Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-11-20
ON A GREAT BIG SPREE
HILARIOUS LIONS AND TIGERS
IN THE 100"
An Allowance Of Catnlp Leads Them From Patti.
Of Rectitude-lts Effects Soon Pass Away
and Leave . Good Appetite
Tho Keepers Pst,.

There are more eccentricities OF ami.
nal nature penned up Within the en-.
circling fence of the Philadelphia ZOO
logical gardens than one meets in
year OF Sundays. Head Keeper Byrne
can put visitor In the way of more
funny things about the member, of his
big family than all the books you can
find in u modern library. He is Der.
fectly familiar with every habit and
characteristic Of the four-footed chill
dren-for they are nothing in the world
but children, and they are given doses
OF physic, fed, petted and punished
just like children in the human family.
One day recently the lions and the
tigers went on u drunk at tho expense
OF MI. Byrne, and they certainly had
high old time. Their intoxicant did
not consist OF the red, rcd wine; neither
was it the 70 my lager 1t was simply
catnip, and the noble boasts took i,
straight
Before I start the pets on their
sprees," said Mr.. Byrne. I'm going
to give them little dose of castor oil.
They'll make all sorts OF wry faces
they take it. and maybe they won
take it at all. They're just like child
rea when it comes to castor oil"
| The hcad keeper passed into the
rear of the lions cage to room where
horse flesh is kept for the carniyorou:
animals, and cut off three or fou,
Jumps of meat about the size OF wal
nuts. On each piece he poured few
drops Of castor oil and then fired
couple OF pieces into each cage. 1t
was almost feeding time and the
animals were ravenously hungry.
Big ':Dan," he of the shaggy name
and fierce demeanor who is consider
ed the noblest Roman of them all.
gulped down his bit of meat aud a
moment later was the most disguised
looking lion in the world. He made a
wrv face of the most comical descrip-
ton, gagged two or three times and
then when he realized how complete
ly he had been fooled. he let out roar
that made the building shake Tho
others acted in the same manner and
then sat down in detected attitudes in
different corners OF the cages.
"Now let's go on drunk. my pets"
said Mr. Byrne, standing close to the
cage and taking from his pocket
package Of dried catnip. Instantly
every lion and tiger in sight braced
up and took fresh hold OF life. Big
Dams eye frightened like that OF u
topper who has been invited to take
I drink. Mr.. Byrne threw handful
OF the fragrant herb into oach cage,
and then the animals began u series Of
extraordinary and wildly amusing
high jinks. They made for the cat
nip much after the fashion OF an old
timer attacking his matutinal cock
tail, and after eating little. began to
roll about in it, while satisfied ex-
preston stole over each face.
, Big 'Dan'' and his helpmeet seemed
to have the most fun. For a little
while they rolled about the floor Of
the cages for all the world like little
puppies at play, and then they grew
somewhat boisterous. Good natured
growls filed the air, until Dan" in
the exuberance Of his spirits rose up
and hit his better half most un
chivalrous blow with his mighty paw.
But this did not seem to interrupt the
harmony OF the occasion in the least.
for the lioness proved to b. one OF the
a amiable kind for whom there is not
a cross word or blow in a whole bale
n of catnip. She did not reese mt the
a cruel slap. but kept right on having
, plenty of fun. A game Of leapfrog
followed the rolling about, and it was
u the most exciting episode of the entire
spree. Big Dan did most OF the leap
ing, and the way he would shake his
: shaggy name and fly through the air
high over his mate was sight to put
an expert acrobat to the blush.
But the tigers, the unamiable brutes
: didn't appear to have bit of fun. Nc
: sooner had the catnip been thrown
into their cages than they settled dowr
il to have a clawing and suarling match
$ In about two minutes the cages looked
like sections OF Donnybrook Fair. Thu
beasts clawed and yelled at one anoth
er, but, like most fights OF the kind
no blood was spilled.
Mr.. Byrne said it was only wa,
they had Of showing how they loved
ono another. and the noise was oil II
finn 1t onlv tool, n little while for thu
effects OF the catnip to wear away
when the most powerful members o
Mr.. Byrne's happy family drowseo
away into peaceful sleep. ~
chances are no headache folloWee ~
catnip orgie. for when feeding ~.
arrived little while later every 80. 80
!. showed up with his appetite oil pon a;"r