Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-01-08


he has one of the keenest and most analytical
minds known the profession. Mr.. Wickersham
cares very the outdoor life and perhaps he
is a man who by temperament would not have ap-
pealed in the least to president like Theodore
Roosevelt. but the attorney general has diversions
which occupy his leisure hours and they are oil
versions which, unquestionably the country
will approve He is interested in the welfare of
at least dozen charitable organizations
of his beliefs that: He gives twice who gives
quickly Mr.. Wickersham is immensely interested
the welfare of the blind He is director of a
great 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 bachelor, devoted to the outdoor
life, 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 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
era1 hours spent in his company in the
grounds outlying the former presidents home
There is deep wood just beyond the Roosevelt
lawn and garden, and from the wood that
day there came constantly. songs of birds.
many different species singing one after the 9TH
Many of the notes that were heard were those
of different members the little warbler family.
birds whose similar that it is impos-
sbIe for any except the most sensitive differ
entiate between them. Mr.. Hitchcock identified
bird after another simply by hearing it's Once
time the postmaster general classified 10000
birds for museum of natural history with which
he was connected One of the ties between the
present postmaster general and former President
Roosevelt their love of nature
Secretary of the Interior Richard A. Ballinger
diversions except that of golf. Mr. Balm
ger 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.
asked once what his diversion he
swered, farming" This idea of diversion is
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 book the reader
would get fund of humor and wisdom combined
When Charles Nagel. Mr.. Tafts secretary of
his department he is thinking matters of edu
cation and art Mr. Nagei is to extent
voice of the outdoor life, he prone giving
much of his time to the study of matters pertain
ing the schools
Taking Mr. Taft's cabinet all in all just about
as human body of men be gathered togeth-
er There is an impression prevalent that the mem
bers of this Washington official family rather
of what Walter Scott calls .the-dry-a mate
RIAL but there has been misunderstanding appar
emily concerning the of these advisers the
president They their 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 whit bet
ter than does their chief. who is about as jolly
man personally as the United States has yet pro
duced- 81 = ~ ~ =