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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8831, 24 March 1909, Page 3

Mr Roosevelt recently spent seventeen hours in tho saddle, and rode 93 miles, over slushy Virginian roads for the patriotic purpose of confounding tho critics who denounced as a hardship his recent order that military and naval officers should periodically prove their physical fitness by riding 90 miles in three days. "What a President who is not in training can do," exclaimed Mr Roosevelt, when ho dismounted, with a. broad grin from his steaming horse, "ought"to bo easy for men who are supposed always to keep in fit bodily condition." The President started at 330 in the morning. He led his party nearly all the way at a killing pace, stopping nowhere for longer ihan ion minutes, except at Warren, where tho business houses and schools were closed ond all the inhabitants assembled and demanded a speech. Ho did (ho honours oi the occasion, shaking hands with everybody, and then ate a gigantic meal and rodo back to the White House through tho. driving sleet. He arrived homo at 8.30 in the evening, covered with mud from head to foot, and with his coat a>id hat encased in ice. "It was bully," tho President shouted as. apparently unfav.igucd, ho ran lightly to his room. Half an hour later ho nnpearod in evening dress, and was the life and soul of tho dinner party with which his strenuous day concluded.