Isidor Schneider
THEODORE ROOSEVELT HYMAN
F
ROM A DISTANCE,
traversing many roofs, and the roaring "EI" hurd-
ling many tumults, even the ape-chested cry of Loud Moe, the pickle
peddler who refused to become mute for patriotism, the sounds of the
victory parade arrived. They came in great breaths, in gigantic beats, as if
somewhere an enormous, mad clock were loose. A "peaceful" people was
greeting, with yelping cheers, it,; victorious soldiers, returned from a
"hallowed war." The brass band played as if they were blowing through
musical cannon. Through the cheering and the march music a particularly
good ear could hear, or imagine itself hear the hoof beats of
cavalry.
For Teddy Roosevelt's rough riders were parading, prancing bY'
on their famous big horses, nodding to the cheering crowds from under
their big hats, Hashing their broad bladed sabres. And the howling mul-
titude, dense upon the rim of the sidewalk, supped, as at an enormous
dish, on glory and blood.
Though they could not be at the parade, though little enough of the
excitement that crazed New York, could get into the Hyman's house-
hold, there were, nevertheless, some throbs of it in the atmosphere, enough
to give special pomt to the little drama that was agitating the household.
A child was being born, at the same time that the American Empire was,
more lavishly, being born.
And wherever on that day a child was born
the family had an especial sense of increase.
Within their own circles,
they felt America become enlarged.
In the houses of birth women cried out, and were heard; (lnd mur-
muring voices consoled them, and affectionate hands soothed them, and
after the deepest moan, the cries were forgotten and there were sounds of
joy.
But as the empire was being born, there were cries in Cuba and
Spain and Porto Rico and the Phillippines, and even in the United States.
Cries of bereaved parents, of the poor and oppressed; cries that were not
so soon stilled and forgotton, and grew heavier. An empire is born not as
the outgrowth of the strength and maturity of a parent, as a child is
born, but out of the misfortune and weakness of other nations and upon
their bodies and empire is born a parasite.
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