IV INTRODUCTION. 



As the ship steamed from her docks at Hoboken a distinguished 

 party, close friends of the Ex-President, crowded the steamer, 

 many of them following her to Sandy Hook in chartered boats in 

 paying their respects to the man who had ruled over the destinies 

 of this nation for seven years. 



Daily bulletins from the steamer, en route to Naples wath its 

 distinguished passenger and his son Kermit, were chronicled in 

 newspapers throughout the world. Other steamships plying the 

 ocean received marconigrams daily telling the passengers about the 

 progress of the voyage. At Gibraltar, the little British possession 

 at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, a cordial reception was 

 tendered to Col. Roosevelt. 



While the former President insisted that he was traveling in 

 strict incognito and surely not in any sense as a public man, prob- 

 ably the most elaborate and royal reception was tendered him upon 

 his arrival at Naples that has ever been given any public dignitary 

 or private individual at that port. 



During his stay in Italy Col. Roosevelt visited the site of 

 Messina destroyed by earthquake, fire and tidal wave on Decem- 

 ber 28, 1908, when 200,000 people lost their lives. Through the 

 Ex-President the thanks of the people of Italy were extended, 

 flashed by the electric-w-ires encircling the globe to the remotest 

 corners of the earth, for the generosity of the United States govern- 

 ment in so promptly sending substantial aid. 



In the Tropics the Animal World is full of wonders, and 

 very fascinating. Birds and Insects with colors rivalling the 

 hues of the rainbow; graceful Fishes flashing through the water; 

 Animals ponderous as the Elephant, others nimble as the Squirrel 

 and others coated'^wnth furs of finest texture and richest beauty — 

 what an assemblage is here presented of the marvels of the Tropics. 



The work describes the Four-Handed Animals which bear the 

 closest resemblance to men; Apes, including the huge Gorilla, 

 Baboons, and Monkeys whose mischievous pranks amuse both old 

 and young. The reader passes from one captivating sight to another 

 and is entranced at every step. He visits the monsters in their 

 native jungles. In the trees above him, Birds of Paradise and 



