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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1907)
12 , ' I, I .,. ., I, , nn , .11' LI I . mil " THE ROOSEVELT BEARS ABROAD Copyright 1907, by Seymour E&toa All Right Ruerred NUMBER XII THE BEARS. IN RUSSIA Th Teddy Bears learned a thing or two 'About the way. the' Russians do For about, ten o'clock the following day . ' At a railway station along the way Their clothes were searched, and boots and caps, Umbrellas, overcoats and traps; By whiskered men who used them rough And talked in language loud and gruff. What the search was for, they didn't know; Or if mistaken for foreign foe; 'And when TEDDY G gave a man a blow' For prodding him behind the ear With the sharpest end of a soldier's speaa . It opened battle then and there Between officer and Teddy Bear.' But the Roosevelt Bears knew how to box And TEDDY G worked off some knocks, The shoulder kind, the twisty stun!, Till the Russian cried' ha had enough. But in Russia, France or anywhere, For me or you, or for Teddy Bear, ., To fight for peace isn't worth a dime; It doubles trouble every time; ,'.-.,. Or the stronger wins and peace is mads Because the weaker is afraid. Things move more happily along If we apologize when in the wrong. . But that row that day had gone too far'; The Bears were ordered off the car' And men were called, like soldiers dressed, With chains and cuffs to make arrest. The Bears regretted the row they'd made And tried the officers to persuade -That no harm was meant but all was fun As they had no spear or sword or gun. But to hit a soldier is a serious crime Which must not bo done at any time ; And two sets of handcuffs did the trick t And the Teddy Bears were landed quick In a Russian jail with a window each Through which to coax or scold or teach The noisy crowd which stood below Laughing and joking at the show. But in that crowd was a Yankee tai Whose cruiser captain knew the Czar, And he took a message from TEDDY B Which in half an hour got both Bears free. And a special train on which to ride, With dining car and Russian guide, And friendly help on every side, And stations passed along the way Displaying the flag of the TJ S. A When they reaehed-St. Petersburg-tKat night- This famous city was a blaze of light r . From streets of granite laid in mire -. To the top of every golden spire, Streams of light shone everywheres In honor of the Roosevelt Bears. And Russian soldiers all in line Made the city squares. look, very fine,' ; As they were driven in a carriage grand. Led by a famous Russian band, To a fine hotel on the Palace Quay, Where they were told that all was free,. Their rooms and board and service best, And lounging parlors in which to rest. And carriages at their command, And music'from the Czar's own band, And all their own, not' a cent to pay, As many days as they chose to stay. vr 4 M mm m fea-tyt. frit They read ihe lives of Peter the Great And of his successors up to date ; . -As wicked a bunch as ever made ' . The countries of the world afraid. They learned that hundred thousands died In building the streets on every side, - -From damp and cold on this marshy site, Because King Peter's word was might. They read how Catharine's foes were slain To clear the way for her to reign, And how she made men live like swine ; That she herself might in glory shine. . And other history stern and grim Of people killed for royal whim, And thousands banished to regions cold, Children in arms and peasants old, -For trifling cause, or none at all, . . V ; To please some upstart ruler small. . These things made TEDDY G so eros He left the house and walked across . A bridge or two and a public square To find the famous Russian bear, "To teach him," he said, "his A. B. C 'And how to. govern fair and free." ' He taught that bear enough that day To make his hair turn red or gray ; ' The way to spell, the Roosevelt plan, . O-x for ox, and a-n for an, V Which easy way to spell," said he, "The Russians need much more than we. , He taught him figures ; how to divide . With folks in need on every side; And government, the way to plan Was to take some lessons from Japan; "And in geography, on a world so small," Said TEDDY-G, "Don't take it all; But what you have just hold and rule, And build for. every child a school." The Russian bear did the best he could And said he thought he understood ; . But TEDDY G made him promise true . That he'd read the life of Roosevelt through", And then take up when that was done The history of George Washington. . One afternoon at hali-past five . They took the Czar for a little drive To show him the city about which he said He had often in his castle read. TEDDY B said he would driver bs . 1 h:,,., :z : , - ........ . ,.iu y9i fr And charge by the hour and collect the fee, While" TEDDY G was to sit behind The famous Russian Czar to mind. The streets were crowded and windows high To see the Bears go driving by ' And to cheer the Czar and throw bouquets, . Tha kind which start a Russian blaze. ' But TEDDY G with arm and paw " : Knocked off with ease each bomb he saw, . And did his part so brave and well In handling safely every shell,. That he won a medal with printing filled, "He saved a king from getting killed." They left this city of historic strife To learn a little of Russian life ; To see the farms of grain and grass And study the ways of the peasant class. They spent a day with a man whose nam Is known to literature and to fame, And talked with him, and tried his clothes, ' And hoed his corn, a dozen rows, . And heard him explain his patent trick ; How to make wrong right and do it quick. "Next week well go," said TEDDY B, "To Switzerland her hBls to see, And we H climb each one and never stop Till we stand on the very top, And Colorado's mountains cheer, Our brother bears and . mountain deer, And every rook and ereek and tree, An d all our friends across tha sea." (Continued next Sunday. 1 ! 1