The Washington herald., 1907-06-28

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 Roose-
welt family The dogs gone, the squirrels
arc having the time Of their lives.
Ccows-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 Man
sion. Their young must be fed, and the
little birds are the victims.
Slippers, the renowned six-toed cat that
had its name telegraphcd all over the
country some time ago. when It presented
the President with several kittens, each
having six toes also, has disappeared
mysteriously gone away. and no one
knows where.
Only Owls and Bats Busy.
At night around the White House all is
/ stiffness and in darkness, except here
and there the light Of the watchman in
/ the building outside are the weary
/ policemen with nothing to keep them
company but the omnipresent owl and
the pesky little bat. The owls are Of the
/ boot variety. and they make the night
hideous with their calls. The bats are
/ quiet, except for their cute little squeaks
and their constant flutter about Tie
| grounds and the building
oyster Bay is the scene Of the days
doiugs Of the President and his family.
The family pets-some OF them-were
taken along. But the squirrels and the
crows. and the owls, and the bats were
left behind, and they are enjoying the
vacation.
The White House squirrels have their
Young Of the spring Of 1897 10 look after.
Pete was not only a chaser Of diplomats,
but he was equally as fond Of the sport
of running after the nimbIe little SPUR
rel and 20 watch him scamper up a near
/ by tree.
RoIIa and Skip were equally fond Of the
/ squirrel chase.
Squirrels Have Their Inning.
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 Presi-
dent Of the United States walks almost
daily when be is at home. and they go
almost everywhere else about the man
sion. The squirrels are happy.
The White House crow. also well known
ell over the United States for no other
/ reason IN the world than that he makes
/ his home under the window Of the Presi-
dent and is exceedingly noisy, has also
had an addition TO the family. Sparrows
I are TOO common for Nj. Crow 10 eat, but
/ he and his little ones are particularly fond
/ OF the songsters. and consequently the
singing birds suffer.
. Neither does Mr.. Crow nor Mrs. Crow
tackle the blackbird. many OF whom are
spending the summer In the Executive
grounds. The blackb.rd is a fighter. the
crow IS aware Of the fact. and he leaves
/ the little fellow Of his own color entirely
/ 20 himself The crows and the blackbirds
get along fuelv-the blackbird simply has
/ the crow blUffed 20 a standstiH
/ The birds and the squirrels pay no at
/ tention TO the Improvements being made
/ about the building.
Mansion Burned Again,
The White House is being burned again
this time by the painters. Movable plat
/ forms have been lowered along the north
side of the structure and the painter Is
+ az work burning away the old paint by
means Of gasoline blowers. after which
/ fresh coats Of pure white decorations
viii be applied The White House IS to
/ be winter when the President returns in
/ the fail than ever before.
/ Several dozen bay trees brought 20 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 20 the pleasures Of the squirrels and
/ the birds. that seem 10 enjoy the BENEFITS
/ Of such an unusual species of growing
wood in their midst Ordinarily. the bay
/ trees stand on the east poTtico but they
I have been removed while Improvements
are being made 10 the roof
Things az the White House are not the
same. Times have changed for the sum
mcr. Even the big fountain in the north
ward does not play as much as II formerly
did. but the birds and the squirrels play
more than ever. and are happy.
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