PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

HOW HE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE.

A Simple But Solemnly Impressive Ceremony at Buffalo on Saturday. The oath of office was administered to President Theodore Roosevelt in a front room in the home of Mr. Ansley Wilcox at 641 Delaware avenue, Buffalo, Saturday afternoon. The house is an old fashioned colonial mansion which stands on a terrace at some distance back from the avenue. It is quite a large house and t large trees growing around it. Vines connect the pillars of the broad veranda, so that only the space immediately in front of the door is visible from the street. It was in this veranda, screened from the hundreds of people who paused on the sidewalks and on their way up and down the avenue in carriages, that the new! President spent most of the afternoon and evening in consultation with his advisers, and in undertaking some of the new responsibilities which have come upon him.

A few minutes after 3 o’clock Col. Roosevelt reached the Wilcox house in a carriage, accompanied by Mr. Wilcox and Judge John R. Hazel of he United States district court. The members of President McKinley’s cabinet arrived soon afterward, aud then came a number of the new President’s friends. Among them were Judge Haight of the court of appeals, Dr. Park, Dr. Mann and Dr. Stockton, physicians who attended the President, John N. Scatcherd, President McKinley’s secretary, Mr. Cortelyou, the President’s own secretary, Mr. Loebf Senator Depew, Mr. and Mrs. John G, Milburn and Mr, and Mrs. Carlton Sprague. All these entered the library, a large room with oak ceiling and furnished with a dignity which was singularly in keeping with the occasion.

The members of the cabinet had preceded the other guests. All of them were present except Secretary Gage and Secretary Hay. Secretary Root advanced to Col. Roosevelt and led him to one side for a moment, speaking with him in a low tone. Their arms were affectionately linked during the conversation.

It was understood afterward that there was some question iu the minds of the members of the cabinet as to whether the President ought to sign a written deposition in taking the oath or whether he should take the oath and sign the paper atterward.

SECRETARY ROOT SPEAKS

A minute or two after 3:30 o’clock Secretary Root released the President’s arm and stepped back toward the middle of the room. The President turned aronjpd and stood before the high window. Behind <illegible> was the delicate <illegible> which hung from the veranda pillar.

There was a momentof absolute silence, which was broken by a sparrow which alighted on tbe window and chattered for a moment. The trivial sound accentuated the previous silence and the feeling which had caused it. The members of the cabinet and the other persons present gathered in a small semi-circle behind Secretary Root. " Mr. Vice President," he began, " I——" Here the secretary of war choked, be dropped his head and was silent for almost two minutes. No one stirred. Mr. Roosevelt’s eyes filled with tears and his face was set in a stern effort at self coutrol. Mr. Root raised his head and in a voice that was tremulous with feeling, but speaking with the utmost deliberation and clearness, continued: "I have been requested on behalf of the cabinet of the late president, at least on behalf of those who are present in Buffalo, all except two, to request that for reasons of weight affecting the administration and the government you take the constitutional office of president of the United States."

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S ANSWER

Judge Hazel stepped forward aud stood beside Secretary Root, facing Mr. Roosevelt. Tne new president reached up and took hold of the lapel of the frock coat which he wore, and after one or two quick efforts to control himself began speaking. He, too, had difficulty in governing his voice and in keeping down his emotion. He spoke very slowly. He said:

"I shall take the oath at once in response to your request; and in this hour of deep and terrible national bereavement I wish to state that it shall be my aim to continue absolutely unbroken the policy of President McKinley for the peace and prosperity of our beloved country."

THE OATH ADMINISTERED.

Mr. Roosevelt stepped back into the recess of the window and Judge Hazel advanced toward him. In the Judge’s hand was an engrossed copy of the oath. "Please raise your right hand and repeat after me," said Judge Hazel. Mr. Roosevelt raised his hand. Judge Hazel read the oath clause by clause and phrase by phrase, and at each pause, President Roosevelt, with an intense earnestness which bas always characterized him when speaking, repeated the words,

"I, Theodore Roosevelt, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute," said the new President, and then the oath continued, " the office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States," "And thus I swear" added the new President after a pause before he dropped