The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-11-06
ON A GREAT BIG sPREl
HILARIOUS LIONS AND TIGER
J. IN THE zoo"
An Allowances Of Ca!np Leads Them From PAT
Of Rectitude-lts Effects Soon Pass Away
a and Leave Good Appetite.
The Keepers Pets.

logical gardens than one meets in
year OF Sundays. Head Keeper Bvrng
can put visitor in the way of nor
funny things about the members of b 81
big family than all the books you ca
findi modern library. He is per-
fectly familiar with every habit an 81.
characteristic OF the four-footed chill.
dren-for they are nothing in the worl@
but children, and they are given dose
OF physic, fed, petted and punished
Just like children in the human family
One day recently the lions and tho
tigers went on o drunk at the expen So
OF Nj Byrne, and they certainly had
high old time. Their intoxicant did
not consist OF the red, red wine; neither
was it the foAmy lager. 1t was simply
outHip, and the noble beasts took IL
straight #
Before start the pets on their
sprees." said Mr. Byrne. ..rm going
to give them little dose OF castor oil. Il
they'll make all sorts of wry faces III
they take it. and maybe they won't.
take it at all. They're just like child
rem when it comes to castor OIL"
The head keeper passed into the
rear OF the lions cage to room where
horse flesh is kept for the carnivorous
animals, and cut Off three or four
Jumps OF meat about tho size of wal
nuts. On each piece he poured a few
drops of castor oil and then fired a
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
wry face OF the most comical descrip-
tion, gagged two or three times, and
then when he realized how complete
ly he had been fooled, he lei out a roar
that made the building shake. The.
others acted in the same manner and
then sat down in detected attitudes in
different corners of the cages.
snow 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 Il fresh hold of life. Big
Dams eye frightened like that of
topper who has been invited to take a.
drink. Mr.. Byrne threw handful
of the fragrant herb into each cage,
and then the animals began a 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 a satisfied ex-
preston stole over each face.
Big DAN and his helpmeet seemed
to have the most fun. For 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 filled the air, until Dan in
the exuberance OF his spirits rose up
and hit his, better half most I'M
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 be one of the
amiable kind for whom there is not
{; cross word or a blow in whole bale
of catnip. She did not rese Mt the
cruel slap, but kept right on having
plenty of fun. A game OF leap-frog
followed the rolling about and it was
the most exciting episode of the entire
spree. Big Dan did most of the leap
ing, and the way he would shak, his
shaggy name aud fly through the air
high over his mate was sight to put
an expert acrobat to the blush.
But the tigers, tho unamiable brutes,
didn't appear to have a bit of fun. NO
sooner had the catnip been thrown
into their cages than they settled down
to have q c,awing and snariing match.
& ga3 X
In about two minutes the cages looked
like sections OF Donnybrook Fair. The
beasts clawcd and yelled at one anoth-
er, but, like most fights Of the kind,
no blood was spilled.
M. Byrne said it was only a way
they had of showing how they loved
.os,e another and the noise was all in
III. 1t only took q little while for the
effects OF the catnip to wear away,
when the most powerful members OF
Mr. Byrne's happy family drowsed
away into u peaceful sleep. The
chances are no headache followed the
catnip orgie. for whom feeding time
arrived n little while later every beast.
showed up with his appetite all polish
ed and oiled aud in splendid running
order. #s
..Catnip has a decidedly queer effect,
on all animals of the feline specie, y 3
said Mr.. Byrne. 1T makes them,
drunk just as surely as whisky will
make q human being drunk. II you
are inclined to doubt this Statement,
get a little cntnip and try it on the
pussy. She will show you
s, ]. :, Il, !. %;,,, loh;l.5o1nhi. d