The Washington times., 1924-09-08
BUG BAT TIE At
WHITE HOUSE
IS WON
P. F. Harris Finds S lbs. of
Dead Insects After Tri-
umphant Campaign

Within the chaste, dignified in
terror Of the White House a great
battle has been waged, and the
dragged from dark corners and con-
signed to earth without any of the
courtesie6 Of war.
After a brief, but decisive cam
paign, the home of the Presidents
has been cleared of a host Of IN
welcome dwellers. A myriad Of
water bugs and reaches, who has
triumphed over their human adver-
saries in pitched battles during the
past years, have met their Water
loo ana have gone to a better land.
General Harris.
The lone victor in the Battle of
the White House is P. r. Harris,
who maintains a unique office at
room PA, Victor building. Harris
is a striking character. He has
devoted lifetime to the study Of
the roach and the water bug, and
methods of precipitating them
abruptly into the Great Beyond.
He has tried chemicals of every
variety known to man, and has ex.
perimented for twenty-three years
to find the precise varieties of food
which have an irresistible attraction
for these pests.
After his long years Of labor he
has evolved a substance which at
tracts the insects, Enthusiastically,
and which brings certain death to
them,
After repeated efforts had been
made to clear the White House
kitchens, pantries and basement of
thousands Of reaches which have in
tested the place for years, Harris
was called upon to do battle.
He hurled 100 pounds of his best
preparations into the breach. The
reaches and water bugs shifted the
banquet from afar and rallied low.
ously around. After scoffing
heartily at the festal board thew
rapidly galloped off looking for a
soft place to die. For hours the
trampling Of hundreds of little feet
was heard throughout the basement
and lower regions of the Executive
Mansion as the little beasts trotted
around and one by one blinked out.
Prosecute Water Cure.
"The chemicals / use don't make
the insects thirsty so they have to
go out and look for water and then
take their chances of drowning
when they find a drink" Harris
said proudly. "Once they get my
stuff inside they are done for,
water or no water. The prepare
ton must cause them quite a bit
Of internal excitement. After they
have eaten it they begin running
like so many Charlie Paddocks. No,
they don't run any place in par.
ticular-Just dash up and down
madly until they exhaust them.
selves. Then they recline peaceful
~ on the ground and pass out in
graceful attitudes"
After Harris finished his work,
carpenters began the work of tear.
ing out an old icebox in the White
House basement. Behind the box
they found nearly five pounds OF
the dead insects, each one full of
SAN AeAob beAAAA0CL IA VIAoACN AOA bltSIIl
by Harris.
Although Harris has been in
Washington less than two years he
has already cleared out the reaches
and water bugs in the White House,
the Old Land Office building, the
cafeteria at the Bureau of Stand.
ards, many of the temporary build
ings used by Government bureaus,
nd the Uafaro ne Ruraam He nax,
has his eye on the Capitol, where,
he declares, the reaches hold high
carnival despite Congressional FUN
ing and fussing.
After looking around in Washing.
toms ancient and venerable build
lngs. Harris decided he had finally
reached his happy hunting ground.
He has prepared to settle down
here and fight the insets during
the remainder Of his life.