Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-06-24
TRAMP IN LOVELY
ROCK CREEK PARK
BIOLOGICAL SURVEY MAN %
LEADER TO PLACE WHERE
BIRDS FLOURISH.
PIECE OF REAL WILD NATURE
Colonel Roosevelt Once Took Funston
for a Little Walk There, and the
General Had to Get New Trousers
as a Result.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK

BY EDWARD q. CLARK
Washngton.it is three doctors
connected with the biological survey
of the Department Of Agriculture, plus
several other men who love the work
and work hard al il, who stand be-
tween the birds of the United States
ana determination.
OF course the members OF the bio
logical survey are ably aided by the
lnbors Of the members Of the Audubon
societies and the various sportsmens
associations Of the country. to say
nothing of those illlers of the land
who appreciate what the birds do to
help them secure bountiful crops.
II was Doctor Palmer of the bio
logical survey who met the writer in
The capitol one day and invited him
t. take n walk. saying: Come Isn't
one song bird worth many senatorsT'
II was the thought or an Intended
+ interview In the north wing Of the
capitol that kept the invited one from
/ Instant acceptance. and II was the hes
lfatiun Of the invited rather than any
diSrcspcct for the members of the
upper house of congress which induced
the doctor to ask his suggestive ques-
tion.
Through Rock Greek Valley.
The tramp lay through the valley Of
Rock creek. The stream flows through
Il cleft In the wooded hills and forms
one Of the chief attractions of the
geological park and of the pleasure
grounds which embrace II. Standing
at the edge Of the street in a thickly
settled part of the city one looks down
deep into rocky chasm through
which tumhles stream. washing in
It's course the roots OF noble tres II
j. a. wild as bit of the Adlrondacks
and ii has all the beauty which at
taches To the wilderness.
Untn Il few years ago there was
crow roost numbering fully 1900
birds 1T Arlington. Just over the river.
The crows are roasting elsewhere now,
but there are still thousands Of them
in the woods and fields along the Po-
tcmac.
The path leads upward from the
creek into . bit ~ wild woodland.
tangled with smiiaX. laurel and honey
suckle giving Il green sladness and
q perfume 70 the place. II is here
where The rocks. the roots and the
enrangling nnderbrush make weary
the way.
i The late Gen. Frederick Funston
oncc took walk with Theodore
Roosevelt and the incident Of this walk
must lead 20 Il story. The President
said General. will you take walk
! with me-
The general borrowed the favorite
KooSeveltan word and said Delight
ed 4 carriage drove up Ia the White
House door
81 thought we were 10 take walk
Mr. President" said General Funston.
/ The walk will come later. general"
said the colonel
When Roosevelt Set the Pace.
/ They drove to the spot on the bank
j of Itock creek where begins the rough
path of riotous nature" They left the
/ carriage and began the walk The
! President set the pace. He went over
rocks and windfalls, through thicket
and through brush, al the gait which
/ he always took when he led the secret
service followers II race through the
\ broad streets OF Washington and the
pace was rapid and rough for miles
+ II General Funston had been sail
! or instead Of u soldier he probably
would have described his condition on
coming to Washington for that visit
! as "nNin. ighi" He had hrough, only
one pair nf trousers with him. After
the walk with President Roosevelt
/ was ended ii carriage again was
1 pressed into service and General Funs-
/ ron was SET down near his hotel
The next day he was asked IL he
rad enjoyed his walk with the Presi.
dent.
YES. | enjoyed it," he said. after
u fashion. hut the next time | 20 walk
ing with Theodore Roosevelt will
ride all the way. had to go into
my hotel by the back door and get to
my room by means OF the freight ele-
Nator. | sent bell hoy out 10 buy me
another pair Of trousers. for there
wasn't enough left Of the pair had
on 70 give n ready made clothing man
the size
I'iney Branch tumbles into Rock
creek near the spot where on old mill
with It's neighboring dam and water
IAN Still stands The place is as
beautiful ~ IL was fifty.odd years ago
when John Burroughs haunted II and
transmitted lis beauties 10 the written
page
Here II was that burroughs had his
inspiration for Spring Notes AT the
Capital" an inspiration that dwelt In
him and showed force and effect when
he wrote of other and PARKWAY fields.
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