Western Kansas World

Washington Gossip

QUENTIN HAS FUN WITH SNAKES IN WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON. Quentin Roosevelt caused chills to chase up and down the spinal columns of Attorney General Bonaparte, Representative Hepburn, and ex-Representative Lacey, of Iowa, the other day when he appeared in the president's office with two live snakes coiled about him. Quentin is somewhat impetuous, especially when on roller skates, and he skated into the office of his father, who was having a conference with Attorney General Bonaparte. As Quentin approached, the snakes hissed and the attorney general side-stepped with great agility. President Roosevelt suggested to Quentin that he disappear. Quentin hastened into the cabinet room where Representative Hepburn and Mr. Lacey were waiting to see the president. They thought the snakes were harmless wooden affairs and began to admire them. Then the larger snake began to wriggle and wrap itself around the arm of Quentin and the distinguished Iowans in their terror made frantic efforts to walk up the walls. Regaining their composure it occurred to them that Quentin might be in danger, and that they should rush to the rescue, especially when they saw the larger snake, three feet long, gliding up the sleeve of the president's son. In the most gingerly manner they took hold of the collar of the boy's coat and gently removed the garment, taking care to keep out of range of the snake. Disdaining rescue, Quentin seized his coat, and while he toyed with the squirming reptiles skated outside, where a party of women visitors were thrown into hysterics at sight of the snakes.

Quentin brought three snakes from Oyster Bay with him. He found that he could not take care of them properly and turned them over to an animal fancier. But Quentin got lonesome without his snakes, and the fancier loaned him a king snake and a smaller reptile. Quentin went to the executive offices to show his new treasures to his father, who observed that the king snake was about to make a meal of the little one, and warned his son to be careful to prevent such a calamity. Quentin finally left the White House to the great joy of everybody there. His father remarked to a caller that Quentin's taste was inherited, for he not only liked snakes, but had scotched a few in his time.