Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-09-21
Rexall Homing Pigeons.


events ever arranged 10 this country will
be contested on Sept. 25, next, when
thousands of Rexall homing pigeons,
racing in pairs, will fly from points
within q radius of 500 miles of st. Louis
back to the home lofts in that city.
In order to make possible this race,
which will be officially observed by de-
tail of army officers sent by the pigeon Sec
ton of the signal corps, the biggest pigeon
lofts in the world were constructed by the
United Drug Company. The best breed.
ing homing pigeons purchasable were
procured, 500 in all, and placed In the
breeding lofts. From this nucleus up
wards of 5000 of the speediest, best
trained thoroughbred bomers have been
reared. Each is trained to the hour and
many are expected to set new speed
mark and smash old records.
Scores Of married men who have wis.,
tied the great pigeon loft in st. Louis,
where more than 5000 birds are in train
ing for the big Rexall derby, 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 bis love of home. His birth
place, 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 off into space. Event
ualIy he will return. 1t may take days,
or 1t may be only matter of hours, but
no anxiety is felt on the part of his mate,
for she knows that he will be back,
sooner or later.
There are no slackers in these families.
Both male and female do their part
towards making home. The male finds
the materials of tobacco leaves and
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 constancy and
loyalty to 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 WOO
ing, he is hers till death and he slaves
for her and their progeny from dawn till
dark.
Every day circling over the great loft
in St. Louis, training for the race, bun.
dreds of pigeons may be seen, familiar.
zlng themselves with the home sur,
roundings, and always with the idea up
permost, of returning to home and fam.
| ily once the fight is finished.
The care and training of these pigeons
has been under the direction OF an ex
pert who was In charge of the pigeons
used on the American battle front during
rhe world war. Many of these pigeons
won distinction because Of their intrepid
and unerriDg flights through rain of bul
les and sbrapnel, bringing back tc
headquarters messages from observers al
the front thst resulted In saving the lives
of hundreds of American boys in the
battle line.
Some of these hero birds are to be
sent to St. Louis by the U. s. Army, anG
will be exhibited in the Rexall lofts fol
the benefit of the thousands Of Rexal
delegates to the convention.
Pigeons are going to be sent to Rexal
druggists within 500 miles of st. Louis
At specified hour pair of these bird
will be released by the mayor, som,
other high official, or q girl delegated b!
the mayor, and sent on Its way to the 81
Louis loft. Each bird will carry bir(
message beneath its wing addressed Il
the Governor of Missouri who PERSONAL,
will be ct the Rexsll loft to receive 1t
Handicsps as to time and distance hav
been worked out and the flrst bird trap
ping in at the Rexall loft will win tn
golden prize.
The race is to be the browning featur
of the annual convention of the Unite'
Drug Company at which upwards O
900 Rexall druggists from all parts O
the country will meet. At the same tim
) the new "a, 600. 900 factory erected by tb
United Drug Company for the manufat
r ture of all Rexall products will be IL
spected for the first time by the Rexa
delegates, all of whom are stockholdeI
in the United Drug Company.