The Lamar register., 1903-07-08
PRESIDENTS GIFTS
HE HAS RECEIVED WAGON LOADS

Chair Of Elk Horns-Alaska Totem
Poles-siIver Loving cup-sox Of
Gold and silver ore-LiVe and
Stuffed Animals-Great Variety Of
Small Articles.
President Roosevelt received over
three wagon leads of presents OF all
kinds during his western trip, and
presents have been disposed of in the
White House to suit the tastes and de-
sires of the President and his family.
The heaviest and bulkiest of the pres
ents was an immense chair made from
elk's horns, says a Washington cor
respondent of the St Louis Globe
Democrat. A big elk In the park at
Tacoma. Washington. has annually
shed his great horns. These have been
saved from year TO year and 1t was
from them that the chair for the Pres
ident was made. The chair is so heavy
that several men are required for lift
Ing and moving 1t.
Another rather strange present gath
cred at Tacoma, was a pair of totem
poles, the combination grave stone and
family tree of the Alaskan and North
western Indians. These poles erected
over Indian graves. contain curious
characters which furnish a history Of
the dead.
A splendid set of Indian pottery was
presented to the President by Pueblo
Indians near Albuquerque. New Mex
leo, and the same place also gave him a
fine Navajo blanket, one OF the best
ever made In the West.
San Francisco presented a magnf-
cent gold and silver loving cup. and
Sacramento silver and glass claret
pitcher and handsome cigar case
Colfax, California, gave the President a
box of gold and silver ore.
Stuffed heads. stuffed mountain
sheep, pheasants. lizards and nearly all
the other products of the West were
given to TIE President at different
points on his journey. At one place he
was given a set OF locked deer horns.
taken from two large deers that had
died with their horns locked after a
conflict between them. Brides and
saddles were plentiful throughout the
journey. AT Cheyenne the President
was presented with beautiful horse,
equipped with saddle, bride and every
other necessity for rider. AT Omaha
somebody gave him a bride woven
from hair.
There would have been a car full of
live animals had the President accept
ed all the presents of this kind offered
him. At three or four places offers Of
live bears were made to him, but he
declined these with thanks. At Santa
Fe. New Mexico. and Kalima. Wash
ington. large bears were offered him.
He did haNe brought back however,
one live present That was a little
badger. given to him by a little girl at
Sharon Springs. Kansas. She asked
the President to name II after her
brother. whose name is Josiah" So
the little badger, bright and enter
tanning little fellow. was known
throughout the trip as "Josiah" and
that is still his name. He was taken
all the way from Sharon Springs
through to the Pacific coast and back
through the West on the presidential
train. Members of the party took a
great interest In him and fed him on
potatoes and milk. He was taken of
the train each day for an airing, and
would then play with those he knew
and show his appreciation of his out
ing. Josiah" is particular pet Of the
Roosevelt children. and has been taken
to Oyster Bay, where he will spend the
summer with the youngsters. JOSH
ah' is playful. kind and appreciative.
and has become a favorite with all the
members OF the presidential family.
There were many presents of small
pieces of gold and silver of unique de-
sign. The President refuses to accept
gifts of considerable value from indi-
viduals. and those that were brought
back with him are the presents of COM
mittees or a collection OF individuals
that it would have been difficult for
him to decline had he been so dis
posed.