It was at this time a blow fell upon our nation from which we have scarcely yet recovered. President McKinley was struck down by the cowardly hand of an assassin. The Vice-President was at this time off on one of his favorite outings, but with all possible speed he came back and was sworn in as President. It was a great responsibility, and many feared that great changes in our government might result. But the fears proved groundless. Young as he was,--and he is the youngest of all of our Presidents,--he took upon himself the duty of carrying out the intentions of his predecessor, and proving to the world once again that, even though a President die, "the government at Washington still lives." There is another side to the character of our President which must not be overlooked. He is of strong religious convictions and a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. It is seldom that he is given to preaching, but when he does his words have a sincerity that proves much for the foundation of his character. He stands for what is honest and upright in political and private life, and although, being but human, he may make mistakes, he remains a Chief Magistrate well deserving the highest honors our nation can bestow. EDWARD STRATEMEYER. MAY 2, 1904. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE Birthplace and Ancestry of Theodore Roosevelt--His Father's Philanthropy--City and Country Home--Days at School--Religious Training. 1 CHAPTER II Nicknamed Teddy--Goes to Harvard College--Member of Many Clubs--Death of Mr. Roosevelt--Anecdotes of College Life 11 CHAPTER III Marries Miss Alice Lee--Travels in Europe--Bold Mountain Climbing--Elected to the Assembly--Personal Encounter with the Enemy 20 CHAPTER IV Theodore Roosevelt and Governor Cleveland--Good Work as an Assemblyman--Some Measures pushed through--Birth of Alice Roosevelt--Death of Mr. Roosevelt's Mother 30 CHAPTER V Theodore Roosevelt as a Ranchman and Hunter in the Bad Lands--Bringing down his First Buffalo--Rattlesnakes and a Wild Goose 39 CHAPTER VI Grouse and Other Small Game--The Scotchman and the Skunk--Caught in a Hailstorm on the Prairie--Bringing down Black-tail Deer 49 CHAPTER VII Runs for Mayor of New York City--Marriage to Edith Kermit Carew--Hunting in the Bighorn Mountains--A Wild Chase after Three Elk 63 CHAPTER VIII Bringing down a Grizzly Bear--Back to New York--Appointed a Civil Service Commissioner--The Work of the Commission 74 CHAPTER IX A Trip to the Shoshone Mountains--Caught in a Driving Snowstorm--Back to Work--Resignation as Civil Service Commissioner 85