*Presidential Fun Fact of the Day

(Dedicated to my fellow Munuvians.)

Lou Henry Hoover.

When Lou and Herbert lived in Tientsin, they kept a cow in order to have fresh milk. One day the cow disappeared, much to its calf's dismay. One of the young Chinese men working for the Hoovers suggested Lou take what he called the "cow's pup" for a walk through the area. When the mother and baby smelled each other, they would moo.

Lou liked the idea, and set out with some friends on a quiet night to find the cow. They suspected German soldiers of the theft, so the group headed for the stockade. Sure enough, the "cow's pup" began making noise and its mother responded from inside.

Speaking the best German she could muster, Lou approached the German sentry to request the return of her cow. He didn't understand her at first, but then had an epiphany: she wanted to reunite the calf with its mother. He took the calf's halter, pulled it inside the stockade, and closed the door behind him.

Posted by Jennifer at October 6, 2003 12:01 AM

Tweet