children were now growing up； and from the time when they could toddle they took their placea very large placein the life of the home。 Roosevelt described the intense satisfaction he had in teaching the boys what his father had taught him。 As soon as they were large enough； they rode their horses； they sailed on the Cove and out into the Sound。 They played boys' games； and through him they learned very young to observe nature。 In his college days he had intended to be a naturalist； and natural history remained his strong est avocation。 And so he taught his children to know the birds and animals； the trees； plants； and flowers of Oyster Bay and its neighborhood。 They had their petsKermit； one of the boys； carried a pet rat in his pocket。
Three things Roosevelt required of them all； obedience； manliness； and truthfulness。 And I imagine that all these virtues were taught by affection and example； rather than by constant correction。 For the family was wholly united； they did everything together； the children had no better fun than to accompany their father and mother； and there were a dozen or more young cousins and neighbors who went out with them too； forming a large； delighted family for whom 〃Uncle〃 or 〃Cousin Theodore 〃 was leader and idol。 And just as formerly； in the long winter nights on his ranch at Medora； he used to read aloud to the cowboys and hunters of what was then the Western Wilderness； so at Sagamore Hill； in the days of their childhood； he read or told stories to the circle of boys and girls。
In 1901； Mr。 Roosevelt became President； and for seven years and a half his official residence was the White House； where he was obliged to spend most of the year。 But whenever he could steal away for a few days he sought rest and recreation at Oyster Bay； and there； during the summers； his family lived。 So far as the changed conditions permitted； he did not allow his official duties to interfere with his family life。 〃One of the most wearing things about being President；〃 a President once said to me； 〃is the incessant publicity of it。 For four years you have not a moment to yourself； not a moment of privacy。〃 And yet Roosevelt； masterful in so many other things； was masterful in this also。 Nothing interfered with the seclusion of the family breakfast。 There were no guests； only Mrs。 Roosevelt and the children； and the simplest of food。 At Oyster Bay he would often chop trees in the early morning； and sometimes； while he was President； he would ride before breakfast； but the meal itself was quiet； private； uninterrupted。 Then each member of the family would go about his or her work； for idleness had no place with them。 The President spent his morning in attending to his correspondence and dictating letters； then in receiving persons by appointment； and he always reserved time when any American； rich or poor； young or old； could speak to him freely。 He liked to see them all and many were the odd experiences which he had。 He asked one old lady what he could do for her。 She replied： 〃Nothing； I came all the way from Jacksonville； Florida； just to see what a live President looked like。 I never saw one before。〃
〃That's very kind of you；〃 the President replied； 〃persons from up here go all the way to Florida just to see a live alligator〃and so he put the visitor at her ease。
Luncheon was a varied meal； sometimes there were only two or three guests at it； at other times there might be a dozen。 It afforded the President an opportunity for talking informally with visitors whom he wished to see； and not infrequently it brought together round the table a strange； not to say a motley； company。
After luncheon followed more work in his office for the President； looking over the letters he had dictated and signing them； signing documents and holding interviews。 Later in the afternoon he always reserved two hours for a walk or drive with Mrs。 Roosevelt。 Nothing interfered with that。 In the season he played tennis with some of the large group of companions whom he gathered round him； officials high and low； foreign Ambassadors and Cabinet Ministers and younger under…secretaries who were popularly known as the 〃Tennis Cabinet。〃 There were fifty or more of them； and that so many should have kept their athletic vigor into middle age； and even beyond it； spoke well for the physique of the men of official Washington at that time。
At Oyster Bay Roosevelt had instituted 〃hiking。〃 He and the young people and such of the neighbors as chose would start from Sagamore Hill and walk in a bee…line to a point four or five miles off。 The rule was that no natural impediment should cause them to digress or to stop。 So they went through the fields and over the fences； across ditches and pools； and even clambered up and down a haystack； if one happened to be in the way； or through a barnyard。 Of course they often reached home spattered with mud or even drenched to the skin from a plunge into the water； but with much fun； a livelier circulation； and a hearty appetite to their credit。
In Washington the President continued this practice of hiking； but in a somewhat modified form。 His favorite resort was Rock Creek； then a wild stream； with a good deal of water in it； and here and there steep； rocky banks。 To be invited by the President to go on one of those hikes was regarded as a mark of special favor。 He indulged in them to test a man's bodily vigor and endurance； and there were many amusing incidents and perhaps more amusing stories about them。 M。 Tardieu； who at that time was paying a short visit to this country and was connected with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs； told me that the dispatches which the new French Ambassador； M。 Jusserand； sent to Paris were full of reports on President Roosevelt's personality。 The Europeans had no definite conception of him at that time； and so the sympathetic and much…esteemed Ambassador； who still represents France at Washington； tried to give his Government information by which it could judge for itself what sort of a person the President was。 What must have been the surprise in the French Foreign Office when it received the following dispatch： （I give the substance； of course； because I have not seen the original。）：
'Yesterday；' wrote Ambassador Jusserand； 'President Roosevelt invited me to take a promenade with him this afternoon at three。 I arrived at the White House punctually； in afternoon dress and silk hat； as if we were to stroll in the Tuileries Garden or in the Champs Elysees。 To my surprise； the President soon joined me in a tramping suit； with knickerbockers and thick boots； and soft felt hat； much worn。 Two or three other gentlemen came； and we started off at what seemed to me a breakneck pace； which soon brought us out of the city。 On reaching the country； the President went pell…mell over the fields； following neither road nor path； always on； on； straight ahead！ I was much winded； but I would not give in； nor ask him to slow up； because I had the honor of La belle France in my heart。 At last we came to the bank of a stream； rather wide and too deep to be forded。 I sighed relief； because I thought that now we had reached our goal and would rest a moment and catch our breath； before turning homeward。 But judge of my horror when I saw the President unbutton his clothes and heard him say； 〃We had better strip； so as not to wet our things in the Creek。〃 Then I； too； for the honor of France； removed my apparel； everything except my lavender kid gloves。 The President cast an inquiring look at these as if they； too； must come off； but I quickly forestalled any remark by saying； 〃With your permission； Mr。 President； I will keep these on； otherwise it would be embarrassing if we should meet ladies。〃 And so we jumped into the water and swam across。'
M。 Jusserand has a fine sense of humor and doubtless he has laughed often over this episode； although he must have been astonished and irritated when it occurred。 But it gave Roosevelt exactly what he wanted by showing him that the plucky little French man was 〃game〃 for anything； and they remained firm friends for life。
Occasionally； one of the guests invited on a hike relucted from taking the plunge； and then he was allowed to go up stream or down and find a crossing at a bridge； but I suspect that his host and the habitual hikers instinctively felt a little less regard for him after that。 General Leonard Wood was one of Roosevelt's boon companions on these excursions； and； speaking of him； I am reminded of one of the President's orders which caused a great flurry among Army officers in Washington。
The President learned that many of these officers had become soft； physically； through their long residence in the city； where an unmilitary life did not tend to keep their muscles hard。 As a consequence these great men of war became easy…going； indolent even； better suited to loaf in the armchairs of the Metropolitan Club and discuss campaigns and battles long ago than to lead troops in the field。 〃Their condition；〃 said Roosevelt； 〃would have excited laughter； had it not been so serious； to think that they belonged to the military arm of the Government。 A cavalry colonel proved unable to keep his horse at a sharp trot for even half a mile when I visited his post； a major…general proved afraid even to let his horse canter when he went on a ride with us； and certain otherwise good men proved as unable to walk as if they had been sedentary brokers。〃 After consulting Generals Wood and Bell； who were themselves real soldiers at the top of condition； the President issued orders that the infantry should march fifty miles； and the cavalry one hundred； in three days。 There was an outcry。 The newspapers denounced Roosevelt as a tyrant who followed his mere caprices。 Some of the officers intrigued with Congressmen to nullify the order。 But when the President himself； accompanied by Surgeon…General Rixey and two officers； rode more than one hundred miles in a single day over the frozen and rutty Virginia roads； the objectors could not keep up open opposition。 Roosevelt adds； ironically； that three naval officers who walked the fifty miles in a day； were censured for not obeying instructions； and were compelled to do the test over again in three days。
Dinne