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； the paper subsequently became one of his ardent advocates and supporters。
On another occasion I was entering his private office as another senator was coming out of the Cabinet room； which was filled。 He called out： 〃Senator Depew； do you know that man going out？〃 I answered： 〃Yes； he is a colleague of mine in the Senate。〃 〃Well；〃 he shouted； 〃he is a crook。〃 His judgment subsequently proved correct。
Mr。 Roosevelt and his wife were all their lives in the social life of the old families of New York who were admitted leaders。 They carried to the White House the culture and conventions of what is called the best society of the great capitals of the world。 This experience and education came to a couple who were most democratic in their views。 They loved to see people and met and entertained every one with delightful hospitality。
Roosevelt was a marvel of many…sidedness。 Besides being an executive as governor of a great State and administrator as civil…service commissioner and police commissioner of New York； he was an author of popular books and a field naturalist of rare acquirements。 He was also a wonderful athlete。 I often had occasion to see him upon urgent matters； and was summoned to his gymnasium； where he was having a boxing match with a well…known pugilist； and getting the better of his antagonist； or else launching at his fencing master。 The athletics would cease； to be resumed as soon as he had in his quick and direct way disposed of what I presented。
Horseback riding was a favorite exercise with him； and his experience on his Western ranch and in the army had made him one of the best riders in the world。 The foreign diplomats in Washington； with their education that their first duty was to be in close touch with the chief magistrate； whether czar； queen； king； or president； found their training unequal to keeping close to President Roosevelt； except one； and he told me with great pleasure that though a poor rider he joined the president in his horseback morning excursions。 Sometimes； he said； when they came to a very steep； high； and rough hill the president would shout； 〃Let us climb to the top；〃 and the diplomat would struggle over the stones； the underbrush and gullies； and return to his horse with torn garments after sliding down the hill。 At another time； when on the banks of the Potomac； where the waters were raging rapids the president said； 〃We will go to that island in the middle of the river；〃 and immediately plunge in。 The diplomat followed and reached the island after wading and swimming； and with great difficulty returned with sufficient strength to reach home。 He had an attack of pneumonia from this unusual exposure； but thereafter was the envy and admiration of his colleagues and increased the confidence of his own government by this intimacy with the president。
The president's dinners and luncheons were unique because of his universal acquaintance with literary and scientific people。 There were generally some of them present。 His infectious enthusiasm and hearty cordiality drew out the best points of each guest。 I was present at a large dinner one evening when an instance occurred which greatly amused him。 There were some forty guests。 When they were seated； the president noticed four vacant chairs。 He sent one of his aides to ascertain the trouble。 The aide discovered an elderly senator standing with his wife； and another senator and a lady looking very disconsolate。 The aged senator refused to take out a lady as his card directed or leave his wife to a colleague。 He said to the president's aide； who told him that dinner was waiting and what he had to do： 〃When I eat I eat with my wife； or I don't eat at all。〃 The old gentleman had his way。
The president had one story which he told often and with much glee。 While he was on the ranch the neighbors had caught a horse thief and hung him。 They soon discovered that they had made a mistake and hung the wrong man。 The most diplomatic among the ranchers was selected to take the body home and break the news gently to his wife。 The cowboy ambassador asked the wife： 〃Are you the wife of …？〃 She answered 〃Yes。〃 〃Well；〃 said the ambassador； 〃you are mistaken。 You are his widow。 I have his body in the wagon。 You need not feel bad about it； because we hung him thinking he was the horse thief。 We soon after found that he was innocent。 The joke is on us。〃
Mr。 Roosevelt was intensely human and rarely tried to conceal his feelings。 He was to address the New York State Fair at Syracuse。 The management invited me as a United States Senator from New York to be present。 There were at least twenty thousand on the fair ground； and Mr。 Roosevelt read his speech； which he had elaborately prepared； detailing his scheme for harmonizing the relations between labor and capital。 The speech was long and very able and intended for publication all over the country。 But his audience； who were farmers； were not much interested in the subject。 Besides； they had been wearied wandering around the grounds and doing the exhibits； waiting for the meeting to begin。 I know of nothing so wearisome to mind and body as to spend hours going through the exhibits of a great fair。 When the president finished； the audience began calling for me。 I was known practically to every one of them from my long career on the platform。
Knowing Roosevelt as I did； I was determined not to speak； but the fair management and the audience would not be denied。 I paid the proper compliments to the president； and then； knowing that humor was the only possible thing with such a tired crowd； I had a rollicking good time with them。 They entered into the spirit of the fun and responded in a most uproarious way。 I heard Roosevelt turn to the president of the fair and say very angrily： 〃You promised me； sir； that there would be no other speaker。〃
When I met the president that evening at a large dinner given by Senator Frank Hiscock； he greeted me with the utmost cordiality。 He was in fine form； and early in the dinner took entire charge of the discussion。 For three hours he talked most interestingly； and no one else contributed a word。 Nevertheless； we all enjoyed the evening； and not the least the president himself。
I used to wonder how he found time； with his great activities and engagements； to read so much。 Publishers frequently send me new books。 If I thought they would interest him I mentioned the work to him； but invariably he had already read it。
When my first term as senator expired and the question of my re…election was before the legislature； President Roosevelt gave me his most cordial and hearty support。
Events to his credit as president； which will be monuments in history； are extraordinary in number and importance。 To mention only a few： He placed the Monroe Doctrine before European governments upon an impregnable basis by his defiance to the German Kaiser； when he refused to accept arbitration and was determined to make war on Venezuela。 The president cabled： 〃Admiral Dewey with the Atlantic Fleet sails to…morrow。〃 And the Kaiser accepted arbitration。 Raissuli； the Moroccan bandit； who had seized and held for ransom an American