Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04


whistling on the public streets was started
a few days ago the police have had some
amusing experiences with whistlers.
Jimmy the whistler" as one of the col
ored warblers styles himself has not been
about this city for several years, al
though he picked up many nickels during
his exhibitions on the streets.
But Jimmy can't touch my whistling."
says the latest warbler. who has come to
the notice of the police
He agrees with the members of the anti
whistling club that poor efforts on the
streets should be stopped. He is an artist
in his line. he says, and advances the idea
that permits or licenses should be issued
to those able to do musical whisting. All
others. he thinks. should go to the woods.
MY whstling," he explained to the po-
lice. SIS on the order of canary bird and
without the rasping noise that Is found in
so many voices"
The applicant for permit license
plainly told the police that he is the best
whistler on earth and thinks all others who
make similar application should be com
PEELED to appear before musical experts.
'And he has not yet been arrested, COM
mented a police official. after hearing of
the applicants statement of his idea of mu-
steal whistling.
president Van Buren, had a great repu-
tation for being non-commttal or least
judicious in the selection of his words IN
replying to any question" says an old
timer. ''On one occasion one of his friends
wagered that no one could PROFOUND a ques-
ton to him and receive a direct answer
The wager was accepted and they went to
him and asked whether on that particular
morning the sun had risen in the east or
in the west?''
The fact is replied Van Buren,, after
a moment of elaboration. the terms east
and west are merely relative
1.-The wager was paid without waiting for
any further reply on the part of the Presi-
dent"
x X
Anybody who takes any stock in this
talk about race suicide should visit Wash
ington Circle some pleasant evening"" re-
marked a policeman. who reversed the
usual order of things by telling his troubles
to a citizen. That public reservation is
within the bounds of my beat and 1 have
had the time and the opportunities to study
the situation. Any evening that the weather
is fair the circle fairly swarms with kids,
and they are a lively lot. can assure you.
One striking feature is that the colored
youngsters outnumber their white brethren
something like ten to one
What annoys me most though" the
guardian of the peace added, sis the pres
ence of spoony couples who take posses
sion of the benches before dark and remain
.
apparently oblivious to their SURROUNDINGS
and proceed with their affectionate exhibit
tons notwithstanding the presence of spec
tators. | am told that the benches were
removed from Iowa Circle several years
ago solely for the purpose of Kidding that
reservation of the regular attendance of
smItten lasses and their swains''
= x X
Getting recruits for the Geological Park
Is not by any means the easiest thing in the
world. though the authorities themselves
do not bear much of the trouble in this
connection said one of the attendants yes
terday afternoon. The work is mainly
done by travellers and natives of the coun-
tries from which the wild beasts come
from whom the various geological societies
OF the world buy, except when the pur-
chases are made from professional wild
beast dea lers.
Some of the latter employ regular re-
cruiting agents whom they send out when
ever they receive orders which they can
not execute with stock which they have
in hand. If the park authorities order an
African lion and the dealers have not a
suitable beast on hand, recruiting lions in
Africa begins at once and continues
until a good specimen has been obtained
The different methods by which the various
wild animals are captured in their native
state are interesting. Lions are generally
caught by being tempted to thrust their
heads through nooses Of strong cords COM
posed of twisted hides. Pieces of meat
are used for bait. but frequently the hun
ters have many days of hard chasing be-
fore the lion can be persuaded to try the
moose. When he does the cords are pulled
quickly around his throat. sitting him.
and other stout cords are then bound