FIGHTING THE INSECTS 



son introduced us, although it was not necessary, as the President 

 knew us, and we said good-by. Roosevelt did practically all the 

 talking, as was nearly always the case, but I managed to slip in 

 a remark, quite by good luck, to this effect, "Mr. President, take 

 especially good care of yourself in Africa, and by all means avoid 

 the Sleeping Sickness." With his usual broad grin, he repHed, 

 "Good idea. Doctor! That disease wouldn't comport with the 

 popular idea of my character, would it?" 



On his return from Africa, he lectured before the National | 

 Geographic Society, and I met him at a luncheon given by ; 



Gilbert Grosvenor. There were no speeches at the luncheon, but 

 he answered questions, and when I asked him about the Sleeping 

 Sickness, he gave us an extraordinary account of the disease and 

 of the ravages it had made in Africa. 



Before he reached this country on his return from Africa, he 

 travelled in Europe, lectured before the Sorbonne in Paris and 

 also before the University of Berlin. As it happens, I was in 

 Paris a month or so after he had been there. I have always been 

 most cordially and hospitably received by my French friends, 

 but it seemed to me that when I met Raphael Blanchard he was 

 especially enthusiastic over my arrival. He at once invited me to 

 luncheon and placed himself and his laboratories at my service. 

 I wondered what I had done to arouse such an access of friend- 

 ship. It came out in the course of conversation, when he said, "I 

 met Colonel Roosevelt after his lecture at the Sorbonne at a 

 reception given him by the Faculty. When I was introduced, 

 I said to him, 'Colonel Roosevelt, I know Washington. I have 

 visited that city and I know some scientific men over there.' He 

 said, 'Do you indeed? Who?' 'Well,' I said, 'Dr. Howard and 

 Dr. Stiles.' 'Oh,' said Colonel Roosevelt. 'Fine fellows, fine fel- 

 lows.' " Thus Blanchard's enthusiasm on meeting me so soon 

 after the Colonel had been there was explained. 



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