The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

THE LAUNCHING OF A MAN 59
as they found it. This is certainly the true American spirit
and is reflected in our President to-day in the highest possible
degree. Tlieodore Roosevelt is a striking illustration of what
early training \vill do for a man.
A SYSTEMATIC CHURCH-GOER
The Roosevelts were strict church people. They belonged
to the Dutch Reformed Church. All of the chiltlren were
devoted to their church and attended it and worked with it
with all their heart and soul. The church-going of the Roose-
velts was not a mere perfunctory matter. The sermons that
young Theodore listened to, because of their length, would
try the patience of too many of our boys in this day. There
was too masterful a hand and heart back of Theodore Roose-
velt's church-going to permit or desire his escaping any of the
services. Through all his busy life, Mr. Roosevelt has fol-
lowed closely the habits of church-going that he formed in his
childhood and boyhood days. He still retains the traditions
of his ancestors in their idea regarding the Sabbath and relig-
ious services for the wdiole family.
OVERCAME THE IMPEDIMENT OF A DELICATE FRAME
The high straight-backed seats of his old church in New
York are something of a memory to him, for new and more
modern pews have taken their place. But the relation which
he began with that old family church continues to this day.
The fact of Theodore's delicate physique was a matter of
deep concern for his parents. He possessed the robust spirit
of his ancestors and with it presented a more volatile quality
than is usually found in the Hollander with his phlegmatic
temperament. Young Theodore had the energy and ambi-
tion, but did not possess the physical force to back up his