The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-09-17
Rhea Drug c Co.-Rexall Pigeon
Contest


high pitch 10 the Rexsl Pigeon Derby
to be flown at st. Lsuis on Sept. 25,
next, and in which . pair Of homing
pigeons, to be released BY Rhea Drug
Co. OF tEss town will participate. In oil
5000 homing pigeons are to take part
in this race, each having been bred,
hstched and trained in the Rexall Pig.
con Lofts, st. Louis. the largest in the
world.
These lofts were built especially for
the birds that are to compete 10 this
race. More than 500 homing pigeons
of the. very best strains obtainsble were
purchased and established in the lofts
as breeders. From this nucleus the
younger birds have been bred until. to-
day, the lofts boast more live pigeons
than any other in the world.
Scores of married men who have
visited the great pigeon loft in st.
Louis have revealed to them by this
feathered clan some beautiful examples
Of dcmesticity. The most prcdominate
trait in the character of the homing
pigeon, of course. is his love of home.
HE birthplace, the loft in which he 10
bred. reared and trained, is home and
no other spot on earth, no matter how
alluring, has any interest for him. He
may be carried off, miles from home.
and tossed into spsce. Eventually he
will return. 1t may take dsys. or it
may be only q matter Of hours. but no
anxiety is felt on the part of Ris mate,
for she knows that he will be back,
sooner or later. Devotion to mate to
their young. and love of home is so do
minant In their natures that they are
oblivious to oil else.
There are no slackers,in these families.
Both male and female. do their part to.
wards making . hou6. The male finds
the materials of tabacco stems, aud the
female sets herself to the task Of &C.
tusl nest building. Once mated, pigeons
remain mated for life. They never
wsver in their constancy and loyalty
to and love Of mate. At the age Of three
months the young pigeon looks about
for bis wife, once be wins her, ard
this only after the most ardent wooing.
he 10 hers till death and he slaves for
her and their progeny from dawn till
dark.
A large corps Of trainers and attend
ants are required to care for and train
the pigeons and to this end the United
Drug Company has spared no expense.
The cost attending the feeding of SO
many pigeons itself constitutes heavy
item of cost.
The race will be confined to Rexall
druggists doing business within five
hundred mile radius of ST. Louis. Each
of these druggists will euter a pair Of
pigeons in the race, the birds being
shipped to him from st Louis lofts.
The birds will be released for the speedy
fight to st. Louis at a specified hour,
handicaps as 10 the distance having
been carefully worked out. and the fast
bird to trap in" at the st. Louis lofts
will receive the golden prize.
In each town, as here, local pro-
gramme will be arranged In connection
with the release of the pigeons. The
mayor, either in person or through au.
thority delegated some pretty girl, will
speed the pigeons on their way with a
written message beneath their wings
for the Governor Of Missouri who will
greet the little races upon their arrival.
The occasion of this race Is for the
amusement and entertainment of the
5000 or more Rexall druggists OF the
United States who assemble in St.
Louis on Sept. 25 for their annual con-
venutn, made especially interesting
this year because OF the Inauguration
of the new s4. 900. 600 factory the United
Drug Company has just completed in
81. Louis for the manufacture Of Rex.
all products.
OF course pigeon fanciers, the world
over, are focusing attention upon this
race and the Pigeon Section of the Sig.
nal Corps, U. S. Army, will officially
observe the race and keep close check
on the time made by the Rsxsll Pigeons
Frank P. Lucke. president of the In
Federation of American
Homing Pigeon Fsnciers, will be one
Of the judges OF the race and be is
keeping close watch of every step Of
progress made in it's preparation.
The pigeons will released By DR.. j.
W. Morris. Mayor at 10 o'cock sharp.
Saturday morning, SeptembeT 25th.