Evening star., 1923-07-08
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.


the athletic badge tests announced by
John J. Tigert. United States COM
missioner of education, as a simple
means Of studying the physical
achievement OF young America in the
schools, must know that these tests
are proposed for them by an official
who was himself an athlete of inter-
national achievement.
DR.. Tigert stood out in athletic
prowess at all the schools he at
tended-at the unique secondary
school in Bellbuckle, Tenn. founded
by "Old Sawney." United States Sena-
tor w. r. Webb; at Vanderbilt Uni
versity, where he captained cham
pionship teams. and at Oxford Univer-
sity, where he was the first Cecil
Rhodes scholarship holder from Ten
nessee. ... -.
John J. Tigert made an enyiable
reputation in athletics as we'll as in
scholarship at Oxford and while he
spent three years in travel and study
all over Europe.
His success at Oxford brought him
by cable the offer of position to be-
gin work as n full professor Of
philosophy at Central College. Mis-
souri,, and two years afterward he was
college president. In his work as an
educator at Central College, as presi-
dent. of Kentucky Wesleyan College
and as professor of philosophy in the
University. Of Kentucky for many
years. DIR. Tigert always argued for
the all-round development of Ameri-
can youth-for physical fitness as
war he did much to build up the
morale of the American expedition
airy force through personal service in
directing athletic activities. He first
went overseas as a Y. NJ. C. A. work e T.
and later entered the Army Educa-
tional Corps. serving as lecturer in
the American Expeditionary Force
University at Beaune, France.
With this background of personal
achievement and long time advocacy
tai development, DR.. Tigert is graft
fed that since the war, schools
throughout the nation have very
rapidly added physical educa tion as a
fundamental part of the training of
youth. In addition to the value of
health. it has tremendous possibilities
In the development Of sound moral
character and good citizenship" he
says. recalling particularly the morale
of the American Army overseas.
X y X
The other side of a congressman S
life--the individual side as he lives
IL back home-is glimpsed in letter
from Dick" Elliott. who is rusticat-
ing at Connersville, Ind.
"Out our way a fellow does not
amount to much in the eyes of the
people unless he is a good provider
Of food for his family" Representa-
tive Elliott writes. 80 I went out
on the farm and planted a good gar
den. and now we have an abundance
OF garden sass of. all kinds. plenty of
hog meat in the cellar and a reason
able amount of everything else that
tends to make life worth living.
You can get as much exercise off
the end of hoe handle as. you can
off a golf club. but you do not get
remarks Representative Elliott, who
happens to be one of the founder - of
the new Congressional Country Club
at the capital.
Commenting on his summer duties
as congressman. Representative Eli
OFT points out that he had four or five
post office appointments and six or
seven vacancies on rural routes TO
fill. which have been very interesting
and have attracted quite large num-
Der of constituents to my home, thus
guaranteeing me plenty of company
at all times"
He has rounded out his leisure by
making speeches at churches, Sunday
erations. bankers associations. Ro
tary. kfwanis and Lion clubs and
soldiers organizations.
For the benefit of those cross
visioned ones who see in Uncle Sans S
service only desk chained clerks
whose spirit and ambition is broken
by government routine, Secretary
Wallace of the Department of Agri-
culture, who is nov on his way to
Alaska with the President to per-
sonally inspect the work of the hardy
agricultural pioneers and prospectors
for this government. points out that
there is romance and daring of wide
variety in the daily life of many gov
ernment employees.
In his own department., he calls
attention to the bug hunters sent into
the dank and murky badlands of the
world to study in their native habitat
pests that menace crops. trees ami
mails, etc, in this country. He points
to the daring Of agricultural explor-
ers who go into the outlands of the
world to find new plant life that
hueAl SIhlcH our llIe IN tnlS country.
And, nearer home. he gives a par
ticular illustration, citing Charley
Miller, cooperative hunter under
the biological survey. engaged in
predatory animal control work, as
having performed a feat in bringing
in the famous White river lion In the
Arizona district, which outthrilled
the movies.
This lion, which was thought to be
Jaguar because of the size Of its
track. was reported by cowmen who
had suffered extensively through its
depredations. Miller put a pack of
wire atred terriers on the trail of
this lion, which had always previously
been hunted by hounds The lion
took to the cliffs and tried to whip
the dogs out as he had previously
whipped several packs of hounds.
The little terriers pursued him to his
den.
Miller had his companion in the
hunt lower him by a rope over the
face Of the cliff. Dangling in front
OF the opening to the den, Miller shot
the lion, then dragged him out and
was hauled to safety. This lion was
the largest ever killed in the state
and had been very destructive to
live stock in the neighborhood of the
White and Black rivers.