The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-19
a WONDERFUL BASS.
The Finny Pet of Groystone, and
It's Many Tricks


Foraon, the head gardener at Grcystone,
the summer home Of the late Samuel j.
Tilden, accompanied by some friends,
went over to the Grassy Sprain for a
days fishing. Tho Grassy Sprain is
about mile from Greystonc. and feeds
the reservoir which supplies Yonkers
and it's suburbs with water, II was 4
hot day The sun shone straight
down from the Sky and seemed 10
seorch everything
.,,Yon had better take pail along.
John, said companion, III you want
to get your fish home III good shape.
The only way to carry them in this sun
is in n pail of water They'll be half
baked before you can get them home If
you lett sun get at them"
Mr.. Forson thought that a good idea.
50 when tho party started one carried
a two quart tin pail for the Ash that
they expected to catch MIR Forson
has never ceased congratuIating him
self upon that precaution. II it had
not been for that pail the wonder Of
Greystone would have died before he
had chance to exhibit the talents
which have made him famous
The fishing was not good that day
Perhaps the suns fierce rays penetrated
into the limpid waters aud caused the
fish to feel the same languor that
makes mankind loath TO stir on very hot
days Perhaps the fishermen felt the
heat so much that they did not angle
with their usual skill. However that
may be, when the men lay down under
the trees and ate their noon luncheon
not single bite had rewarded their
repeated casting under the burning
sum- Continued efforts In the after
noon met with no better SUGGEST and
they were about to uujoint their poles
and go home when Mr.. Forson's line
Strengthened out The fisherman
hauled in black bass less than SIX
inches long but plump and vigorous. The
little fellow had been hooked through
the nose, and did net appear to be much
hurt
Nr Forson took him Off the hook
very gently. Then he filed the pail
with Mater and put the fish into it.
Heshook himself for moment and
then darted about with great i.apidity.
Having discovered the boundaries Of
his prison he took things more easily
and moved about gently and lazily.
Fiji keep him, said Mr. Forson,
thoughtfullY .'and put him with the
carp He ought to get along pretty
well with them.
So the bass was carried to Grcystonc
and put into pool Of clear water A
lot Of palms and varied subtropical
plants grow upon petrifed logs piled
in artistic confusion over the pool. The
basin, which is in, one Of the green
houses, is circular and about six feet
across The water in it is usually about
two feet deep and is fed by pipes from
the same reservoir in which the bass
had lived before his capture The pat
ritied logs, which came from north
western New York look like. big
chunks Of brown pumice stone. They
have been so arranged that while they
throw deep shadows into the water
they do not prevent free circulation
ot air. The water is hidden by them
IN places and only appears ia the shape
OF little pools between the logs.
The greenhouse, in which the bass
found new home, is the center one Of
number devoted to tropical and sub
tropical plants. Enormous palms, ferns.
cactis and strange lowering plants iii
every available space The RAYS If the
sun, which hnd their way through the
glass roof over the basin, are trans
formed into many colors before they
reach the v alter, for there are colorcd
panes of glass at that point On the
hottest days the greenhouse IS only
warm, ana IN the coolest the tetnpera-
ture = comfortable There are no such
extremes Of heat and Geld as tbs bass
was accustomed u n his former home.
but he has thrired nevertheless.
When he was first dropped into the
basin he found the water occupied w
three German carp and sunfish The
carp lasted only u short time Ilelaust
have swallowed them whole, for not
even bone ortail could be found by
Mr. Korson when he came to look f6r
the MRfortGnates. The suufish SUI.
yiSsa Ills sharp exterior bones have
thus iar saved him, but the bass leads
him d sad life,
For some time after he began. his
new life the bass was very shy 4
mere glimpse IL Ahis nose, peepina oil,
u the shadows east BY the logs, was
III that coald beiseen3 But Mr. Forsor
was patient He bad once trained some
goldfish 70 snap worms out of his fin
gers, and he did not despairo 81 conquer
ing the bass The latter showed i grea-
deal of intelligence. mixed with a spirit
OF mischievousness After his fear 8