FROM NEW YORK TO MOMBASA 79 



good-bye and wish good luck to the departing hunter. On reaching 

 the wharf of the Hamburg-American Line, where waited the ocean 

 greyhound "Hamburg," ready to convey him to Naples, a cheering 

 throng, thousands in number, awaited to give him an enthusiastic 

 send-off. It was no easy matter to reach the deck of the steamer 

 through this mass of admiring humanity. 



Many friends and members of his late administration accom- 

 panied him on board, and as the great steamer slowly glided out from 

 her dock the distinguished traveler stood on the captain's bridge, wav- 

 ing a parting farewell with his black slouch hat. By his side stood his 

 son, Kermit, both gladdened by the cheers of the friendly multitude. 



One of the latest and most pleasing incidents of the departure 

 was the advent of a messenger from President Taft, who brought as 

 a present a collapsable gold ruler, one foot long, with pencil attached, 

 and inscribed as follows : 



*To Theodore Roosevelt from William Howard Taft. Good-bye 

 and good luck. Best wishes for a safe return." 



That the outgoing traveler Was highly pleased with this parting 

 tribute need scarcely be said. The returning messenger bore back his 

 grateful thanks. 



What shall we say of the voyage? What can be said other than 

 of the innumerable voyages of innumerable tourists, whose principal 

 aim is to prevent the journey from becoming wearisomely monoto- 

 nous. That there was little rest for Roosevelt on board ship, we may 

 be sure. He is of the unresting type. Those who wished to interview 

 him had to do so en route, for every day he walked a good ten miles 

 to and fro on the deck. And the deck did not limit the range of his 

 activity. He pervaded the ship. Not a part or a feature of it escaped 

 his attention. From the bridge to the coal-heavers' den he made his 

 way, everybody who knew anything was obliged to give up his last 

 item of useful information, and by the time shore was reached again 

 the traveler had learned enough about life on shipboard to write a 

 nautical novel. 



Meanwhile his diet was of the simplest, his mea'ls being limited 

 to two a day. The purpose of this abstemiousness was to keep down 

 his weight. Lightness and agility were requisite in the purpose he 

 had in view. 



