The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-19
-gr WONDER OF eREYsToNs.
,,,oL Bass That Will Do Tricks and
Bas a Sense OF Humor'
p-op. The Neu York Sun.

.ho head gardner at Greystone, the
son' ~ home of the late Samuel ]. rilden,
sul1- -,nsnied by some friends went over to
A'oI Easy sprsin for days fishing. The
snrsin is about q mile from Grey
oia' .rd feeds the reservoir which sup
~. workers and its suburbs with water.
20 hot day. The sun shone straight
~ 49, from the sky and seemed to scorch
,vor had better take pail along, john"
connanion, ''if you want TO get your
80 slS home in good shape. The only way to
n U.s. them in this sun is In pail Of water
M Tnay,l be half baked before you can get
-, home if you let the sun get at them"
~ Forson thought that good idea, so
-.tan the party started one carried 2-quart
~ nail for the fish that they expected TO
W. NntIS Mr.. Forson has never ceased con-
0csstlilating himself upon that precaution.
f. IL had not been for that pail the wonder
- - Greystone would have died before he had
obsnce TO exhibit the talents which have
made him famous.
The fishing was not good that day. Per-
Lons the SUMS fierce rays penetrated into
.ba hmpid waters and caused the fish to feel
tbe same languor that makes mankind loath
~ str on very hot days. Perhaps the fish
s.man felt the heat so much that they did
Unt angle with Their usual skill. However
,Sst may be, when the men lay down un-
Ssr the trees and ate their noon luncheon,
not single bite had rewarded their res
neated casting under the burning sun. Con-
tnued efforts in the afternoon met with no
halter success, and they were about to uu-
ioint their poles to go home, when Mr..
Forson's line Strengthened out. The fisher
man hauled In a big black bass less than
ICuo hut T1lunp and UiO0rOua
The little fellow had been hooked through
the nose, and did not appear to be hurt
much.
gently. Then he filed the pail with water
and dropped the fish into it, Hs shook him
self for momeut and then darted about
with great rapidity. Having discovered
the boundaries of his prison he took things
more easily, and moved about gently and
lazlly.
0fll keep him." said Mr.. Forson,
tboughtfully, "and put him with the carp.
He ought 20 get along pretty well with
them"
So the bass was carried to Greystone and
nut into a pool of clear water. A lot of
palms and varied sub-tropical plants grow
upon petEifed logs piled in artistic con-
fusion over the pool. The basin, which is
in one Of the green houses, is circular, and
HOOuI SIX 1851 hCTOSSs 4uo WhL6f An IL Is
usually about two feet deep, and is fed by
bass had lived before his capture. The petri-
fed logs, which came from Northwestern
New York, look like big 'chunks of brown
pumice stone. Thoy have been SO arranged
that while they throw deep shadows into
the water they do not prevent free circu-
latlon Of air The water is hidden by them
in places, aed only appears in the shape Of
little pools between the logs.
The green house, in which the bass found
q new home, is the center one Of a number
devoted to tropical and sub-tropical plants
Enormous palms, ferns, cacti aud strange
towering plants fill every available space
The rays of the sun, which find their way
through the glass roof over the basin, are
transformed into many colors before they
reach the water, for there are colored panes
of glass at that point. On the hottest days
the green house is only warm, and on the
coolest the temperature is comfortable.
There are no such extremes Of heat and cold
as the bass was accustomed to IN his former
home, but he has thrived, nevertheless.
When be was first dropped into the basin
he found the water occupied by three Ger
man carp aud a sunfish. The carp lasted
only short time. He must have swallowed
them whole, for not even q bone or tail
could be found by Mr.. Forson when he came
TO look for the unfortunates. The sunf1sh
survived. His sharp exterior bones have
thus far saved him, but the bass leads him
a sad life.
For some time after he began his new life
the bass'was very shy. A mere glimpse of
his nose, peeping out of the shadows cast by
the logs, was all that could be seen. But
MIR. Forsom was patient. He had once
trained some goldfish to snap worms out of
his fingers, and he did not despair of con-
quering the bass The latter showed great
deal Of intelligence, mixed with spirit of
mischievousness. After his fear of Mr..
Forson wore away he would appear when
the latter came around and threw food into
the water. He would gulp down the food
all the time keeping'his eyes fixed on Mr..
Forson. IL the sunfish came along aud
wanted part of the meal the bass would
dart at him and drive hin all around the
pool. Then he would come back again and
sail lazly about with his eyes turned up at
MIR. Forson.
There is great deal Of expression In the
bass eyes. Mr.. Forson thinks, and he is
quite convinced that he has a lot OF fun in
his disposition. This is shown by the way
he leases the sunfsh. When food is thrown
IN the bass eats greedily until he has filed
MS stomach, and then he lies down at the
Dottom OF the basin and appears to go to
sleep. He is utterly motfonless and the IN
fortunate sunf1sh, who has been lurking in
Ihe shadows, afraid to come out while his
savage companion was actively about, is de-
ceiVed, He comes up swiftly and gulps at a
cnolce tid-bit. But Before his mouth eau
close over 1t, up comes the bass, with his big
Jaws Wlde open, and gives the poor sunfish
plte that would make MIN yell with
agony If he had the power. Away goes
the suntish as fast as ever he
can. Mr.. Forson believes that the bass act~
ohly laughs on such occasions. for his jaws
open and close, and the drollest of express
sions fingers about his eyes After while
SINKS down and tries to fool the sunflsh
assln. He will wait most patiently, but
tne suatish has learned wisdom by many
painful experiences and rarely falls into the
Trap second time at one meal. How the
suntish manages to get enough to eat to keep
awe IS wonder, for the bass is constantly
after him
Nowadays the bass recognizes Mr.. For
t s voice. Ii Mr.. Forson calls to him, up
ne pops. He will also answer to a whistle,
VI VI 10 peculiar snap of the fingers which
~ Ne recognizes as belonging exclusively to
The reporter sa W the bass recently. He
nas grown to be about eight inches long.
quo Is very plump. He wassDot In sight
%uen Mr.. Forson and the reporter entered
tue green house. Mr.. Forson stopped down
over one Of the pools and splashed his hand
- tne water vigorously, and followed this
Sy a swapping of his fngerS Presently the
PASS appeared His head was near the sur
lace tace OF the water, while his tail was about
I'VE To lncnes below it. He looked up at Mr..