The Washington times., 1913-07-22
WHITE HOUSE BIRDS
ARE OLD MANS PETS
"CharIie" Lloyd Also Feeds the
Squirrels in Great Yard,
Who Recognize Him.

Every afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. when
the employees in the State, War, and
Navy building swarm from the big
doors, a great clatter arises among the
trees in the White House grounds. 1t
comes from the blackbirds and the
squirrels, who are waiting for "Old Man
Charlie" Lloyd. Soon from out the mass
old white-haired man. 1t Is "Old Man
Charlie" Lloyd, and as the birds and the
squirrels recognize him the clatter and
the chirping increases. Squirrels scam
per down the trunks of trees and squat
on their launches in the road before
him. and blackbirds swirl about his
head with q great chatter and Tapping
of wings
Halfway down the road leading from
the west terrace to the Avenue, the old
man turns and reaches in his pockets.
Birds and squirrels form a circle about
him. and for a moment there Is quiet.
Then the old mans hands come forth,
laden with peanuts, and. as he scatters
the nuts about, the din redoubles in
volume. Handful after handful comes
forth, and as fast as the nuts are scat
tered they are gobbled up. Soon the
supply is exhausted, with the excep-
tcn of a few stray peanuts, and these
the old man will throw far away from
his huttering friends and chuckle as he
sees them scamper for the prizes
Doing 1t For Years.
The old man has been doing this for
years. He is an employe in the War
Department, and every afternoon at the
same time the birds and the squirrels
are waiting for him. There was a time
when he had first to attract their at
tention, and this he did by waving a
handkerchief as he crossed over the
street from the department building
however, his little friends recognize him
the moment he appears, and, according
to one of the White House policemen.
they can pick him out from the largest
crowd.
One afternoon, seven years ago, when
Mr.. Lloyd was walking through the
grounds, he saw on the path ahead of
him a blackbird hopping about pain
tully with a broken leg. He took the
bird home with him and wrapped the
injured leg In splints. When the bird
was well again, he took him back to
free.
During the period of "convalescencer
he had taught his little friend to eat
peanuts. After that, whenever the old
bird would come to him for peanuts,
Soon the other birds cultivated the
taste, and Mr.. Lloyd believes that he
started a new diet in blackbird society.
The birds and squirrels in the White
House grounds have a happy exist
ence, all told. OF course in winter all
the birds save the sparrows go AWAY
and ''Old Man" Lloyd has only the
SQUIRRELS and the sparrows to feed,
but at other times the old trees in
the grounds are fairly alive with
feathered creatures of all kinds, and
the freedom of the grounds is theirs,
AT the same time the birds have diff
ferences among themselves; for in
stance, there is ALWAYS n failing ~
dread among the robins when the
crows appear, for to the crows the
little robin eggs are the greatest of
always insists that her nest shall be
built in the bay trees at the main
entrance to the Executive Mansion,
where the nests are protected by the
close-set branches and leaves: and
certain times of the year are little
more than aerie tenements.
Shot At Squirrels Once.
During the illness of President
Grant. and when efforts were being
made to tempt his appetite with deli
cacies, it was suggested that squirrel
meat might appeal to him, and his
son Fred shot at some of the squirrels
in the White House grounds. For the
most part, however, the little animals
are not permitted to be molested, and
among their closest friends are the
policemen stationed in the grounds.
Ever see one of them blackbtrds
eatin' an acorn% asked one of these
policemen. Well, sir. they cut around
you'd cut with a knife and good
deal straighter. and then they get at
the meat inside. Them and the sQuir-
rels like US policemen. but old Man
them best and they understand him
hest :"