The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-05-31


Post. and it was unusual for these gifts
to assume the shape of wild or do
nestle animal But it was not until
the present occupants came to the
White House that the custom of MAX
ing presents of this character began
10 assume extensive proportions This
is due, probably, to the Presidents
known love Of everything pertaining
to natural history, and to the further
fact that he is a great hunter His
bent in this direction is handed down
to his children.
The gifts to the White House in re-
cent years include almost every Amer
lean small animal capable of being
domestcated With few exceptions,
they have been sent to the Geological
Park, there to become a part of the
great national collection.
Gifts of animals from friends in
foreign countries are not at all infre-
Quent. Only recently the President re-
ceived from King MeneIik Of Abyssinia
an Arabian zebra, and two ostriches.
These can now be seen at the Zoologi-
cal Park, where they have attracted
wide attention.
The variety of American animals
ranges from white rats and mice to
cinnamon cub bear. A small lion has
also been received. The arrival of the
opossum, racoon, or even cat or dog,
fails to create more than passing inter
est among the younger members of the
Presidential family.
Probably the most commented upon
animal at the White House is the
house cat, Slippers. She is different
from ordinary cats in that she has six
toes. Slippers is now a permanent fix
tur9 in the Presidents household.
A parrot Of the Mexican double yell
low head variety is a pet of which all
the Roosevelt children are fond. 1t is
an exceptionally intelligent bird, and
pronounces distinctly the names of the
different members of the family. 1t
has been at the White House for sew
eral years, and was especially fond of
Mrs. Longworth, when she was a girl
there. Its voice shouting Alice"
alice" Alice" could frequently be
heard ringing through the Railways.
The story of how two Kansas jack
rabbits found their way to the White
House is interesting. They had been
brought here from the West by E. S.
Schmid. One day, while being fed,
they escaped from their cage.
A wild scramble was made to cap
ture them by the attendants, but their
training on the plains Of the Sunfowar
State stood them well, and they left
their pursuers practically at the post.
Reaching G street, at Twelfth, they
separated. one going. east and the 9TH
er west, both through busy and crowd
ed thoroughfares,
Newsboys and messenger bows join
ed in the exciting chase after the rab-
bits and for a time business in that
vicinity was practically at a standstill.
Both animals were large specimens,
and as they spread out their long limbs
many thought they were young deer
One Of the rabbits was captured at
distance of more than two miles
The other took refuge in the White
House grounds, where it remained for
several days, affOrding an opportunity
for several hunting expeditions on the
part of the Roosevelt boys.
AS a means Of capturing this rabbit
its mate was taken to the White House
grounds and turned loose, and it is
said both are still there, Mr.. Schmid
having decided on request of represen-
tatives of the President, not to modest
them further.
Mr.. Schmid is also responsible for
the presence of large number of
squirrels at the White House and the
nearby parks. About two years ago
he liberated 200 squirrels in Lafayette
Park, just opposite the Executive
grounds. They were mostly of the
gray and red pine species, but among
them we're some flying squirrels.
Those in the White House grounds
have become so tame that they will
eat from the hands Of those who dis
play enough interest to stop and pet
them. On days when the sun shines
brightly they are much in evidence IN
the trees, in the shrubbery and on the
lawn, and the younger Roosevelts Of
ten stop to play with them.
The other day one Of the squirrels
made so bold as to walk right into the
vestibule Of the Presidents offices, and
would have gone in had not a screen
prevented.
Recent additions to the family of
pets at the White House are two An
aora cats. Theaa were Left to Rrasidant