THE PRESIDENT'S FAMILY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 222, 12 September 1908, Page 4

THE PRESIDENT'S FAMILY

WOME STORIES OF KEKMIT AX J) 11IS BROTHERS. President Roosevelt has six children,* the eldest the world-renowned " Princess Alice," aged twenty-four (now Mrs. Longworth), and the youngest, Quenlin, aged eleven. Between these two are Theodore, junr., aged twenty-one; Kermit, aged nineteen; Ethel, aged seventeen; and Archie, aged fifteen. The)' comprise the largest family that lias ever occupied the White House. All of them are thorough-going American boys and girls, fond ot every kind of outdoor sports, like their father. The boys are athletic, and are popularly described fa chips of! the old block. They are ready to hunt, to box, or to fight. The President is devoted to his children, entering heartily into their exercises, games, and amusements. But when he romps with tlieiu he shuts out the official world, and when he takes up official duties he shuts out the children. Here is a specimen of the American language as it is employed by the Young Hopefuls of the White House. Master Kermit Roosevelt had succeeded in taking a photograph of his father, and this is how he described the operation ill a letter to a schoolfellow:—'" I snapped papa all right at the inauguration. 1 told him 1 should, but I guess he thought I'd be too rattled. Jt was 1 dead easy. My camera -was loaded for bear, and 1 warned him he'd better look pleasant. 1 was on the Capitol steps, only a little distance behind where the Chief Justice stood. When the time tame for papa to make his spiel, I got reaily. The only trouble was the duffers thai' kepi getting in the way. Before he'd said a dozen words my chance came. Somebody in front of me got hi--, elbow out of the way and t lei her go. 1 felt I'd got hiiu dead, and could hardly wait to develop the negative.'' The President was very proud of

'• l'cddv " (Theodore) when that young hopeful came nil' with living colours in thai trying ordeal, his first great football match between Freshmen of Yale ami those of Harvard. " teddy ' ]>lay *'l '•left end" for Harvard, and the man opposite to- him was much taller and heavier. The match was eharacteiist e of American football generally, for thej upcctators saw their president s son tackled, thrown, and twisted in wild melees, out of which he was dragged a dozen times and set on his legs. Iliey «aw both the plucky hoy's eyes closed one after the other, and hi* nuse swell to twice its usual size. They also saw his mouth cut and his shoulders twisted mid his legs nearly broken. Young l'.oosevelt h.id gone into the game with out shin protector.?, helmet, or oth'i football "armour," and as a result was co brutally treated thai towards the end he nearly fell uncon-cious. lie was revived .with'water, but was so covered with bruiser, that his chief forcibly removed him from the field, saying, " \ on have done well, Koosevell. but yon had Ijetter go to the lines.' '1 m all right, eaid the plucky lad, struggling to keep liis place; "let me stay, I can hold 'em/ But "Teddy" Koosevell was "all in," ns thev sav. ami his face and body were I a sight to" sec. He had proved a chip I df'the old block, though, and his father IUIA his college were proud of him.

\ .entleman recently opened a letter addressed to his son, containing suggestions from a friend to the latter lor a novel which lie (tin: son) was private ,> writ ill". The S sillier was surprised and frightened upon reading the following dreadful words: "Deal Bob,—You really must show more caution' in constructing your plots, or the "ovcrnor will be sure to. discover the dead body of Ceraldine in the cellar, and then vour secret will be out. oil c<iiisulted me about the strychnine. I certainly think you are giving it him in rather large doses. l.niily pill le.'i mother in a niadhou-e. It will answer vour purpose well to have the old girl out of the way. I think yi'iir forgery is for too -mail a sum. .Make it thru l thousand. lycave the rest of your par ticnhirly nice family circle to me. 1 will finish them oil' and send you liaek the 'fatal dagger' afterwards lie bonk post, —V out's, Jack.''