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Show THE SIMPLE LIFE. President Roosevelt in the role of a moral teacher is a pleasing change from the strenuous citizen in public life, although he has neither accepted ac-cepted the one nor abandoned the other. The change, if change it is, is purely composite, and reflects the remarkable versatility of a remarkable man.. He was, much in. evidence last week in portraying por-traying both characteristics. Once in speaking of the American home, as he did before his Catholic audience. Again in speaking of "The Simple Life," at the same time introducing the author of this now famous book to a Washington audience. Another An-other day, this week, his was the principal address delivered at the uncovering of the statue of Frederick the Great, presented to this country by the Emperor of Germany. To our mind, this, was the true Roosevelt whose words exalted the deeds of the general who, next to Napoleon, was the greatest warrior of modern times. But this is not saying that Roosevelt cannot be sincere in two phases of life as well as in one phase of life. To say it is to fly in the face of the Amcri-' Amcri-' can people who recently confirmed their belief in Roosevelt's sincerity in all things, both of thought and action. Even to the extent' that he is sincere in politics, which trait of virtue would stand next to impeccability. Good citizens cannot help rejoicing over, the election of , clean inert to public life, especially one whose example inspires' others to follow it. If men and women would so govern their lives in tho manner pointed out by the president, none need fear the future of the state.. The nation would be stronger than armies and navies could make it. j Here is something from Roosevelt's address on ! "The Simple Life" that makes an American proud of the man who can point it out in speech. The president enforces his reasoning by presenting examples ex-amples in illustration. He said: "As an example of what can be done and should be done, by the individual I shall mention something that recently occurred in this city of Washington, a thing that doubtless many of you know about, but which was unknown to, me until recently. A few ! weeks ago when I was walking back from church one Sunday I noticed a great fire and found that it was-Downey's was-Downey's livery stable you recollect it, three or four' weeks ago. Through a train of circumstance that I will not mention my , attention was particularly called to the case and I looked into it. I had long known of the very admirable work done with singular modesty and self" effacemont by Mr. Downey in trying try-ing to give homes and to be himself a friend of those in a sense friendless in this community, and I by accident found out what happened in this connectio.i with thi jiartieular incident. It appears that last spring: Mr. Downey started to hirld a, new Ftable. His stable Is next door to a colored tlantist church. Mr. Downey is a white man and a Catholic and those neighbors of his are colored Baptists, and their kinship kin-ship was simply the kirehip of that broad hurr.anity that should underlie all our feelings toward one another. an-other. Mr. Downey started to build hi3 stable, and naturally enough wanted to have it as bis a siab!e as possible and build it right up to the limits of his land. That brought the wall close up 'again? the back of the colored Baptist church, cutting out the light and air. The preacher called upon hint and told him that they would like to purchase a strip six feet broad of the ground of Mr. Downey upon which lie was intending to build, as it would be a great inconvenience incon-venience to them to lo.se the light and air; that thfy were aware it was asking a good deal of him to cramp the building out of which he intended to make his living but they hoped he would do so because f their need. After a good deal of thought Mr. Downey came to tho conclusion that he ought to grant the request and ro he notified them that he would change h'rj-plans, make a somewhat smaller building and sell them the six feet of land in the .trip adjoining their church. After a little while the preacher came around with thi trustees of his church and said thev very much appreciated Mr. Downey's courtesy and were sorry they had bothered him as they had, because be-cause on looking into the affairs of the church they found th.it, as they were already in debt they did not feel warranted in incurring any further obligations, and so tuey had to withdraw their request.' They thanked him for h'. kindly purpose and said good bye. " . "Kut Mr. Downey found he could not get to sleep that.niyht until linally he. made up his mind that as they could not buy it he would give it to them anyway, any-way, which he did. But fortunately we know that j the tower of Silcam often falls upon the jusi and the unjust alike and Mr. Downey's livery stable caught I fire and burned clown. It was said that that morning morn-ing the Baptist church was in trssion next door to him, and the clergyman stopped and aid: -'Now y..u j women stay here and pray, and you men go straight out and help our benefactor. Mr. Downey And go ! out they did and got his horses all out. eo that none of them was burned, although he suffered otherwi a total loss. Now I ca'I that a practical application of Mr. Wagners teachings. Hero in Washington we I have a right to be proud of a citizen like Mr. Downev I and if we can develop enough -such citizen.? we shall I turn out just the kind of community that does not need to but will always be giarj to studv -'The Simple Sim-ple Life the author of which J now introduce to you " |