Nonfiction > Jacob A. Riis > Theodore Roosevelt, the Citizen >
XII. The Despair Of Politicians XII. The Despair Of Politicians
WE had been summoned to the White House, my wife and I. I say,
“summoned” on purpose, because we had carefully avoided
Washington; it was enough for us to know that he was there. But
he would not have it, and wrote threateningly that he would send
a posse if we did n’t come. So we went. I do not think I ever
saw a prouder woman than my wife when the President took her in
to dinner. I heard her ask him if her smile reached from ear to
ear because she felt like it. And I was proud and glad, for so
it seemed to me that she had at last come to her rights, and I
where there was nothing more to wish for. But withal I felt a
bit unhappy. I had thought to do him the highest honor I could
by wearing the cross King Christian gave me, but it turned out
that among the dozen diplomats and other guests no one wore any
decoration save myself, and I did n’t like it. The President
saw, I think, that I