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"A TYPICAL AMERICAN”; introduction by OPIE READ 25
CHAPTER I.-THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Sketch of His Life. Marked Characteristics of the
Man. A Product of the Age. Blood of Heroes
in His Veins. In an Age of Materialism He Stands
as the Great Exponent of the Virtues. His First
Historical Work. Ambitious to Do Deeds Rather
than Chronicle Them.
CHAPTER II.-"BIRTH, LINEAGE AND BOYHOOD"
Descended from Good Old Holland Stock, His Ancestors
Among the Earliest American Pioneers. Delicate
in Health, His Masterful Spirit Wins for Him a
Stalwart Frame. Early Develops the Qualities of a
Leader.
CHAPTER III.-COLLEGE LIFE
Enters College at the Age of Eighteen. Develops a
Taste for Hunting and Natural History. Is Active
in all College Sports, Especially Wrestling and
Boxing. Graduates in 1880 with High Honors.
Membership in Clubs, Etc.
At Once Attracts Attention to Himself as an Uncom-
promising Foe to Machine Rule and a Friend of
Good Government. Striking Promise of a Remark-
able Public Career. Not Even the Danger of
Bodily Violence Could Deter Him. A Revelation to
the Rowdies.
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CHAPTER V.-IN NATIONAL AND CITY POLITICS
Recognized as a Factor in National Affairs. A Leader
of Men, Loyal to the Best Traditions of His Party,
but Intensely an American. Maintaining a Splen-
did Independence. The Forlorn Hope in the Race
for Election as Mayor of New York City.
CHAPTER VI.-RANCHING IN THE BAD LANDS
Comrade with the Cowboys. Wins the Confidence and
Esteem of Hunters, Ranchmen and Pioneers.
"Busting" Bronchos. Adventures with Wild
Beasts. Thrilling Fight with a Grizzly.
CHAPTER VII.-ROOSEVELT AS AN AUTHOR
First Author to Become President. Beginning as Edi-
tor of His College Paper, He Develops Striking
Literary Talent. Success of His First Work,
"Naval War of 1812," "Winning of the West,”
"The Strenuous Life and other Essays, "66. "Oliver
Cromwell." A Voluminous Writer.
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CHAPTER VIII.- HOME LIFE AND RELIGIOUS TENDENCIES 153
Romance of His Boyhood. In the Home and Family.
"All Children Should Have Just as Good a Time
as They Possibly Can." Holding to the Faith of
His Fathers. An American Citizen Can Take His
Bible and the Constitution of the United States into
the Caucus.
CHAPTER IX.-CRUSADE FOR THE MERIT SYSTEM
Roosevelt's Work in the New York Legislature Bears
Fruit. Appointed Civil Service Commissioner by
President Harrison. Shows Great Preparation for
the Work. Offends Spoilsmen of Both Parties.
Ably Supported in the Senate and House.
CHAPTER X.-PURIFYING CITY POLITICS
Roosevelt Appointed President of Police Board of the
City of New York. "I Will Enforce the Law."
Merit System Governs in Police Force. Sunday
Closing Law Made Operative. Attempted Assas-
sination by Dynamite.
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CHAPTER XI.-ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 199
Rebuilds the American Navy. Introduces Target Prac-
tice with Powder and Ball. Active in Preparation
for War with Spain. Advises Ordering Commodore
Dewey to the China Station. Resigns for Active
Duty in the Field.
CHAPTER XII.-FORMATION OF THE "ROUGH RIDERS''
Friendship for General Leonard Wood. A Month Well
Saved. Cowboys, Hunters and Clubmen Rally to
His Standard. The Best Fighting Material that
Ever Marched to the Field. Drilling, Preparing
and Embarking. Landing on Cuban Soil.
CHAPTER XIII.-SERVICE IN CUBA
Brigaded with the Forces of a Fighting Man.
The
Affair at Las Guasimas, and the Loss of Precious
Lives. The Rough Riders Prove Their Heroism in
Battle. From the Trenches to the Hospital. Graves
in Alien Soil. After Peace, the Return Home.
CHAPTER XIV.-RETURN OF THE REGIMENT
The Round Robin. Ordered Back to the United States.
Sick, Wounded and Well on the Voyage Home.
Landing of Rough Riders at Montauk Point.
Angels of Mercy in the Hospitals. Mustered Out.
Back to the Old Life, where a Rough Rider May
Ride.
CHAPTER XV.-GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK
Empire State Jubilantly Rewards Colonel Roosevelt with
Its Highest Office. Inaugurates Reform in Every
Branch of the Public Service. Establishes the
Principle of Street Franchise Taxation. Dewey
Day in New York.
CHAPTER XVI.-ROOSEVELT IN CHICAGO
Guest of Honor at the Hamilton Club Appomattox Day
Banquet. Wonderful Memory Shown in His Recog-
nition of Individual Rough Riders. Characteristic
Incidents of the Man. First Enunciation of the
Gospel of a Strenuous Life.
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CHAPTER XVII.-HONORS THRUST UPON HIM
Nominated for Vice-President Against His Emphatic
Protest. Sinks Personal Preference at the Call of
Public Duty. Striking Figure in the Campaign.
Presiding Over the Senate. Seeks Recreation in a
Post-election Hunt for Mountain Lions.
Leon Czolgosz Strikes Down the Head of the Nation.
Country Plunged in Sorrow. Hope and Despair
Alternate. "Nearer, My God, To Thee." End of
a Noble Life. The Republic Pauses While Its
President is Laid to Rest.
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CHAPTER XIX.-SUCCEEDS TO THE PRESIDENCY
Theodore Roosevelt Takes Oath of Office. Informed of
His Chief's Death While Hunting in the Adiron-
dacks. Solemn Scenes at the Administration of the
Sublime Obligation. Declares He Will Carry Out
McKinley's Policy.
CHAPTER XX.-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE NATION
President Roosevelt Takes the Helm of Government in
Washington. First Official Act.
Solid South by New Methods.
Washington to a Conference.
Aims to Break Up
Summons Booker T.
Appoints Reform
What May Reasonably Be Expected from Such a Presi-
dent of Such a Nation. Believing in the Monroe
Doctrine and American Control of the Canal at the
Isthmus, in Reciprocity and Expansion, Mr. Roose-
velt Is Strong, Upright, Honest and Aggressive, and
Implicitly Trusted by a United People. America's
Golden Era.
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