Evening star., 1933-11-05

Travellers from all over the world
rarely visit Venice without going eSpe-
cially to the Palazzo San Marco on the
Grand Canal to feed the pigeons. They
have become almost as much part OF
the allure of the Italian city as the
gondolas. the Rialto. and the Palace OF
the Doges. They circle about the Orien-
tai domes of the Cathedral, they fit be-
tween the horses that stand above the
portico-the four horses which came
from Constantinople-and they alight.
cooling. on their small. feeble feet to
peck daintily at the crumbs strewn on
the flags by the tourists.
Some days it seems that Lafayette
Park, the green space which stretches
over two city squares just north OF the
White House, is destined to become as
famous. There, too, the pigeons con-
gregate in great numbers. There are
no horses of st. Marks, but there is the
prancing bronze steed of Gen. Andrew
jackson in the very center Of the park.
And there are trees and trees-the great
copper beech, the magnolias, the Eng
lish beeches, and many outlandish trees
brought from foreign lands. Down from
their perches on statues and trees swoop
the pigeons. down to the lawns and
broad graveled walks below to feast on
the repasts sprinkled on the ground for
them, not only by the tourists. but by
dwellers in the Capital City. who have
made q sort Of daily rite Of the bird
feeding.
There are very old men and women
who sit through the days in the sun
shine or shade Of the park. There are
small, playful children in charge of their
uniformed bonnes or black mammies.
There are little old ladies, gossipy or
pensive, sitting on the benches, and
there are young people, now out of work,
who while away languid hours in the
pleasant park. Some read, some merely
sit and think. but nearly all. between
whiles, feed the pigeons. They have
become so tame that the pedestrian
using the walks Of the park for thor
oughfare, has to take care to avoid step
ping on them. They perch on the shoul-
ders Of their friends, hop from knee to
knee. or climb up on their hats.
Tame. that Is. unless birds Of other
varieties seek to intrude upon their
preserves. Sometimes misguided crow
seeks to join in the feast. Almost al
ways he is set upon by a whole flock Of
enraged doves. A sparrow has no show
at all. Even Blue Eagle probably
would be expelled from the park.
Pigeons and Squirrels.
Peanuts constitute the chief diet Of
the pigeons. Some people at lunch
time, who come into the park to eat
their sandwiches, vary the diet with
crumbs of bread, but peanuts constitute
the main food supply. For so many
years that few people remember when
he was not there, a peanut vendor has
wheeled his cart every day to one OF
the corners of Lafayette Square and
there drives an excellent trade. Only
the other day Mrs. Franklin D. R0Ose-
velt, wife OF the President. emerged
from the White House, just across the
street, and purchased bag Of peanuts
from the old Italian. Tourists may see,
on occasion. Senators, judges, members
Of the diplomatic corps and other dis
tinguished persons feeding the pigeons
on Lafayette Square.
There are squirrels there, too, and It
is not at all unusual to see a squirrel
and q pigeon in animated debate over
the ownership of tempting nut tossed
to the flags or the grass by an interested
watcher. Many Of the trees Of the park