The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-08
JOY AT WHITE HOUSE.
squirrels and Birds Have Things Their Own Way.

sauirrels and Birds Have Things Their ? Own way.
 Washington Herald.
 Things have changed at the White House. Times are not what they used to be. Pete, the famous dog, has been taken away for the summer. With him have gone his two companions Skip, the bear hunter, and Rolla. the pet of the Roosevelt family. The dogs gone, the squirrels are having the time of their lives.
 crows+the jet black variety-are raising havoc with the song birds at the White House. The crows have built nests in the grounds south of the Executive Mansion. Their young must tlms.
 Slippers, the renowned six-toed cat that had its name teiegraphed all oven the country some time ago, when 1t presented the President with several kittens, each having six toes, also, has disappeared-mysteri gone away. and no one knows where.
 At night around the White House all Is stiffness and in darkness, except here and there the light of the watch man in the building. Outside are the weary police men with nothing to keep them company but the omnipresent owl and the pesky little bat. The owls are of the hoot variety, and they make the night hideous with their calls. The bats are quiet, except for their cute little squeaks and their constant flut- ter about the grounds and the building.
 oyster Bay is the scene of the days doings of the President and his family. The family pets-some of them-were fha the crows, anA the owls, and the bats were left behind. and they are enjoy ing the vacation.
 The White House squirrels have their young of the spring of 1907 to look after. Pete was not only a chaser Of diplomats, but he was equally as fond of the sport of running after the nimble little squirrel and to watch him scamp CT up. 0 nearby tree.
 Rolla and Skip were equally fond of the squirrel chase, ..
 But now that the dogs have taken their leave the squirrels are having their inning and spend their spare time around the building They scamper about the great driveway over which the President of the United States walks almost daily when he is at home, and they go almost everywhere else about the mansion. The squirrels are happy.
 The White House crow, also well known all over the United States, for no other reason in the world than that he makes his home under the window of the President and is exceedingly noisy, has also had an addition to the family. Sparrows are too common for Mr. Crow to eat, but he and his little ones are particularly fond of the song sters. and consequently the singing birds suffer.
 Neither does MT. Crow nor Mrs. Crow | tackle the blackbird, many of whom are spending the summer in the Execu- tive grounds The blackbird is figh- ter; the crow is aware of the fact, and he leaves the little fellow of his own color entirely to himself. The crows and the blackbirds get along finely the blackbird simply has the crow blufHed to a standstill.
 The birds and the squirrels pay no attention to the improvements being made about the building.
 The White House Is being burned a.gain-this time by the painters. Mov- able platforms have been lowered along the north side of the structure, and the painter Is at work burning away the old paint by means of gasoline blowers, after which fresh coats of pure white decorations will be applied. The White House is to be winter when the Presi- dent returns in the fall than ever be- fore.
 Several dozen bay trees brought to this country from the South of France, where they are used in the manufacture of bay rum adorn the driveway to the White House. These sweet-scented trees, too. add to the pleasure of the squirrels and the birds, which seem to enjoy the benefits of such an unusual species of growing wood in their midst. Ordinarily the bay trees stand on the east portico, but they have been re- moved while Improvements are being made to the roof.
 Things at the White House are not the same. Times have changed for the summer. Even the big fountain in the north yard does not play as much as 1t formerly did, but the birds and the squirrels play more than ever and are happy.