trap. He would come back with tales of exposure and hardship, as it seemed to us, which he had enjoyed. He was then, as a boy, in a class by himself, as he has been ever since.

"Teddy," as he was called in college, was always immune from the criticism which would be visited upon another under the same conditions.

He was far from being a ready speaker. I remember that at the "Pudding," we often incited a discussion for the purpose of rousing "Teddy." In his excitement he would sometimes lose altogether the power of articulation, much to our delight. He had then almost a defect in his speech which made his utterance at times deliberate and even halting. It became evident very early that Roosevelt was a person sui generis, and not to be judged by the ordinary standards, and very early in our college life I came to believe in his star of destiny. I once received a note from him, of no great consequence which I carefully preserved, thinking, as I said at the time, that some day it would possess a peculiar value.

Roosevelt was married in October, 1880; he spent the summer of 1881 in Europe, and while

in Switzerland made the ascent of the Matterhorn and the Jungfrau the initiatory experience of so many explorers.

His entrance into politics can best be recorded by the introduction here of his appeal to his constituents dated November 1, 1881, and his endorsement by certain residents of the 21st Assembly District in New York:

DEAR SIR,

NEW YORK, November 1st, 1881.

Having been nominated as a candidate for member of Assembly for this District, I would esteem it a compliment if you honor me with your vote and personal influence on Election day.

Very respectfully,

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

TWENTY-FIRST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

40th to 86th Sts.,

Lexington to 7th Aves.

We cordially recommend the voters of the Twentyfirst Assembly District to cast their ballots for

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

for Member of Assembly,

and take much pleasure in testifying to our appreciation of his high character and standing in the community. He is conspicuous for his honesty and

trap. He would come back with tales of exposure and hardship, as it seemed to us, which he had enjoyed. He was then, as a boy, in a class by himself, as he has been ever since.

"Teddy," as he was called in college, was always immune from the criticism which would be visited upon another under the same conditions.

He was far from being a ready speaker. I remember that at the "Pudding," we often incited a discussion for the purpose of rousing "Teddy." In his excitement he would sometimes lose altogether the power of articulation, much to our delight. He had then almost a defect in his speech which made his utterance at times deliberate and even halting. It became evident very early that Roosevelt was a person sui generis, and not to be judged by the ordinary standards, and very early in our college life I came to believe in his star of destiny. I once received a note from him, of no great consequence which I carefully preserved, thinking, as I said at the time, that some day it would possess a peculiar value.

Roosevelt was married in October, 1880; he spent the summer of 1881 in Europe, and while

in Switzerland made the ascent of the Matterhorn and the Jungfrau the initiatory experience of so many explorers.

His entrance into politics can best be recorded by the introduction here of his appeal to his constituents dated November 1, 1881, and his endorsement by certain residents of the 21st Assembly District in New York:

DEAR SIR,

NEW YORK, November 1st, 1881.

Having been nominated as a candidate for member of Assembly for this District, I would esteem it a compliment if you honor me with your vote and personal influence on Election day.

Very respectfully,

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

TWENTY-FIRST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

40th to 86th Sts.,

Lexington to 7th Aves.

We cordially recommend the voters of the Twentyfirst Assembly District to cast their ballots for

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

for Member of Assembly,

and take much pleasure in testifying to our appreciation of his high character and standing in the community. He is conspicuous for his honesty and

integrity, and eminently qualified to represent the District in the Assembly.

NEW YORK, November 1st, 1881.

F. A. P. Barnard, William T. Black, Willard Bullard, Joseph H. Choate, Wm. A. Darling, Henry E. Davies, Theodore W. Dwight, Jacob Hess, Morris K. Jesup, Edward Mitchell, William F. Morgan, Chas. S. Robinson, Elihu Root, Jackson S. Schultz, Elliott F. Shepard, Gustavus Tuckerman, S. H. Wales, W. H. Webb.

At about this time I wrote him a letter evidently containing some jocular charge that he had become a politician, for I received the following reply:

6 W. 57 St.,

NEW YORK,

Nov. 10, '81.

Too true, too true; I have become a "political hack." Finding it would not interfere much with my law, I accepted the nomination to the Assembly and was elected by 1500 majority, leading the ticket by 800 votes. But don't think I am going to go into politics after this year, for I am not.

This letter is evidence that Roosevelt at that time had a serious purpose to become a lawyer and had no intention of remaining in politics. His chief interest in the Legislature is thus described in his own words: