Life — August 1, 1907 — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘LR * The Boy President Or Rollo in the White House I TRUST-BUSTING The Fourth oj March—The Tariff HE long day was over, the inaugural procession had dragged itself along in front of the stand from which the new President had viewed it. All the world, in and out of the procession, wore khaki and broad brimmed hats. It ushered in, as Mr. George Holiday had remarked, a New I Rollo found himself with his uncle in a great chamber of the White House. The Boy President had announced his Cabinet prior to his inauguration, and had chosen two of his advisers from among those who had from his childhood guided his footsteps. He made his uncle, Mr. George Holiday, Secretary of State and of the Treasury. It was a new departure to unite these two offices, but, as Mr. Holiday pointed out, it was economical to have one man do the work of two, and Rollo was of the opinion that his uncle by his experience and travel was fitted both for diplomacy and finance. Mr. George and his nephew had traveled together exten- sively in Europe for change and rest, and it was Mr. George’s FTmicnsane gala LEY “I am the first Boy President” wont to say that the waiters got the change and the landlords got the rest, and he always said it with such an air of vivacity and so pleasantly that each time it seemed a novelty. Now, Jonas, whom it will be reraembered had worked as a hired man on Rollo’s father’s farm, was made by his grateful comrade Secretary of Agriculture and of the Interior. The other officers of State were mere politicians. “What is a politician?” Rollo asked his uncle, just as the curtain was rising upon our little play “A politician,” replied Mr. George, “is a statesnran who is alive.” Rollo thought deeply for some minutes, an unusual pro- ceeding, since he was accustomed to letting his tongue do his thinking for him. . At last he observed: “Then I am a politician.” you certainly are very mu:halive,” reptied his uncle, with a humorous expression upon his mouth, 2 “Of course I am,” replicd Rollo, “I am the first Boy ident.” “Yes,” said Uncle George, “we have had boy phenomena of all kinds, such as boy chess players, boy violinists and pianists and boy bandits, but you are the first Boy President.” “Why has there not been a Boy President before me?” asked Rollo. “Why Rollo,” explained Uncle George, ‘you must know that the Constitution of the United States””—— “The WHAT ?” exclaimed Rollo. “The Constitution of the United States,” continued his uncle, “of which Gladstone said” —— “Ido not wish to hear what Gladstone said,” interrupted Rollo. “What is this Constitution, and what does it say?” “Tt says among other things that a man must be thirty-five years of age before he can be elected President of the United States.” “Then, Uncle George,” said Rollo, “you must acknowledge that it is a very stupid instrument. Here I am, nowhere near thirty-five years of age, and I have to-day been inaugurated as President. Let me hear no more from you of the Constitution of the United States. But, Uncle George, how did you like my inaugural address? Did you like what I said about bust- ing the Trusts?” “Yes,” replied Mr. George, “but I would bust only bad Trusts. Do not molest or injure those kind, good Trusts which will cat out of your hand.”” “But how am I to know the difference between a good Trust anda bad Trust?” asked Rollo. “If I should happen to bust the wrong kind, I would naturally feel some chagrin, as you say, though what you mean by that expression I never knew.” Well,” replied Mr. George, “no one has ever busted a Trust yet, good or bad; but, if in your attack you happen to hit one in a vital spot I have no doubt but that a post-mortem examination ”"—— what ?” asked Rollo. “A post-mortem examination,” repeated Mr. George. “T have often asked you to speak American to me,” said comicbooks.com