Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-21
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WHITE HOUSE CROW.

WHITE HOUSE CROW.
Many folks in this city, as well as
elsewhere, have been taixing about
the old crow which is known to have
established his headquarters long ago
in the White House grounds, says the
Washington Fost, and whose skill as
an augur has been advanced recently
by a warning he gave that Easter Sun
day would certainly be moist and
unpleasant day.
To the east of the mansion on the
north front, in a little grove of elms,
the old bird has his habitation. Gen.
orally he occupies tree very near to
the north portico. There is large
hollow In the trunk of this tree, and
in the topmost branches his sable
plumage is nearly always to be seen.
Some of the policemen on duty about
Che grounds keep an eye on the old
fellow at times. but the majority of
them ignore him. II have as much
as can do" said one of the blue.
coats when the subject of the crows
methods was mentioned to him, ito
keep my attention riveted upon the
crowds of people that swarm here
every day, without giving any thought
to the crow
But there are others about the
White House who have paid consid-
cradle attention to him. One old re-
tainer. who went into service when
Gen. Grant became President, says
this same crow was stationed near
the house when he first took up a
humble position there. And we all
know" said this old fellow, that al
a weather prophet he can give cards
and spades to the bureau officers and
beat them"
The man who could probably give
more information, If ne would, about
the White house crow is that old
veteran of the clerical force, Col.
Crook, who has been stationed in one
capacity or another about the Execu-
tive quarters ever since the days Of
President Lincoln. He has observed
the birds flights and heard his warn
Ing croaks for many years, and can
testify to his presence in the grounds
adjacent to the house for all this
time. There is no one of the officials,
high or low, who will venture con.
lecture concerning this crows age.
Their guesses range everywhere from
twenty-seven years to time when the
memory of man runneth not to the
contrary. but there is consensus
that no matter how old he is he is a
wise bird. is- !
That he possesses some influence is
evident from the fact that his forecast
OF the weather for Easter did prevent
the ladies' of some of the members Of
the minor ohcials about the White
House from venturing out and risking
a detriment to their beautiful spring
tinery. "How long this old fellow will
remain with us no one can tell" said
one of the clerks. He knows he has
a good place where no hunter can
take pot shot at him and no wan
ton little boy can hurl rock at him;
SO he is wise enough to stand pat"
A we'll informed gentleman who
lives in fine farming region in West
Virginia, but who is temporarily SO.
journing in Washington, talking about
the White House crow, said: ''As a
weather predicter the crow is in good
rank. We country FORKS notice it and
often take advantage of the warning.
Then the crow is apt to give notice II
there is gale brewing by flying
pretty close to the ground. If the sky
is Clear and likely to continue SO he
will soar as high as he can and croak
his delight at living by lively eaws.''
THE DOG WHO-LOvED MUSIC.
There were three OF them around
the place-Dan and Jack and Jerry
and busy dogs they were. Ihere were
no special duties given them, but they
took a great interest 81 the farm and
its belongings. Dan was Danish
hound, heavily built and ferocious
looking to those who feared him, but
a very lamb in gentleness. Such u
watchdog was he that a thief on the
premises was unheard of. Jack was a
collie, with tawny hide and a fluffy
collar" around his neck. His eyes
were brave and fearless, which made
him seem born to take care of people.
Jerry, the fox terrier, was the most
sociable of the trio. probably because
there was less of him. He had con-
fidential way of walking into ones lap
without an invitation and settling him.
self with quite a homelike grunt Of
satisfaction.
The household boosted of very
handsome piano, and the latest pur-
chase of an "angelus' walked the quiet
countryside with echoes of brass
band, or a church organ, as one
pleased.
The dogs shifted curiously around
the queer-looking object as it, entered
the house. All the doors were swung
on movable hinges, so that great
paw or sharp nose could easily open
or shut them. So, when the angelus
was taken into the parlor, Jack, the
collie. who was the most curious, sat
with his head on one side watching
the men connect the instrument with
the piano. When it dawned upon his
we1l-trained mind that music came out
OF that queerly shaped object his ex-
citement knew no bounds; he ran to
tell the others, but they did not care,
and SO he alone became the patron
of the fine arts. No matter where he
was or how he was occupied, at the
first notes of the instrument he bound
ed toward the house, walked straight
TO the center of the parlor, sat him
self down upon his launches, cooked
his ears and listened with real smile
on his wide-pointed mouth. He would
look from one person to the other as
If saying:
isn't this delightful, aren't you en-.
joying yourself? am" And when
the music was over he would bound
away, leaving one to wonder il there