The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-17
PETS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Birds and Animals That Have Been
Sent to the Roosevelt Children.


Washington Letter in Philadelphia Press.
With the advent of the Presidents Wig
orous young family into the White House
bird f~anciers, chicken fanciers, dog fan
ciers, pigeon fanciers, wild animal tanners
and, in fact, every conceivable sort of an
animal lover sent a specimen of his wares
to the White House until. had they all been
kept, the place would have been a verita BILE
junior geological park, and there would
have been no living on the place. How to
delicately dispose of these things, all of
them alive and all requiring constant care,
without hurting the feelings of the donor
has been a diplomatic affair, and the more
so as the children themselves saw no use
in getting rid of any of them.
While the wild animals have been sent
to the Zoo, the cats to kin friends, most
of the chickens to a roomier barnyard than
that afforded by the government for the
Presidents horses, there still remains a
dog, a pony, a cat, a parrot, some chickens,
BIRDS and numerous other household and
barnyard gods.
Minnie, or Min, the White House cat.
has a national reputation, and has proba-
bly, done more for her country than has
any other pet about the White House She
Is altogether unique, and, had not the arm
OF the law reached out in her behalf. she
would have had the reputation of being the
mother TO 10000 kittens a year. Minnie
struggled into the executive mansion about
the time that Coxey's army marched down
on the capital, and whether she was a part
OF that picturesque brigade or not she has
since had the glory of having deserted from
ii. She is a marvellous mouser, and has
the reputation of killing enough rats and
mice to satisfy a fine line Of transient
trade.
She is a good mother cat, fat and sleek,
and visited upon the White House a large
number of her progeny. In fact, she was
populating the basement at such a rate and
yet was so valuable that il became neces-
sary to relieve her of the young mousers as
they happened along. The darby to whose
lot the duty of disposing of the kittens fell
had an eye to business, and, being met with
the query from some one as to what the
basket contained as he bore them away,
answered, Republican pedigreed kittens,
born in the White House and of a mother
VINO has done duty since Andy Johnson's
time"
When offered a small sum for one of the
cats he grew wary of the questioner and
put up his price. AS his price grew so did
the Importance of the basket full of cats,
and where before a gloomy post-mortem
awaited the miserable, squirting merchan-
disc, they were now turned into a lively
source or commerce. From that day on
there was a corner on White House cats.
All of this was well enough until some
darkey on the outside learned the trick. and
hanging about the White House grounds
with his baskets of cats-just any old cats
mat nc COuIQ DICK from the DdCk fences in
Foggy Bottom, offered them as the off
spring of Minnie, the celebrated White
House cat. Many a mellow tourist bore
away from Washington in an expensive
basket a cat that had been the target for
boots and old shoes from the day it learned
to climb a back fence. A dollar apiece was
not TOO much for the White House brand Of
cats, and business might have hOurished
in a modest way had not the tourists who
bought a kitten with closed eyes yesterday.
which was positively the last cat left -
found a basketful of the same age and con-
dltion to-day. Thus ended the White House
brand of cat traffic. Some wag later wrote
a story about the deluge OF mice and rats
about the White House. and this brought a
new onslaught OF cats from feline fanciers.
but Minnie resented this reflection on her
ability and ran them all away. She is the
object of much attention from the Pres
ident's children, and especially from the
Probably Jack. the Presidents very own
dog. is the bestowed pet at the White
House. He is "A common. sleek. black dog.
of medium size and doubtful pedigree.
The President himself has taught Jack
most Of the cunning tricks he knows. At
the Presidents command Jack will lie
dead. say his prayers. sneeze. speak for
his food and do "A most of other interest
ing tricks. He will wait for minutes al
a time for some ole TO open the door
OF the Cabinet room or some private part
OF the house where he knows the Presi-
dent TO be. that he may slip In and lie
at his feet. Unwisely enough, he some
times attempts 10 the Presi-
dent on a horseback ride. or even a cross
country walk, In which event he comes
back looking 20 have had too much of a
bargain. his tail between his legs and a
crestfallen. tired look about his face. He
comes and goes In and out OF the White
House. and is known Familiarity TO every
~frequenter OF the mansion. He recently
suffered an attack OF rheumatic govt, but Is
convalescing.
Algonquin. the beautiful mite OF a pony
which Secretary Hitchcock presented 10
the Presidents children. and Is claimed
by all OF them alike. receives far more
admiration outside of the White House
grounds than any other OF the pet ponies.