128   My Brother Theodore Roosevelt

of the hand and the idiomatic phrase, 'c'est genuch' produced in addition, cheese, pastry, and fruit, all brought by the waiter in a wild hope that some one of those might satisfy what he evidently supposed was my untranslatable demand."

A little later, from Sorrento, he writes in characteristic fashion, showing that even in so romantic and enthralling a spot as Rome he was still "on duty bent" from the standpoint of writing articles for the Century. He says: "I finished six articles for the Century on ranch life while in Rome and sent them off. I do not know whether the Century will want them or not. I read them all to Edith and her corrections and help were most valuable to me. Now I am wondering why my `Life of Benton' has not come out. Here, [at Sorrento] I generally take a moderate walk with Edith every morning, and then a brisk rush by myself. I had no idea that it was in me to enjoy the 'dolce far niente' even as long as I have. Luckily, Edith would dislike an extended stay in Europe as much as I would."

In this letter, after speaking of ranch losses which necessitated selling his beloved hunter, Sagamore, he signs himself, "Your extravagant and irrelevant but affectionate brother, the White Knight," the latter being a reference to the character in "Alice in Wonderland," from which enchanting book we invariably quoted in ordinary conversation or letters.

From Venice, in February, he writes: "Venice is perfectly lovely. It is more strange than any other Italian town, and the architecture has a certain florid barbarism about it,-Byzantine,-dashed with something stronger-that appeals to some streak in my nature." They returned to London later, and were shown many attentions, for even at that early period in his life, England recognized the statesman in Theodore Roosevelt. He speaks of Mr. Bryce the historian as a "charming man"-their friendship was to last all through my brother's life, and he mentions many other well-known young Englishmen, who have now grown old in their country's service. In a letter dated March 6 he says: "I have been having great fun

The Young Reformer   129

in London, and have seen just the very nicest people, social,

political, and literary. We have just come back from a lunch

at the Jeunes', which was most enjoyable. Edith sat beside

Chamberlain, who impresses me very much with his keen, shrewd

intellect and quiet force. I sat between Trevelyan, who was

just charming, and a Lady Leamington."

Unless I am mistaken, that was the first time my brother

met Sir George Trevelyan, with whom he carried on a faithful

and interesting correspondence for many years. "Mrs. Jeune has asked us to dine to meet Lord Charles Beresford and Lord Hartington, and I have been put down for the Athenwum Club, and also taken into the Reform Club. Last night, I dined at a Bohemian Club, the famous Savage Club, with Healy and one or two Parnellites, (having previously lunched with several of the Conservatives, Lord Stanhope and Seton-Carr, and others). The contrast was most amusing, but I like Healy immensely. Later on I met a brother of Stanhope's who is a radical, and listened to a most savage discussion with a young fellow named Foster, a nephew of the late Secretary of Ireland, who has also been very polite to me. I have enjoyed going to the House of Commons under the guidance of Bryce, the historian, and a dear old Conservative member named Hoare, very greatly. It is amusing to see the Conservatives, fresh-looking, well-built, thoroughly well-dressed gentlemen, honest and plucky but absolutely unable to grapple with the eighty odd, erratic Parnellite Irishmen. The last named, by the way, I know well of old,I have met them in the New York Legislature!"

These comments by the young man of twenty-eight are along the line of comments made much later when almost all of his reactions to the men named or suggested had come true. The travellers were more than glad to get back to their native land, and by the early summer were settled at Sagamore Hill, to begin there the beautiful family life which grew in richness up to the moment of my brother's death.

June 8, 1887, he writes from Sagamore, describing amusingly