Letters to His Children — 30. Dec, Jan 1904 - Big Jim White, Winter Life In The White House, Playmate Of The Children, A Japanese Boy's Letter

BLESSED KERMIT:

The other day while Major Loeffler was marshalling the usual stream of visitors from England, Germany, the Pacific slope, etc. , of warm admirers from remote country places, of bridal couples, etc. , etc. , a huge man about six feet four, of middle age, but with every one of his great sinews and muscles as fit as ever, came in and asked to see me on the ground that he was a former friend.

As the line passed he was introduced to me as Mr. White.

I greeted him in the usual rather perfunctory manner, and the huge, rough-looking fellow shyly remarked, "Mr. Roosevelt, maybe you don't recollect me.

I worked on the roundup with you twenty years ago next spring.

My outfit joined yours at the mouth of the Box Alder."

I gazed at him, and at once said, "Why it is big Jim."

He was a great cow-puncher and is still riding the range in northwestern Nebraska.

When I knew him he was a tremendous fighting man, but always liked me.

Twice I had to interfere to prevent him from half murdering cowboys from my own ranch.

I had him at lunch, with a mixed company of home and foreign notabilities.

Don't worry about the lessons, old boy.

I know you are studying hard.

Don't get cast down.

Sometimes in life, both at school and afterwards, fortune will go against any one, but if he just keeps pegging away and doesn't lose his courage things always take a turn for the better in the end.

WINTER LIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE

White House, Dec.

17, 1904. BLESSED KERMIT:

For a week the weather has been cold--down to zero at night and rarely above freezing in the shade at noon.

In consequence the snow has lain well, and as there has been a waxing moon I have had the most delightful evening and night rides imaginable.

I have been so busy that I have been unable to get away until after dark, but I went in the fur jacket Uncle Will presented to me as the fruit of his prize money in the Spanish War;

and the moonlight on the glittering snow made the rides lovelier than they would have been in the daytime.

Sometimes Mother and Ted went with me, and the gallops were delightful.

To-day it has snowed heavily again, but the snow has been so soft that I did not like to go out, and besides I have been worked up to the limit.

There has been skating and sleigh-riding all the week.

The new black "Jack" dog is becoming very much at home and very fond of the family.

With Archie and Quentin I have finished "The Last of the Mohicans," and have now begun "The Deerslayer."

They are as cunning as ever, and this reading to them in the evening gives me a chance to see them that I would not otherwise have, although sometimes it is rather hard to get time.

Mother looks very young and pretty.

This afternoon she was most busy, taking the little boys to the theatre and then going to hear Ethel sing.

Ted, very swell in his first tail coat, is going out to take supper at Secretary Morton's, whose pretty daughter is coming out to-night.

In a very few days now we shall see you again.

PLAYMATE OF THE CHILDREN

(To Mr. and Mrs. Emlen Roosevelt) White House, Jan.

4, 1905. I am really touched at the way in which your children as well as my own treat me as a friend and playmate.

It has its comic side.

Thus, the last day the boys were here they were all bent upon having me take them for a scramble down Rock Creek.

Of course, there was absolutely no reason why they could not go alone, but they obviously felt that my presence was needed to give zest to the entertainment.

Accordingly, off I went, with the two Russell boys, George, Jack, and Philip, and Ted, Kermit, and Archie, with one of Archie's friends--a sturdy little boy who, as Archie informed me, had played opposite to him in the position of centre rush last fall.

I do not think that one of them saw anything incongruous in the President's getting as bedaubed with mud as they got, or in my wiggling and clambering around jutting rocks, through cracks, and up what were really small cliff faces, just like the rest of them; and whenever any one of them beat me at any point, he felt and expressed simple and whole-hearted delight, exactly as if it had been a triumph over a rival of his own age.

A JAPANESE BOY'S LETTER

(To Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow) White House, Jan.

14, 1905. DEAR STURGIS:

Last year, when I had Professor Yamashita teach me the "Jiudo"--as they seem now to call Jiu Jitsu--the naval attache here, Commander Takashita, used to come around here and bring a young lad, Kitgaki, who is now entering Annapolis.

I used to wrestle with them both.

They were very fond of Archie and were very good to him.

This Christmas Kitgaki sent from Annapolis a little present to Archie, who wrote to thank him, and Kitgaki sent him a letter back that we like so much that I thought you might enjoy it, as it shows so nice a trait in the Japanese character.

It runs as follows: "My dearest boy: "I received your nice letter.

I thank you ever so much.

I am very very glad that you have receive my small present.

"I like you very very much.

When I have been in Jiudo room with your father and you, your father was talking to us about the picture of the cavalry officer.

In that time, I saw some expression on your face.

Another remembering of you is your bravery when you sleped down from a tall chair.

The two rememberings can't leave from my head.

"I returned here last Thursday and have plenty lesson, so my work is hard, hard, hard, more than Jiudo.

"I hope your good health.

"I am, "Sincerely yours, "A. KITGAKI."

Isn't it a nice letter?