The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-01-05

student. Lawyers say of him that
he has one of the keenest and most analytical
minds known to the profession. Mr.. Wickersham
cares very little for the outdoor life and perhaps ne
is A man who by temperament would not nave ap-
pealed in the least to a president like Theodore
Roosevelt but the attorney general has diversions
which occupy his leisure hours, and they are df
versions of which, unquestionably the country
will approve. He IS interested In the weHare OF
at least a dozen charitable organizations and one
of his beliefs is that: He gives twice who gives
quickly" Mr. Wickersham is immensely interested
in the welfare of the blind He is a director OF a
great New York institution which cares for and edu
Gates children who have lost their sight.
Frank H. Hitchcock. who is Mr.. Tafts postmas
ter general is a bachelor, devoted to the outdoor
ife a lover Of birds and beasts and student of
nearly every branch of natural history. Not only
is the postmaster general student OF nature, but
he has done an immense amount of work along SCI
entifc lines
Three years ago last summer the writer OF this
article went to Oyster Bay, the home of President
Roosevelt Mr. Hitchcock was there also and sew
eral hours were spent in his company In the
grounds outlying the former presidents home
There is a deep wood just beyond the Roosevelt
lawn and garden. and from the wood on that sum
mer day there came constantly, songs OF birds.
many different species singing one after the 9TH
err Many of the notes that were heard were those
of different members of the little warbler family.
birds whose notes are so similar that 1t Is impos-
sble for except the most sensitive ear to diner
entiate between them Mr.. Hitchcock identified one
bird after another simply by hearing its song Once
on time the postmaster general classified 10000
birds for a museum Of natural history with which
he was connected. One of the ties between the
present postmaster general and former President
Roosevelt was their common love of nature.
Secretary of the Interior Richard A. Bainger
has few diversions except that Of golf. Mr.. Balm
ger was born in Iowa so years ago. and nearly all
his life has been spent in some part Of the west
When James Wilson, secretary of agriculture.
was asked once what his diversion was he an
swered. farming" This idea Of diversion is one
that is held largely by men who combine the love
of nature with agricultural instinct.
One of Mr.. Wilson's diversions is story telling
They say in Washington that if his homely sayings
could be gathered and put into a book. the reader
would get fund Of humor and wisdom combined.
When Charles Nagel. Mr.. Taft's secretary Of
commerce and labor. Is not engaged In the work of
his department he is thinking matters of edu-
cation and art. Mr.. Nagel is to some extent a de-
voice of the outdoor lfe but he Is prone giving
much of his time to the study Of matters pertain
ing to the schools.
Taking Mr. Tafts cabinet all In all 1t Is just about
as human a body of men can be gathered togeth-
er There is an impression prevalent that the mem
of what Walter Scott calls. "the-dryasdust" mate
RIAL but there has been a misunderstanding appar-
emily concerning the of these advisers of the
president. They know their law and they know
their agriculture and their finance. but while they
know how to study they also know how to play but
not one Of them knows how to play one whit bet
ter than does their chief. who is about as jolly .
man personally as the United States has yet pro
duced