Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-13
HOSTELRY FOR PETS
Types of Summer Boarders at
the "HoteI Schmid."
SOME OF THE QUEER GUESTS
That Fill the Place With a Pande-
monium of Sound.
THE PRESIDENTS PARROT
Worsted in Talking Match Said an
Unlovely Word - Canaries,
Snakes and Monkeys.
SOME OF THE QUEER GUESTS
THE PRESIDENTS PARROT

MANY or the human hoStelrieS and cara
~ansaries of the capital-veritable beehives
OF activity in the season-are not content
with the amount of patronage that is theirs
at this time. The Hotel Schmidt" however,
Is doing a land office business, and its reg
lister shows an unprecedented number Of
guests. The types of guests almost run the
gamut of the animal kingdom, although
there is not room for white elephants. As
It is. the patrons include pretty nearly ev-
cry creature from black snakes to canaries,
and there is a pandemonium of sounds and
much amusement and entertainment.
The Hotel Schmid" Is located on 18th
street near G, and the guests, notwithstand-
ing the fact that some of them come from
lands that are frigid, seem without excep-
ton to be happy and contented So numer-
Gus are the patrons in this establishment
that the proprietor has had to crowd out
some of his own immediate family This
bird store kept by Mr.. Schmid is at the
present writing one of the most interesting
places in Washington.
When fashionable Washingtonians HE
themselves away to their summer fun, as a
general thing they do not take their pets
with them for obvious reasons. There are
few exceptions to this general rule. but
the majority of the knowing ones do not
like to pay summer rates for their pets at
tHe pOpu.dr TeSOTtS. ana sometimes they are
not received at all. Consequently accom-
modations are engaged at SchmGL's for the
animals during the summer.
Because or the vogues and modes at the
seaside and in the mountain resorts Mr.
Schmids hotel Is doing land office bust
ness. and 1t Is worth any ones while who
has the leisure to drop In and have a
glance at the very cosmopolitan collection
of pets that are enjoying their vacations
amid plenty. A general observation would
I'M n atn hat ha tah 10 ic md
the fare excellent. So long as The Star man
was on the premises there seemed to be no
kicks from any one at all, and everybody
was happy and noisy.
Some Of the Curious Guests.
Among the numerous guests were Floren-
tine spaniels, Mexican double-headed yell
low and African gray parrots. hundreds of
gOlden-voiced canaries from the Hartz
mountains. chamehons from the orient,
guinea pigs homing pigeons. Mongolian,
golden and silver pheasants and snakes for
sooth-not the sort that are poisonous, but
the gentle pets Of the king species. and the
black snake that can run like mill race
and start your favorite horse in q speed
hitherto unknown. rabbits galore. and last,
but not least. a mormoset monkey from
Brazil that for picturesque LONELINESS could
not be matched in any native jungies.
The star boarder of the Schmid Hotel Is
Mexican double-headed parrot that Is the
property of President Roosevelt. The entry
of the register shows that the name of this
distinguished guest Is Lorette. Curiously
enough another parrot patron of the same
establishment, which has been assigned to
the same suite of apartments, is Loretta.
This latter transient belongs to Col. Dou-
bleday.
There is also an African gray parrot in
the same quarters who is not quite so vol
uble as his two companions. Lorette and
Loretta. the two wiseacres. are well up in
bird talk.
Lorette. however. has not the aptitude
for tongue exercises that has Loretta. The
latter talks, and talks well. Both birds are
active with their vocal exercise, and II such
"a thing as discussion of the 'muck-rake'
question were possible with them there can
be no small doubt that 1t would be worth
reporting. The trouble with the White
House bird. however, is that he has lived
so long in an atmosphere of diplomatic Sc
crecy that he has been taught not to say
anything even when he talks.
Loretta. on the other hand, Is of diff
ferent type. She is valued at $500, and
from the way she rattles off bird comments
Oh casual things in the heated term she
seems worth that money, despite the fact
that she Is living in summer hotel that
has more than its rightful number of oc-
cupants, according to the hotel laws that
govern in the District.
Loretta is Very Democratic.
The quarters occupied by this trio of bird
notables is on the second floor of the Hotel
Schmid. There is no elevator. and the en-
trance to the exclusive suite Is just at the
head of the stairs. You knock at once, of
course. as soon you are shown to the
apartment, and Immediately you are told
to come in-by Loretta--don't get the
names confused. If the matter of entrance
were left to Lorette admission would be as
difficult as 1t Is possible for a lot of secret
tFt,h hn NA1i Ats AlA tN.n
White House to make it. Loretta is a bird
of a different caliber, however and she
tells you to come in with all the democracy
of Jefferson. In fact. you feel just like
tying your horse in front of the door just
as soon as you hear her soft, low voice bid
ding you enter.
over the fence Is out. Over the fence is
outl' sings Loretta as the visitor enters
and is seated by an obsequious bellboy.
The song-an old, sweet song of base ball
mems sung but not apropos of anything
In general. and 1t naturally brings out some
inquiries
rs she base ball enthusiastic? The Star
man asks Bonface Schmid
1T seems So" is the reply. she has a
rather extensive repertoire. She sings Oh
Look at the Pretty Girl All Coons Look
time a coiored man comes in the room she
begins to sing the coon song and she does
1t very we'll"
Musical critics. however would be in
ClineG TO disagree Win MT. Scnrlllu. win
all her remarkable gifts. 1t is seriously
doubtful if Loretta will ever rank as a
prima donna of note. Her voice is sort
OF a cross between a sawmih and steam
calliope. 1t has all the metallic quality
that is necessary to make 1t famous. but 1t
lacks sympathy This conclusion was very
clearly evinced a few moments later, when
Loretta interrupted herself with the ex-
clamation: Poor Loretta! Poor Loretta!'
What is the matter. Loretta?" asks Mr..
Schmid.
Loretta appears to be suffering with the
intense heat.
"oh, go to-" she says with emphasis.
Tainted Conversation.
The Presidents bird here interposed some
remarks, the African gray parrot joins in.
and for the moment varl-colored comments
come in such a quick conglomeration that
they are uninteligible to the layman. The
air Is permeated with the same class OF de-
bate that usually charaeterizes a Serosls or
a Rainy Daisy convention. Finally the
Presidents bird. in a spirit of infinite dis
gust. gives up the futile effort to make him.
self heard. whereupon he shows himself
unworthy of the White House under its
present regime. He used an unlovely word.
Mr.. Schmid is shocked.
The baneful influence upon the President 8
children when the artist is returned to his
s., 80. kf... h. A.