The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-17
Frederic Haslsin'. Letter
Keeper Of Presidential Pets.

Washington, D. c., March IA,
Laddie Boy Is . name which will
figure prominently in White house
annals during the Harding admin
istration. We have, therefore. seiz-
ed an early opportunity to call at
the executive mansion to interview
this important young member Of
the Harding household.
After following clues from the
executive Offices to the White house
basement and down the portrait
lined corridors in search Of the
elusive Laddie Boy We finally To-
Gated the oncial keeper Of the
presidents pets. Wilson Jackson. =.
Jackson smiled broadly at our
mission and led the way to IN in
ner hall away from the crowds Of
tourists doing the White house
basement. He opened a door and
called. "Heah, Laddie Boy" and a
black and tan airGlale galloped out
and fell upon US. After enthus-
iastic greetings and an exchange
Of compliments the party GAINED
down somewhat. Laddie Boy shook
hands after insistent demands from
Jackson, who has already taught
him to come, lie down, and shake
hands on command. The White
house airedale is only . year and
a half old and is very much>of
puppy. On account Of his youth
and frequent interruptions as White
house maids and clerks passed and
hailed him, his valet did most Of
the talking.
"Yessuh.' said Jackson, this is
the first animal turned ovah to me
derstan' Mistah Hardin's goin' to
a fine dog. The man that gave
him to M;stah Hardin. back in
Ohio, is goin' to SEN his pedigree.
Il been toll there's an alligator
comm. I'm glad the dog got heah
first.
"Yessuh, reckon l will have
charge of that alligator. I'll have
to keep him in the fountain. I'M
derstan' Mistah Hardin g goin' to
have a bulldog too, but it hasn't
come yet.
"Yessuh, like dogs.-Heah,
Laddie Boy-come back heah. Ev-
erybody that works round heah
stops to talk to that dog. and he is
just so friendly he wanders OF
with them.
ME? l been heah since Presi-
dent Roosevelt's time. Yessuh,
had enough experiences to fill a
geography. was a kid workin' at
the census bureau and when they
wanted a messenger at the White
house in a rush season was sent
up. An then Mr.. and Mrs. Roose-
welt said they liked me. SO they had
me put on the regular roll Of White
house employees.
A Colored Diplomat.
my title? I'm special messen-
ger to the first lady in the Ian !.
Sometimes I go shoppin' to get
things in a hurry. An take mes
sages. It's a diplomatic kim Of a
job.
But mostly the dogsll keep me
busy now. take Laddie Boy up to
President Hardin's Office every day,
and he stays with the president a
while, and then I go call the dog
out. An airedale is mostly a one
man dog. and while he's friendly
with everybody, Mistah Hardin is
his maStah"
Jackson is more OF an expert in
handling dogs and horses than
some OF the more unusual pets that
have been given the freedom OF
the White house grounds. Jackson
says he never was on intimate
! terms with Pauline, the COW Of
Taft's regime. Nor did he have
much to do with Mr.. wilson's flock
OF sheep which grazed SO pictur-
esquely on the White house lawns.
But in Roosevelt's administra-
ton, Jackson was a busy man. Not
only did the executive mansion pos
sess guinea pigs, q pony, trick mice,