theodore roosevelt-第44章
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bassadors 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。
Dinner in the White House was usually a formal affair； to which most； if not all the guests； at least； were invited some time in advance。 There were； of course； the official dinners to the foreign diplomats； to the justices of the Supreme Court； to the members of the Cabinet； ordinarily； they might be described as general。 The President never forgot those who had been his friends at any period of his life。 It might happen that Bill Sewall； his earliest guide from Maine； or a Dakota ranchman； or a New York policeman； or one of his trusted enthusiasts in a hard… fought political campaign； turned up at the White House。 He was sure to be asked to luncheon or to dinner； by the President。 And these former chums must have felt somewhat embarrassed； if they were capable of feeling embarrassment； when they found themselves seated beside some of the great ladies of Washington。 Perhaps Roosevelt himself felt a little trepidation as to how the unmixables would mix。 He is reported to have said to one Western cowboy of whom he was fond： 〃Now； Jimmy； don't bring your gun along to…night。 The British Ambassador is going to dine too； and it wouldn't do for you to pepper the floor round his feet with bullets； in order to see a tenderfoot dance。〃
But those dinners were mainly memorable occasions； and the guests who attended them heard some of the best talk in America at that time； and came away with increased wonder for the variety of knowledge and interest； and for the unceasing charm and courtesy of their host； the President。 Contrary to the opinion of persons who heard him only as a political speaker shouting in the open air from the back platform of his train or in a public square； Roosevelt was not only a speaker； he was also a most courteous listener。 I watched him at little dinners listen not only patiently； but with an astonishing simulation of interest； to very dull persons who usurped the conversation and imagined that they were winning his admiration。 Mr。 John Morley； who was a guest at the White House at election time in 1
