German, but becomes an American, desirous of
fulfilling in good faith the duties of American citizenship.

When we thus rule ourselves, we have the responsibilities of
sovereigns, not of subjects. We must never exercise our
rights either wickedly or thoughtlessly; we can continue to
preserve them in but one possible way, by making the proper
use of them. In a new portion of the country, especially
here in the Far West, it is peculiarly important to do so;
and on this day of all others we ought soberly to realize
the weight of the responsibility that rests upon us. I am,
myself, at heart as much a Westerner as an Easterner; I am
proud, indeed, to be considered one of yourselves, and I
address you in this rather solemn strain to-day, only
because of my pride in you, and because your welfare, moral
as well as material, is so near my heart.

It was a hilarious party of cowpunchers who took the afternoon train
back to Medora. For a part of the brief journey Packard sat with
Roosevelt discussing his speech.

"It was during this talk," said Packard afterward, "that I first
realized the potential bigness of the man. One could not help
believing he was in deadly earnest in his consecration to the highest
ideals of citizenship. He had already made his mark in the New York
Legislature. He was known as a fighter who dared to come out in the
open and depend upon the backing of public opinion. He was reputed to
be wealthy enough to devote his life to any work he chose, and I
learned, on the return journey to the Bad Lands that day, that he
believed he could do better work in a public and political way than in
any other. My conclusion was immediate, and I said, 'Then you will
become President of the United States.'

"One would suppose that I could remember the actual words he used in
reply, but I cannot. I remember distinctly that he was not in the
least surprised at my statement. He gave me the impression of having
thoroughly considered the matter and to have arrived at the same
conclusion that I had arrived at. I remember only this of what he
said, 'If your prophecy comes true, I will do my part to make a good
one.'"

XXIV

The road is wide and the stars are out, and the breath of night is sweet,
And this is the time when wanderlust should seize upon my feet,
But I'm glad to turn from the open road and the starlight on my face,
And leave the