New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-10
TIE cHIIDBEN AND THE CAMEL.

Unless the hasty and mistaken Park Commits
sioners take the advice of The Tribune and change
their i-advised decision there will be no elephanG
riding for the children in New-York this summer
We're we inclined to joke, which happily we are
not this life being short and so serious that no
thoughtful person can spend moment OF IL III
idle iests-but if we were inclined that way, we
repeat. we should here say that though the chil-
dren cannot enjoy rides on the elephant this sum-
mer the gentlemen who come here from out OF
town during the season may still continue TO see
the noble animal in all his glory under the careful
escort of a town friend. But having successfully
acquitted ourselves of the malicious charge OIL
friyolity-snce it seems impossible TO have ele-
phant transit for the children owing to deficiency
in the Snyder fund, is there substitute which
can be offered? What say the dyspepdc Park
Commissioners to the patient camel or the grace
full dromedary?
There are Of course many other animals in the
menagerie. but none, we presume, outside Of the
elephants SO suitable for the purpose as the cameIs
The lions, tigers and so forth, are scarcely to De
considered In the matter at all owing to thelr
marked and dangerous appetite for young chill
dren. Besides, the tiger is in no proper sense ol
the term a saddle beast. Our ingenious lrleno
from out of town, of whom we have already
spoken, may buck him, but he cannot rue hlui'
Nor need we consider the bear or the ostrlch'
The hippopotamus seems well adapted for the work
in many respects but every time he yawned hall
dozen children would fall in. The giraffe would
have many good points, but great difficulty would
be experienced in making howdah stay on his
excessively side-hill back; besides, there Is no
giraffe in the Park Menagere. The American
buffalo. which many learned men say should be
called bison, would, we fancy, be too impetuous
and beadstropa There remains, then, nothing
but the camel and to this we can see no objection.
We learn from that mine Of condensed geological
information, the dictionary, that the camel Is
capable of carrying 500 pounds burden Inc
children who would patronize the camel route
would not, we suspect average much ABOVE hiVy
pounds in weight, that the camel coula carry
some fifteen or sixteen of them at one time with
ease. DR.. Talmage, while in the Holy Land, tried
camel riding, and reports the motion peculiar but
not disaRreeable Dr. Twain, the other eminent
American authority on the Holy Land does not
sneak so highly Of it, but it is probable that he
did NOT know how to ride. He has not got DR.
Talmage,s sunny and humorous nature, and ex-
pected too much for his money
On the whole it seems TO US that camel riding
would be just about as good for the children as
elephant riding. If the Park Commissioners are
wise they will fit an upper deck to the camel at
once and give the children chance TO enjoy
themselves And right here let us say that no
paltry excuse that Henry Potter or George Skinner
ar any other man would be overworked will be
accented by The Tribune on behalf Of the children
of New-York We feel certain that there are men
enough in the Park SO that the children can be
given rides, even if they had to be strapped OH
the kangaroo one at time.