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members of the Tennis Cabinet。 On many afternoons he would ride for two hours or more with Mrs。 Roosevelt or some friend； and it is a sad commentary on the perpetual publicity to which the American people condemn their Presidents； that he sometimes was obliged to ride off into the country with one of his Cabinet Ministers in order to be able to discuss public matters in private with him。 Roosevelt took care to provide means for exercise indoors in very stormy weather。 He had a professional boxer and wrestler come to him； and when jiu…jitsu； the Japanese system of physical training； was in vogue； he learned some of its introductory mysteries from one of its foremost professors。
It was in a boxing bout at the White House with his teacher that he lost the sight of an eye from a blow which injured his eyeball。 But he kept this loss secret for many years。 He had a wide acquaintance among professional boxers and even prize…fighters。 Jeffries； who had been a blacksmith before he entered the ring； hammered a penholder out of a horseshoe and gave it to the President； a gift which Roosevelt greatly prized and showed among his trophies at Oyster Bay。 John L。 Sullivan； perhaps the most notorious of the champion prize…fighters of America； held Roosevelt in such great esteem that when he died his family invited the ex…President to be one of the pall…bearers。 But Mr。 Roosevelt was then too sick himself to be able to travel to Boston and serve。
At Oyster Bay in summer； the President found plenty of exercise on the place。 It contained some eighty acres； part of which was woodland； and there were always trees to be chopped。 Hay…making； also； was an equally severe test of bodily strength； and to pitch hay brought every muscle into use。 There； too； he had water sports； but he always preferred rowing to sailing； which was too slow and inactive an exercise for him。 In old times； rowing used to be the penalty to which galley…slaves were condemned； but now it is commended by athletes as the best of all forms of exercise for developing the body and for furnishing stimulating competition。
No President ever lived on better terms with the newspaper men than Roosevelt did。 He treated them all with perfect fairness； according no special favors； no 〃beats；〃 or 〃scoops to any one。 So they regarded him as 〃square〃； and further they knew that he was a man of his word； not to be trifled with。 〃It is generally supposed；〃 Roosevelt remarked； 〃that newspaper men have no sense of honor； but that is not true。 If you treat them fairly； they will treat you fairly； and they will keep a secret if you impress upon them that it must be kept。〃
The great paradox of Roosevelt's character was the contrast between its fundamental simplicity and its apparent spectacular quality。 His acts seemed to be unusual； striking； and some uncharitable critics thought that he aimed at effect； in truth； however； he acted at the moment as the impulse or propriety of the moment suggested。 There was no premeditation； no swagger。 Dwellers in Berlin noticed that after William the Crown Prince became the Kaiser William II； he thrust out his chest and adopted a rather pompous walk； but there was nothing like this in Roosevelt's manner or carriage。 In his public speaking； he gesticulated incessantly； and in the difficulty he had in pouring out his words as rapidly as the thoughts came to him； he seemed sometimes almost to grimace； but this was natural； not studied。 And so I can easily understand what some one tells me who saw him almost daily as President in the White House。 〃Roosevelt；〃 he said； 〃had an immense reverence for the Presidential office。 He did not feel cocky or conceited at being himself President； he felt rather the responsibility for dignity which the office carried with it； and he was humble。 You might be as intimate with him as possible； but there was a certain line which no one ever crossed。 That was the line which the office itself drew。〃
Roosevelt had that reverence for the great men of the past which should stir every heart with a capacity for noble things。 In the White House he never forgot the Presidents who had dwelt there before him。 〃I like to see in my mind's eye；〃 he said to Mr。 Rhodes； the American historian； 〃the gaunt form of Lincoln stalking through these halls。〃 During a visit at the White House； Mr。 Rhodes watched the President at work throughout an entire day and set down the points which chiefly struck him。 Foremost among these was the lack of leisure which we allow our Presidents。 They have work to do which is more important than that of a railroad manager； or the president of the largest business corporation； or of the leader of the American Bar。 They are expected to know the pros and cons of each bill brought before them to sign so that they can sign it not only intelligently but justly； and yet thanks to the constant intrusion which Americans deem it their right to force on the President； he has no time for deliberation； and； as I have said； Mr。 Roosevelt was often obliged； when he wished to have an undisturbed consultation with one of his Cabinet Secretaries； to take him off on a long ride。
〃I chanced to be in the President's room；〃 Mr。 Rhodes continues； 〃when he dictated the rough draft of his famous dispatch to General Chaffee respecting torture in the Philippines。 While he was dictating； two or three cards were brought in； also some books with a request for the President's autograph； and there were some other interruptions。 While the dispatch as it went out in its revised form could not be improved； a President cannot expect to be always so happy in dictating dispatches in the midst of distractions。 Office work of far…reaching importance should be done in the closet。 Certainly no monarch or minister in Europe does administrative work under such unfavorable conditions； indeed； this public which exacts so much of the President's time should in all fairness be considerate in its criticism。〃 *
* Rhodes： Historical Essays； 238…39。
To cope in some measure with the vast amount of business thrust upon him； Roosevelt had unique endowments。 Other Presidents had been indolent and let affairs drift； he cleared his desk every day。 Other Presidents felt that they had done their duty if they merely dispatched the important business which came to them； Roosevelt was always initiating； either new legislation or new methods in matters which did not concern the Government。 One autumn； when there was unusual excitement； with recriminations in disputes in the college football world； I was surprised to receive a large four…page typewritten letter； giving his views as to what ought to be done。
He reorganized the service in the White House； and not only that； he had the Executive Mansion itself remodeled somewhat according to the original plans so as to furnish adequate space for the crowds who thronged the official receptions； and； at the other end of the building； proper quarters for the stenographers； typewriters； and telegraphers required to file and dispatch his correspondence。 Promptness was his watchword； and in cases where it was expected； I never knew twenty…four hours to elapse before he dictated his reply to a letter。
The orderliness which