Page:Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star.djvu/42

xxxii came into the office of The Star on the morning of September 22, 1917, and went to a desk which had been assigned him, with the remark, "The cub reporter will now begin work." He was fond of that designation and often in conversation referred to himself as "The Star's cub reporter." With pencil he wrote out on newspaper copy-paper, with much scratching and interlining, the editorial, "Blood, Iron, and Gold," which appeared the following day. His first editorial, however, was, a short time before, written on suggestion of Mr. Kirkwood, a brief piece on the death of Dr. W. S. Fitzsimons, of Kansas City, who was killed by a bomb in an airplane attack on a hospital in France—the first American officer to fall in the war.

The same day Colonel Roosevelt wrote another editorial for later publication. He was good nature itself that Saturday morning in the office, joked and chatted with members of the staff, and seemed to be enjoying the novelty of his new connection.

The following Sunday there was a luncheon of The Star family at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kirkwood, at which the " new cub reporter " made himself thoroughly at home. Editors, reporters, and men of the mechanical and circulation departments were there and had luncheon with the Colonel. He mingled with all and took delight in chatting with them of their work. During the afternoon he made an informal talk to " the family " out on the lawn, in which he commended the spirit of working together shown in the expression " The Star family."