The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-20
Especial Washington Corrcspondoncc.1

The National museum is IN OutgrOwth
of the Smithsonian institution; and the
Geological garden Mt the national capi-
tGl is an Outgrowth Of the museum.
Three or four years ago few animals
were collected in little pens called
cages, back of tho big brown stone pile
which came to this country from the
bequest of Smithson. Gradually addi-
tional curiositics were added, until last
winter congressional notice was taken
OF the embryo Zoo, an appropriation
was made, and now park is in prog
ress of completion under skillful man
agement by landscape gardeners and
natural scientists.
For some unexplained reason wild
animals exercise peculiar fascination
over civilized men and women, and over
since it was ordained that tho serpent
should be symbolical of the enmity be-
tween man and the embodiment OF
evil. cfforte have been made to educate,
train and domesticato that peculiar
species Of vertebrate. In all menageries
there have been snakes and snake
charmers, until 1t has become an ac-
copied theory that show without q
snake is failure. Our great national
Zoo Is not snakcless, but tho specimens
arc as yet confined In cages at
tho Smithsonian and arc not granted
tho freedom of the park. Original
~, the collection was started by
reason Of the kindness of heart of Prof.
Hornady. All manner Of animals were
sent here for dissection and mounting
in the museum, some of them living
when received but most of them dead
One of the living was spared, placed in
n cage, and soon thereafter others were
added until the collection became of
public interest. Then there was cx-
pressed desire for the salvation Of all
kinds of American animals which seem
likely to become extinct, and the Zoo
was started A wealthy gentleman of
Detroit contributed smnn herd of buff
faloes, and very soon afterwards Duffa-
10 Bill contributed live elk, called q
Wapati. Then pair Of giant raccoons, a
silver-tippedg grizzly bear, and some rats,
owls, partridgcs and prairie chickens
were sent by believers in tho American
collection Then camc tho birth of q
baby bison, and it became necessary to
enlarge the pens or cages Bnby bison
waddled up to n lady who stood by the
one day last month and kissed her hand.
There happened to be little white
human baby in n carriage close by, and
her mother asked the keepers to name
baby bison after her infant, and IL was
done, so that she is now known as
"May Wecdon;" and she answers to her
name, too.
When Noah buildcd his ark no must
have been good architect, to have
planned apartments for all manner of
bird and beast on earth, for they arc
legion. 1t has been quite problem
with the keepers of the growing Too TO
provide quarters for their charges, in
Il limited area; but that difficulty is
past, now that we arc TO have rcgu-
lar park northwest of tho city in a
picturesque spot on the banks of Rock
creek, in the midst of the trees, among
the rocky hillsidcs, the smooth sword
and craggy projections Of carth's sur
face. When completed we will have
something greater and grandcr than
Central park of New York, and far
more in accordance with nature than
Lincoln park Of Chicago There will be
very little that is artificial, for the
managers are clinging close to nature
in everything. But it was hard work
to get the economists in congress to
agree to an appropriation for this work.
They wcre willing to vote for improve
ments Of rivers and harbors in their
districts, so that money could DO cx-
pended during campaigns on Bitter
crecle, Sallow Sal run, Cannon Ball
brook. and other imaginary navigablc
streams which have been deserted by
fish for they have long been strangers
TO water. Tho property for the Zoo
<&lnnns 81