took their places around the table according to the official order of precedence. President Roosevelt opened the Cabinet meeting by expressing gratitude for the conduct of the counselors of his predecessor in consenting to retain their portfolios. He said he knew that some of them had done so at a considerable personal sacrifice. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half. important business was transacted.

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Secretary Root said the Cuban constitutional convention had completed its work by framing an election law for the proposed independent government of the islands. The President expressed a desire to see, as soon as possible, Governor General Wood, who had arrived in Washington the night before, and discuss the law with him and Secretary Root. The law is subject to the approval of the President. Later, General Wood called at the White House and had a long chat with President Roosevelt, partly personal and partly official. These two men are bound together by strong ties of personal friendship. They joined their fortunes at the outset of the war with Spain, and together organized the regiment of Rough Riders that brought fame and political and professional preferment.

September 21st, President Roosevelt rode out with General Wood. The President's saddle horse was at Oyster Bay, and as there are no good riding animals in the White House stables, two cavalry horses were brought over from Fort Myer, across the Potomac; one a handsome, spirited bay, and the other a black. "The horses arrived at 3:45, and when it became noised about that the President was going for a ride a little coterie of spectators assembled on the portico of the Executive Mansion. At 3:55 o'clock a cab drove up and General Wood alighted. He wore stiff leather hunting leggings, and carried a short riding crop. He joined the President inside and at four o'clock they emerged. The President wore the same suit he had on all day, a black cutaway coat, with a band of mourning crepe on his left arm. The same soft felt hat was on his head. Tan riding gloves were on his hands. His trousers were buckled under his instep, and he wore at his heels small hunting spurs.

"As they paused at the main entrance, the horses were led under the porte cochere. The President at once advanced, and descended the steps to the side of the bay. Like an old horseman, he measured the stirrup length beneath his left arm. Then placing his left foot in the steel stirrup, he vaulted easily into the saddle.

"At the same time General Wood mounted the other horse, and in an instant they were off, cantering slowly down the west driveway. The President presented a handsome figure on his spirited animal. He had a fine seat, and handled his mount like the skilled and veteran horseman that he is. General Wood is also an excellent horseman.

"After leaving the White House grounds the President and General Wood rode out through the northwest section of the city. To those who saw them. the sight brought memories of the great steps in the career of each since the early days of the Spanish War, when these two men, one President of the United States, and the other Governor General of Cuba, together organized the Rough Riders.

"The last President who rode horseback to any considerable extent since the days of Grant was Arthur. Neither Mr. Cleveland nor General Harrison while in the White House ever got on a horse. President McKinley in the early days of his first administration occasionally took a horseback ride, but he never mounted at the White House steps. He drove to the outskirts of the city, where a saddle horse was in waiting. Mr. McKinley, however, discontinued the practice after the first spring of his occupancy of the executive mansion."

General Wood left for Havana the next day.

Of course, President Roosevelt never failed to show the highest consideration for Mrs. McKinley, and did not in any way promote the removal of the personal property of his predecessor from the White House. On the 21st of September the last goods of the McKinley family were packed and shipped. The work of collecting, boxing and caring for these things was performed by trusted servants of the late President and Mrs. McKinley, under the supervision of Secretary Cortelyou and Colonel Bingham, Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds.

"Various boxes and pieces of furniture, of which there are a large number, were sent by express, addressed to Mrs. McKinley.

"President McKinley and his wife had only a little furniture of their own in the White House, all necessary articles of that sort being provided by the Government, but of clothing and bric-a-brac and various valuable souvenirs of McKinley's term in office there was an interesting collection.

"Some of the articles are of considerable intrinsic value, and among the number are at least a score or two dearly prized by Mrs. McKinley as mementos of her husband's great career, and as reminders of the loving esteem in which he was held by his people."

President Roosevelt took possession of the White House September 23rd, 1901. The flag on the House flies when the President is there. It was at half-mast when Roosevelt entered as President, and there was a double signal of the passing of a President and the coming of another. The official world in Washington does not accept a President as such until he actually comes into the White House. It was difficult for many people to realize the great change, because President Roosevelt had been living a half mile from the White House, and going backward and forward without guards or ceremony. September

23rd, he moved in with his personal belongings, and the ordinary routine was re-established. He broke off work at the noon hour and took lunch with his two brothers-in-law, Commander Cowles and Douglas Robinson, and Private Secretary Loeb. This first official meal in the White House was extremely informal, and the time was largely taken up with the discussion of official

matters.

In the evening President Roosevelt dined with Commander and Mrs. Cowles, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, and Secretary Cortelyou. This dinner was a family affair, and except for the complete changes in the personages, was much a dinner as the President and Mrs. McKinley had been having day after day for years.

This was a trying night for President Roosevelt, because he spent it alone in the White House, save for the attendants, and his taking possession of the Executive Mansion could not fail to awaken memories which were extremely painful to all the attaches. Colonel Roosevelt himself was deeply affected at dinner time.

Mrs. Roosevelt arrived two days later.

"Among the conversations of President Roosevelt in the White House, in the first days of his official presence, three Southern Senators called at once and Senator Pritchard said, speaking for the Southern men: 'The Democratic newspapers are predicting good for you and of you, and the feeling of all the people for you, irrespective of party, is most kindly.'

"I am going to be President of the United States, and not any section,' replied the President. 'I don't care for sections or sectional lines. When I was Governor of New York I was told I could make four appointments in the army. When I sent in the names, three were from the South, and the other from New York. They were brave men, who deserved recognition for services in the Spanish War, and it did not matter what states they were from.'

The President talked in the same vein with Senator Money, of Mississippi, when the latter called, reminding the Mississippi Senator that his mother was a Southern woman.

"I am half Southern," said he, "and I have lived in the West, so that I think I can represent the whole country."

The less talk there is about shop at the President's luncheon, the stated time for which is half after one o'clock, the more he enjoys it, but he is by no means in a remote and inaccessible mood. He speaks with great freedom on whatever theme his guests are pleased to prefer. He is always interesting and sometimes enthusiastic. On the day of reading of his first message to the Congress, the President had with him ten friends, composed of Rough Rangers, Plainsmen, Cowboys, and Mighty Hunters from the mountains, two War Correspondents, a Confederate General and ex-Governor. Perhaps it