Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-04-17


the scientists arc working away on
the pats OF the African animals which
fell before the rife OF Theodore Roose-
velt- The scientists presumably take
interest in matters OF national con-
Germ, but they are concerning them
selves more today with the Roosevelt
African trophies than they are with
the Roosevelt American politics. In
fact. the article which follows is
largely about Theodore Roosevelt. but
there will be no politics in It.
One OF the men wuo is at work in
the National Museum has told sew
eral stories OF the interest OF Colonel
Roosevelt in natural history. how It
was born and how It has lived and
fiourished. II is said today that there
is as much natural history talk in the
editorial office on Fourth avenue, New
York city. where the colonel does his
writing, as there is political talk, and
this. Of course. is saying a good deal.
As the story goes. II was the meadow
lark which first turned Colonel Roose-
velt's attention to nature study. The
lark is appealing enough in its habit
OF life. in its personality and in its
spring and fail songs, to stir anybody
to interest who is not beyond the
reach OF things appealing. The lark
started Mr.. Roosevelt in bird study
and he has kept IT up all his life and
Is still keeping it up. down Sycamore
Hill way. There are two meadow
iarks, the scientists say. the eastern
and the western bird They look
alike. but one is a little larger than
the other and the western bird is
said to be the more accomplished
singer.
His Debate with Burroughs.
There is story told of a trip which
Colonel Roosevelt made to the vest
in late May some years ago, a trip on
which he was accompanied by John
Burroughs. When the train reached
the state of Indiana early in the
morning the sight of scores OF meadow
larks flushing from the fields started
a discussion between Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Burroughs that lasted through
the breakfast hour, during all of which
time the larks were in constant sight
of the two distinguished disputants.
1t was on .he matter of the lark's
song that Mr.. Roosevelt ana MIR. Bur
roughs disagreed Mr. Burroughs held
that the song of the eastern lark was
fully as well sustained and as sweet
as that of the western lark. Mr..
Roosevelt held to the contrary. 1t
was agreed that when the home OF
the western form of the bird was
reached the dispute should be settled
by visit to the prairie to hear the
bird in full song.
When the western prairie was
reached the Wilderness Hunter" and
The Sage of Slabsides" left the train,
went into the field and settled the
mooted matter OF the meadow lark's
song. II is said that Mr.. Burroughs
after listening to the bird a while will
ingly admitted that 1t was a more ac-
complished musician than its eastern
brother
Crane Now Helping Taft.
Winthrop Murray Crane. junior sen
ator from Massachusetts,, is In a
quiet way one of Mr. Taft's cam.
paign managers. and he seems to
worry very little over the almost
daily remark that It is queer to
see a man, who four years ago was
fighting Mr.. Taft's nom ination. todas
working hard. If quietly. to win the
president a second-time honor. Four
years ago Mr.. Crane was one OF the
quiet manageable is always a quiet
manager-of the campaign on behalf
of what were called the "allies." the
candidates for the Republican nomina-
ton who were combined together In
a way to defeat Mr.. Taft's ambition
and to encompass that of one of their
own members. Which one 1t was to
be was not said. for all were to work
together hoping to defeat tie chief
aspirant, and each one hoping that
eventually he would be the favored
one.
The Junior senator from Massachu-
sets is one of the studies OF Washing
ton. Nobody can get speech out
of him, because. as he puts 1t him
self. he cannot make speech. Some
of his critics say that be gets his rep
utation for political wisdom from his
ability to look wise. while others say
that he not only looks wise. but Is
wise.
Doesn't Fill Hoar's Shoes.
Senator Crane was appointed to the
senate to fill the vacancy caused By
the death of George f. Hoar. Who was
one of the great men of Massachu-
sctts. II would be the extreme OF
tiattery to say that Mr.. Crane ellis Mr..
Hoar's shoes. He does not, for George
f. Hoar was man Of consummate In
tenect, OF great power of expression.
and a tremendous force In legislation
making.
Senator Crane. who. while making
no noise, is a good deal in the public
eye. seems to be entirely content to
let -enry Cabot Lodge represent the
Bay state oratorically. Mr.. Crane,
however. works hard In the commit
tee rooms. and he is always resent
IL the senate TO listen to arguments
OF others. The senator was at the
head of a great paper manufacture
at Dalton. Mass At the time he was
elected senator. He turned the pa
per business over to his son. and it
Is now being conducted by that son.
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ia trembling from the blows that
rtrika the massive sides.