In Norway he spoke to the Nobel Committee in thanks for the Peace Prize which they had awarded him after the Russo-Japanese War.  In Germany, the Kaiser ordered a review of troops for him; and he was received by the University of Berlin.  In Paris, he addressed the famous institution of learning, the Sorbonne.  The English universities received him, and gave him their honorary degrees.  London made him a “freeman.”  His speeches before the learned men of Europe might not have been extraordinary for a university teacher, but when we think that his life had alternated between the hustle of politics, the career of a ranchman, of a soldier, and of a hunter of big game, it is evident that we shall have to search long and far among our public men before we can find any to match him in the variety of his interests and achievements.

In England, King Edward VII had just died, and Mr. Roosevelt was appointed by President Taft as the American representative at the funeral.  There was a gathering in London of thirteen reigning monarchs, and many curious stories are told about the occasion.  Of course the Kaiser was there, strutting about and trying to patronize everybody.  Mr. Roosevelt had been politely received by the Kaiser and believed, as did every one, that beneath his arrogant manners, there was a great deal of ability.  But he did not allow himself to be treated by the “All Highest” with magnificent condescension.

A story is repeated, of which one version is that the Kaiser suddenly called out, at some reception: 

“Oh, Colonel Roosevelt, I wish to see you before I leave London, and can give you just thirty minutes, to-morrow afternoon at two.”

“That’s very good of Your Majesty,” replied Mr. Roosevelt, “and I’ll be there.  But unfortunately I have an engagement, so that I’ll only be able to give you twenty minutes.”

Another story concerns a little boy,—­the Crown Prince of one of the countries where royal folk have simpler and better manners than in Germany.  He and his parents and other persons of royal rank were at the palace where Mr. Roosevelt was staying.  As any man would know, boys are interested in much the same things whether they are princes or not, and this one was greatly taken by Mr. Roosevelt’s stories of hunting, and by being taught some of the games which the American father and his boys had played in the White House, not many years before.  So it happened that as a group of the visitors, including two or three kings and queens, stepped out of one of the rooms of the palace into a corridor one evening, they were astonished to see a gentleman down on his hands and knees on a rug, playing “bear” with a little boy.  The gentleman was the Ex-President of the United States, and the boy was the future King of one of the countries of Europe.

Roosevelt’s return to New York was the signal for a tremendous reception.  New York outdid itself in salutes, parades, and wildly cheering crowds.  Nothing like it had been seen before.  Even after the excitement of the first day of his return, he could not go out without being surrounded by cheering crowds.  He knew that it could not last, and said to his sister:  “Soon they will be throwing rotten apples at me.”