The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-06-24
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

the subject of gossip in Washington
about the use of intoxicating liquors.
The stories start in some mysterious
way, go the rounds, spread to the
states and subside, only to be revived
at intervals. AS matter Of fact, none
Of the presidents since Johnson's time
has been a hard drinker In any sense
of the word, although some Of them
were men who took an occasional glass
of whisky.
Roosevelt DisIiksd Whisky.
President Roosevelt did not escape
the evil tongues In this regard, and
big consumption Of highballs was
ascribed to him. A yarn to that effect
has been going over the country from
mouth to mouth and recently returned
here from California. The truth is that
Mr.. Roosevelt has an aversion to whis-
1y In any form and almost never drank
either a hfghball or cocktail. He did
drink an occasional glass OF wine, but
never missed it IL 1t was not upon the
menu.
Not many months ago he was dining
at the house Of friend where the
glasses were filed with a very ancient
vintage. Mr.. Roosevelt drained his
glass, to be interrupted a moment later
by this observation:
"Mr. President, IL you are going to
eat those peppermints right after you
have drunk my hundred-year-oid ma
deira shall not offer you any more"
The president appreciated the joke
at bis expense and Joined In the laugh
with entire good nature.
Owls Are Good Mousers.
Within stones throw Of the Offices
Of the biological survey, In the towers
of the Smithsonian, is seen an example
Of government protection Of birds. For
years these Smithsonian towers have
been nesting places for owls, some Of
whose habits led quite recently to a
movement toward their destruction.
But before issuing the order experts
of the biological survey took the trou-
bic to explore the owls nests and dis
covered beneath them piles of skulls
of field mice, rodents which work enor-
nous havoc to the farmers throughout
the country. These skulls furnished
conclusive evidence that the owls had
right to life, liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness and rodents, and SO their
ancient solitary reign In the redstone
towers is unmoIested.
Sparrows Aid Farmers.
One Of the latest decisions Of the
survey is calculated to astonish the
average Individual, for 1t is nothing
Less than an opinion in favor OF the
prosecuted and despised sparrow. The
sparrow is now declared to be one of
the farmers best friends and its ca
pacity as weed destroyer SO great
that this menace of the bad seed In
the fields would tremendously handi-
cap the agriculturist were 1t not for
the soberly clad and unobtrusive little
bird. Some idea may be obtained
of the service these birds render by
noting what Is done for the farmer by
the tree sparrow, one of the most con-
drmed seed eaters OF the group. A
quarter Of an ounce Of seed per day
is safe estimate OF the food OF q
tree sparrow. On this reckoning, In
q state like Iowa, they annually eat
about 875 tons Of weed seeds.
The War on Rats.
Rats are receiving continued atten-
ton from the agricultural department.
The campaign started against them
may result some day In the extermina-
ton Of the pest In this country. That |
Is saying good deal, but anything is
possible If the effort Is sincere and IL |
the directions for accomplishment are
widely observed. and Il the rat, along
with the house1y and the mosquito. |
should be reduced as nearly to the |
point of extinction as some harmless
forms Of life that once counted their In |
dividuals by the hundreds Of millions |
much Of the disease to which human |
beings are heir would be eradicated.
It has been estimated that single
pair OF rats and their progeny breed
Ing without interruption and suffer
ing no losses would in three years In
crease to more than 100000. While
recommending the persistent use OF
traps and poisons, the experts think
he most promising lines of extermina-
ION effort lie in rat proof construction
VI buildings, especially the use OF con-
:rete In foundations, and in reducing
The food supply OF rats by the disposal
II garbage and the protection of food
supplies.
Interesting Relics. Z
The late Bishop SatterIee took a
great deal Of interest In securing relics
u sacred places for the proposed Prot
estant Episcopal Cathedral Of IS. Pc
er and Paul In this city, and several
nay now be seen at the baptistery and
he little sanctuary within the eathe-
iral close. The altar-is built Of stone
ut from the ledge Of rock In which
8 the tomb where the Saviour lay In
he historical garden Of Joseph Of ART
nathea. There is stone from the
foundation Of the first Christian church
erected In America, which was built
y Columbus at the town of Isabella,
n the north coast OF Haiti. on his Sec