of Ohio. They were together
great deal and the amiable secretary of war was
much puzzled as to their status. "A plant OF his
from time to time was Alice. think ought
to know II you are engaged to Nick to which