436 A LION-SPEARING SAFARI. 



member of the Roosevelt party now has the virus of the sleeping 

 sickness in his veins. It may not develop until they reach Europe, 

 or even America. The sleeping sickness sometimes is not mani- 

 fested in the person for several months after the infection occurs. 

 It is well-nigh incredible that the Roosevelt party, passing through 

 so many of the sickness zones, has escaped infection." 



The Court of Common Council at London, on March 3, unani- 

 mously adopted a resolution conferring the honorary freedom of 

 the city on Theodore Roosevelt, in recognition of " the distinguished 

 manner in which he filled the office of President of the United States, 

 and for the eminent service which he rendered the cause of civiliza- 

 tion, and the promotion of amicable relations between foreign 

 nations." 



The mover of the resolution, and the member who seconded 

 the same, spoke in the most eulogistic terms of Mr. Roosevelt, de- 

 claring that the city would honor itself in feting the distinguished 

 American, " whose heart is big enough to hold the whole world in 

 friendship." 



A reception committee was appointed, specially charged to see 

 that nothing was lacking to make the event memorable and " worthy 

 of Roosevelt and his outstanding position in the world." 



On March 4 one hundred and fifty prominent New Yorkers 

 were named to comprise the committee to give Colonel Theodore 

 Roosevelt a welcome from his hunting expedition in Africa. 



This, the first step in the official preparations for the memor- 

 able greeting which it was planned to give the former President, 

 was taken by Mayor Gaynor following a consultation with William 

 Loeb, Jr., former secretary to President Roosevelt, and collector of 

 the port of New York, who was given general charge of the wel- 

 coming arangements by authorization of both President Taft and 

 Colonel Roosevelt. 



Cornelius Vanderbilt headed the welcoming committee as 

 chairman, the second name being that of Mr. Loeb. The other 

 members comprised a representative selection from the ranks of the 

 city's best-known men of affairs and the professions. 



