The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-09
Written for the Waterman
How We Saw the Seal Exhibition.
BY MARY $. LEWIS, BOSTON

BY MARY $. LEWIS, BOSTON.
The other evening the children's
papa, while reading his evening paper,
suddenly exclaimed: Seal exhibi-
toni I'd like my children to see that"
Very soon plan was formed by which
the three little people of the family
should go, on the morrow, to see the
seals, and the trio departed for bed in
a jubilant frame. Accordingly Satur-
day morning saw five of us embark in
horse-car for Horticultural Hall. The
children greatly enjoy this mode of To-
comotion The small boys kneel upon
the car-cushions and make shrill OBJ
servations on everything they see, and
Maid Marion produces pencil-stump
and bit of paper on which she notes all
the Chinese laundry signs we pass. As
we alight from the car and walk
through the city streets the sights and
sounds afford the children endless di-
version, while we older ones tightly
clutch the small hands and answer
Eyes" and emo" indiscriminately
The flower-stores particularly delight
our young charge-for what little child
does not instinctively turn toward these
beautiful types of his own fresh, sweet
life?-and we form in line before great
windows filled with blossoms: fluffy
golden daffodils, crisp carnations, spicy
and many-tinted, plumy hyacinths,
dainty violets and gorgeous crimson
roses. Toone window we are specially
attracted, for there, draped with black
and encircled by delicate smilax and
pure white lilies, is fine relief, in
snowy white, of Miss Alcott, % the
children's friend" Our little group
gazes reverently at the strong, womanly
features; then we 90 on, gladdened by
the sight of the face dear to thousands.
We are early at the hall, but this only
gives us more time to study the strange
creatures swimming about in an enor-
nous tank in the center of the room.
The children stand on chairs and
eagerly watch for the odd heads which
now and then come to the surface,
the large, soft eyes and dropping
mustachios giving them an almost
human look, which is cOmically en-
HANGED by the smoothness of the round
heads, reminding one of some young
exquisite who has just emerged from
the hands of a modern barber. All the
while full orchestra charms the young
audience already athered-indeed, the
eyes of our musical little boy filled at
the first notes. 1t is interesting to
watch the doors-in come parents wear
ing semi-apologetic look and leading
wide-eyed children, small boys hasten
in and mount chairs or pillars with a
charming disregard of limbs, while
benevolent papas at a glance select
good places, lift to their shoulders tiny
lads and lassies, and patiently wait the
little ones pleasure. Indeed, all the
grown people make way for the chill
dren, and a crowd of happy faces
awaits the exhibition. Now process
sion of seals comes up an inclined
| plane, and as each throws himself with
great splash head-first into the water
| the little ones greet the exploit with
chorus of silvery laughter. Soon APP
pears the Snowman, dressed as an En-
glish jockey-fur jacket scarlet trous-
ers, tasseled riding-boots, small whip
and Jockey cap. He is assisted by a boy
dressed as midshipman. The master
calls the seals to him, and they swim
to what one little girl calls horses
steps "a plank with straps nailed
across-and Chamber up on to the plat
form. We then saw the seals stitch on
small machine, turn a grindstone and
90 to bed. They also rang bells in
unison, played on drum and banjo, and
sang to us with anything but sweet
melody. After each feat the keeper
gave the seals reward of fish. Dur
ing all this it was good to see the
small folk around us. They were COM
pletely carried out of themselves-all
eyes, but no tongues! Here golden
haired darling sat on strangers knee,
blissfully silent, and there another
stood on ledge and chung to great
pillar. Not far away twin boys of
perhaps nine years-each looking more
like the other than himself-viewed
the intelligent animals with genuine
pleasure. When we had had full half
hour of this entertainment my com
panion hesitatingly preached the sub
iect of return to our charge. Much to
our surprise the children were entirely
willing to leave, for the intense enjoy
ment had wearied them. AT dinner
the poor papa was subjected to most
bewildering account of the mornings
experience. so papa, he had on a
seal-skin coatp' And they danced in
the water!n neutrality-suspicious., )" ETC.,
until finally one of us older ones pro-