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Show former President's Reception Is One of Which Any King Might Be Proud". REPORTERS DISAPPOINTED HUNTER WILL NOT TALK Persists in II is Refusal to Dis cuss National Affairs at Present Time. H By Associated Press. NAPLES. April 2. Tito blue bay of H Naples never was more beautiful than fl vrhen the steamer Prinz Heinrich, with fl the Roosevelt family aboard, steamed into the harbor at S:20 o'clock this morning. Notwithstanding the early J hour the water front was linod with thousands. Only American Embassador H Lcishman with l.ho other mombcrs of H the cmbass', American Consul Crown- inshield, Marquis J)e Sola, the prefect H of the Naplos; official representatives H of the municipality; tho commander of H the port, and a group of foreign cor- respondents, were admitted to tho -slip H vhoro the steamer docked,, but out- H eido the ates a surcin.c: mass of ex- H cited persons, including hundreds of H Americans, craned their necJcs to cot an H carl' glimpse of the distinguished H American. H As soon as the gangplank had been H lowered the official party of welcome H boarded tho steamer and was c.nn- I ducted aloft to the bridge, where the Roose veils were bidding goodbye to the captain. Cordial greetings were exchanged. Mr. Roosevelt, attired "in a gray sack suit and wearing u soft black hat, appeared ap-peared in splendid health and spirits. JIo spoke with pleasure of setting his foot upon European soil again and of feeling that at last he was homeward bound. Mr. Roosevelt said that tho voyage from Alexandria had been without special incident and had been accomplished accom-plished in perfect weather. A few moments mo-ments later he descended (ho gangplank gang-plank and the crowd, catching sight of him, greeted him with cheers. Many Americans had provided themsclve's with flags, and these wero waved frantically. fran-tically. Greeted With Cheers. The Roosevelis with tho.o who had come to forma lly receive them, were soon whisked away in automobiles to the Excelsior hotel. As the motor cars made their way through tho crowd Mr. Roosevelt raised his liat and, smiling, bowed right and left in acknowledgment acknowledg-ment of repeated cheers. No sooner had he reached his hotel than tho former president "was bo-Ficged bo-Ficged by the newspaper men. Promptly and firmly he reiterated his refusal to discuss any phase of American politics or other a'ff.iirs, adding that ho would slick lo his announced policj' through-nut through-nut his European tour. Any statement purporting to have como " from him would bo unauthorized, he said. Tho expected arrival of Mr. Roosevelt Roose-velt had created considerable excite- mcnt among Ncnpplltinntf IV.liO .sinea his brief sojourn hero In April of last year, had promiwod to gIVy hint a hearty welcome on Jug fotutil, The Prinz Ilchiridi ttrrivau earlier than her usual hour, but tho crowds had discounted this possibility asd were not taken by tuirtrris&i At his hotel Mr. Roosevelt found awaiting him a messenger from Mayor Nathan of Rome, bearing an invitation from tho municipal authorities who wished to give a dinner and reception in his honor. The former president accepted tho invitation and fixed tho date for Wednesday evening next. Following this reception ho will Jeavc for Spczia. Otherwise there will bo no change in the program arranged for his visit in Romc. When the Prinz ITcinrich was sighted, this morning the docks of San "Vincenuo and tho ImmacclatcUa, tho arsenal and the promcnado Criaia along tho Via Camcciolo wore crowded. On many houses the American flags were waving. A large number of boats flying fly-ing the American and Italian flags and carrying citizens of both countries went out to meet tho steamer. Has Ideal Weathor. The morning was matchless and Mr. Roosevelt had a splendid view of tho bay as tho vessel drew in from tho promontory of Posilipo and the Sorrento Sor-rento peninsula. In the near disfanco wero Capri, Ischia and Procida, whilo "Vesuvius, threatening and majestic, lowered over all As was tho' caso when tho former president stopped hero on his way to Africa, tho police- took cxtrnordinarj measures not only lo pro-toct pro-toct his person, but to avoid any unpleasant un-pleasant incident during his stay in the city. As tho steamer moved slowly into the harbor tho crowds on shore burst, into cries of "Long livo Rooso-velt." Rooso-velt." The excitement grew when tho colonel colo-nel could bo distinguished on deck. From all sides came snlutes and cheers, whilo hats and handkerchiefs and flags were waved. It must have socmcd like homecoming to Mr. Roosevelt, for tho American colors could bo seen from the bay of Santa Lucia to tho heights of tho Vomcro. Tho formal reception was carried out as planned. Mr. Roosevelt receiving first his countrymen, then representatives represen-tatives of the municpality of Naplos, after which ho acknowledged the pope's welcome. The landing and drive to tho Excelsior Excel-sior hotel, where apartments had been reserved by Mrs. Roosevelt during her earlier visit to Naples, wero accomplished accom-plished without any untoward happen- Colonel Roosevelt talked briefly with the newspapor men, ono of whom afterwards aft-erwards said: "Overflowing vitalit' seems to bo his dominating characteristic. Europe contains no such typo of statesman. Aftor a year spent in tho heart of Africa, Mr. Roosevelt returns to civilization civ-ilization with his mind so full of things that ho docs not oven mention his hunting trip, which, for a man in 'his position affords few parallels." Colonel .Roosevelt held an informal reception for Americans in the rotunda of tho hotel. With Mrs. Roosevelt he dined quietly at tho hotel, and lator occupied a box at tho San Carlos theater, the-ater, which had been placed at his disposal by the prefect of Naples. Kcrmit Roosevelt spent tho afternoon after-noon in cxplorinfr the ruins of Fompoii. |