Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-15
WHO WILL WIN?
THIS is A QUESTION MANY LOG
Al PEOPLE ARE ASKING
THEMSELVES.

Local interest has been aroused to
high pitch In the Rexall Pigeon
Derby to be flown at st. Louis on
Sept. rs, next, and In which a pair
OF homing pigeons. to be released by
Old Reliable Drug CO., of this city,
will participate. In all 5000 homing
pigeons are to take part in this race,
each having been bred, Matched and
trained in the Rexall Pigeon Lofts,
st. Louis, the largest In the world.
These lofts were built especially for
the birds that are to compete in this
race. More than 500 homing pigeons
OF the very best strains obtainable
were purchased and established In
the lofts as breeders. From this
nucleus the younger birds have been
bred until today 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 had revealed to them by
this feathered clan some beautiful
examples Of domesticity. The most
predominant trait in the character of
the homing pigeon, Of course, is his
love Of home. His birthplace, the loft
In which he Is 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 space. Eventually he will
return. 1t may take days, or 1t may
be only matter of hours. but no
anxiety is felt on part Of his mate,
for she knows that he will be back
sooner or later. Devotion to mate
and their young, and love of home
is SO dominant in their natures that
they are oblivious to all else.
There are no slackers in these fam
lilies, Both male and female do their
part towards making home. The
male finds the materials Of tobacco
stems. and the female sets herself to
the task of actual nest building.
Once mated. pigeons remain mated
for life. They never waver in their
consistency and loyalty to and love of
mate, At the age Of three months
the young pigeon looks about for his
wife and once he wins her, and this
only after the most ardent wooing,
he is hers till death and he slaves for
her and their progeny from dawn
till dark.
A large corps Of trainers and at
tendants 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 a
five hundred mile radius Of ST. Louis.
Each of these druggists will enterNa
pair Of pigeons in the race, the birds
being shipped to him from the st
Louis lofts. The birds will be re-
leased for the speedy flight to ST.
Louis at specified hour, handicaps
as to distance having been carefully
worked out, and the first bird 70
trap in at the st. Louis lofts will
receive the golden prize.
In each town, as here local pro-
cram will be arranged in connection
with the release of the pigeons. The
president Of the Marshalltown Club
either in person or thru authority
delegated to 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 racers 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. rs for their annual
convention, made especially interest
ing this year because OF the inaugu-
ration of the new 100000 factory
the United Drug Company has Just
completed in ST. Louis for the manu-
facture Of Rexall products.
OF course pigeon fanciers. the
world over, are focusing attention up
on this race and the pigeon section
of the signal corps, U. S. army, will
officially observe the race ana keep
close check on the time maze by the
Rexall pigeons. Frank P. Lucke,
president of the international FEEDER
alton Of American Homing Pigeon
Fanciers, will be one of the judges
of the race and he is keeping close
watch of every step of progress
made in it's preparation.-Adv
made in it's preparation.