Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-20

wby fond memory brought back the ieehng,
| when she looked on the departed's like again.
Tears, sobs, and broken heart Tor thy cruel
death, oh reluctant Pug
We found the Jardin des Plantes thronged
with women and children The sun warmed
| them into merry life. Our first visit was to
the animals. Madame l. called ON an old ac-
quaintance. During her husbands life, they
had been connected with the army IN Africa ;
and while domiciled in garrison, one OF the
officers purchased cub-lon, which was per-
mitted to run at large in the court The am
nal, under the generous diet ct his masters
grew to an enormous size and, from continual
kind treatment, was quiet and good-natnred
as a house-dog. The women petted him, the
children played with him. He grew to such
magnitude and beauty, that the officers deter
mined to present him to the French Govern
ment. His lionship embarked accordingly
During his voyage his temper was much in
nred by the vexations incident to the sea; but
on his arrival in Paris and introduction to a
narrow cage, his nature seemed to change and
he became as ungovcrnable as before he had
been doclle. Wo found him sufficiently quiet,
rcposing, with that wonderful head resting be-
tween his huge paws. Madame l. spoke to,
him. and, lifting his head, he opened the large
yellow eyes, slowly and sleapily, but with no
look Of recognition. Lions have bad memo
ries and this was not the first to forget the
hand which once nourished his lordship.
can't help dropping, now and then, one OF
these profound rcmar ks--it gives one such an
mir of wisdom.
wanted to remain hours with these ter
ribly beautiful creatures, but our conductor
expected some sons ut the last door, and got to
it soon ~ he could A man passed us, throw
ing pieces of beef into the cages, and enjoyed
greatly the rapid way in which they disposed
Of their provender; but they gfumbled all the
while--like old fellows at q hotel. IL could
believe one hyena, he had been accustomed to
much better living at home, and was being
put upon most abominably in this place. Hon
est old Bruin, alone, made no complaint; in
fact, seemed to be thanking Providence, In
wardly, he ate with such gusto.
In many of the cages were little dogs, placed
there, the conductor informed us, to keep the
animals company. The effect might be pleas
ant to the wild beasts, but the poor dogs
seemed to be sadly ennu,ed, and begged us
piteously to be taken into better society. We
found quite a crowd collected around the pleas
ant residence Of hugo monkey who seemed to
be aware Of his attractions, for he kept upa
continuous chattering, climbing, and tumbling,
about his large glass house. contrasted this
large, comfortable apartment, with the narrow
cages Of lions and tigers, and INDUCED in an
other wise reflection, to the extent that mon
KEYS have always the best places in this world.
The exhibition was too near humanity to be
pleasant 30 we made our way to the residence
of the great attraction Of the gardens, the hip
popotamus We found the star enjoying q
bath indeed very little of his time Is passed
otherwise. We could see nothing but black
muzzle above the water, that seemed to DO the
mouth of some animal terribly bored for it
INDUCED in a continuous succession OF yawns,
really striking | never saw IS book pro-
duce moro extensive demonstrations. We
waited in vain for this beast to come out Of
the water, and exhibit At last, to bring
about this result purchased one of those sin
gular compounds sold in such places, and call
ed cakee, although they eat as if made of putty,
and favored with castor oil. This | threw
in the bait took-the beast getting his head
ont Of the water, gobbled up the morsel the
effect was startling. Whether he was dis
gusted with the refreshment or really choking,
cannot say; but Immediately terrible COM
motion in the water and the mouth gave
great evidence Of being in want of breath.
To choke the hippopotamus to death was a
feat by no manner of means proposed being
distinguished for and the manifestations con-
tinuing, We all took to flight. Turning COR
ner suddenly, we nearly fell into q pen Of bears,
which were in an admirable mood for the re-
ception of visiters-an Englishman having
Just been amusing himself with punching the
solemn gentlemen from the north in the back
with his cane.
This collection Of animated nature sustains
no comparison to that in London This part
of he I'D hoo dlr aola
deed during several popular disturbances the
poor creatures were left to starve. But no
collection can surpass that exhibited in the
Gallery of Zoology, or the Cabinet OF Compar-
alive Anatomy, arranged by Baron Cuvier.
As walked through these great halls, with
mind confused almost by the vast throng Of
specimens on every side, | thought of the
Patent Office and Smithsonian lnstitution at
Washington, and could not help saying, Poor
home! How far we are behind the old world
in some thiDgsn ID. and Doctor Bob, who had
joined us in the garden, paused before the
skeleton Of full breasted heavy boned Eng.
lishman. aIf" said Doctor Bob, "some of our
worthless would take from their resting place
half dozen pilgrim fathers, and set up their
bones by the side Of as many Of their descend
ants Of yesterday we would find the heavy
strong, large-lungcd animal Of England had
in our dry climate degcnerated into thin,
weak, consumpsive Yankee. The study would
be more profitable than the contemplation Of
Gen. WIS cast-off clothes
How would the skulls compared asked
:" think, said ID, "that Webster'r, Clay's,
and Hawthorne's, would show decided improve
mentp
PRIvATE CONSEQUENCES ON PUBLIC Az