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repeat, the most truly self-made man whom I know, in American annals. And to remake himself he must first know himself. He did know himself. He was honest with himself; and he was unflinching in his self-arraignments over failures or deficiencies.

As one of the many illustrations which might be given of Roosevelt's phenomenal power of prophecy, I recall that it was at this time that he wrote his "History of New York City." And noteworthy it is, as illustrating also his farsightedness, that in that book, published in 1903, he declares that we must cut out all hyphens from American names. And he urges an undivided American citizenship. That cry is uttered far and wide in our land to-day, but when he uttered it, his solitary voice was like that of "one crying in the wilderness."

This chapter may well close with a quotation from Jacob Riis, himself a true man and a loyal citizen. "We rarely realize, in these days, how much of our ability to fight for good government is due to the campaign of honesty waged by Theodore Roosevelt, in Mulberry Street."

CHAPTER IX

THE HAPPY WARRIOR

Who is the Happy Warrior? Who is he
That every man in arms should wish to be?
. . . It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought
Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought
Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought:
Whose high endeavors are an inward light
That makes the path before him always bright:
Who, with a natural instinct to discern
What knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn;

Who, doomed to go in company with Pain,
And Fear, and Bloodshed, miserable train!
Turns his necessity to glorious gain.

Having reached this point in my survey of Theodore Roosevelt's character and career, I have been brought to pause by a conversation which I held, recently, with Doctor L, faithful friend of many years to the unique household at Sagamore Hill. When I urged that my classmate was essentially a fighting man, that he really loved combat, physical and intellectual, Dr. Ldemurred. And we debated earnestly the question. But now, after several weeks of reading and rereading and reflection, I hold to my position. My classmate loved combat, - attack and defense,

struggle for moral principles, warfare on palaces of privilege and dens of degradation. Thank God he did. Thus he was able to "fight the good fight" through all his days, indomitable to the end. And, as he said repeatedly to friends, life was a joy to him. He was indeed a "Happy Warrior."

Said my beloved professor, William James, "If this life is not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of private theatricals. But it feels like a real fight."

To my former college mate as to my former college instructor, it "felt like a fight." And in the case of both those splendid men, there was also this divine overtone as the musicians say-to the clash of arms and the din of battle, that the very stars in their courses were fighting with them for truth and right.

Theodore Roosevelt loved struggle, combat, conquest, in all their varied forms. That point I still maintain, as in previous chapters of this book. And, if I may add one anecdotal confirmation of my judgment, I will quote our classmate, Charles Washburn, who says that once, in his later life, he asked Roosevelt what act or experience of his past had been most joyous. And Roosevelt, after a moment's reflection, replied, "The charge up San Juan Hill."

He had achieved unprecedented success. But, "The blood more stirs to rouse a lion than to start a hare." And Roosevelt, "ever a fighter", like Robert Browning, was now called to a larger field of reform. His hand-to-hand struggle with saloon keepers, dive owners, thieves, and corrupt ward politicians had been a trampling under foot of vermin, — rats and snakes, shall we say? Now, through the unsought agency of his friend, Henry Cabot Lodge, he was called by President McKinley, in 1897, to serve the nation as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

His studies for his "History of the Naval War of 1812", published in 1882, had given him sound, wide views of this branch of the Federal Government. But, knowing his "Chief" as I did, Secretary John D. Long, efficient, patriotic but circumspect-very I have always smiled as I have pictured Governor Long's face of furrowed anxiety when this dynamic young reformer entered the calm atmosphere of the Navy Department. Lodge wrote to Roosevelt, March 8, 1897, a letter which hits off so admirably one of Secretary Long's characteristics that I quote from it. “I have seen Long. ... He spoke in the highest terms of you. . . . He expects to be consulted about your appointment." Then this: "Long says, 'Roosevelt has the character, standing, and

ability to enable him to be a Cabinet Minister. Is not this appointment in the Navy Department too small for him?"

That was Governor Long's way. Wise, cautious, never hasty, never losing his head through enthusiasm. Hardly. But efficient, and on the whole disposed to advance Roosevelt, yet sorry that Roosevelt was not to be somewhere else, even in a full Cabinet office, rather than under his Secretarial roof.

So Theodore Roosevelt, "increasing in years and wisdom", took up his abode, with his family, at Washington, and turned his current of energy into the rusty machinery of the Navy Department. Long, believing in him, yet dreading his tireless, fearless, reforming spirit, looked on, smiling approval but keeping his cautious hand always near the brake.

With his swift, penetrating survey, the new Assistant Secretary grasped the unpreparedness of our navy. And most of his effort while in office was put forth to remedy that defect. He desired peace with all other nations as earnestly as did any member of the American Peace Society; but he blended that desire with more intelligence, with more insight into the cold facts about men and nations than was evinced by most of those wellintentioned people. I myself was an accredited,

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