The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-06
a WONDERFUL BASS.
Tao Finny Pet Of Greystone., and
It's Many Tricks.
ii JaEas, from the water 10 Snap Bait
trem the Hand Of Its Owner.
and Comes Whenever
10 Gala

II Ii about two years ago that John
ForaOa. the head gardener at Greystone.
the summer home Of the late Samuel ].
Tilden, accompanied BY some friends
ssS.nt over 70 the Grassy Sprain for a
days fishing The Grassy Sprain is
,.1oat d milo from Greystone. and feeds
lie reservoir winch supplies Yonkers
AID rs suburbs with water. 1t was .
bot dry The sun shonc straight
down from the sky and seemed to
Eeorch everything
You had better take a pail along.
Jo.in, said companion. IF ron want
u ret your fish home in good shape.
] he only way 70 carry them in this sun
j. in pail Of water. They'll be half
l,ll.ed before you can get them home II
you 1T the sun get al them"
Mr. Forson thought that good idea,
~ when the party started one carried
two quart tin pail for the fish that
they expected to catch Mr.. Forson
has never ceased congratulating him
sclf upon Tint prccaution II 1t had
not been for that pail the wonder Of
Grcystonc 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 iimpid waters and caused the
fish 70 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
sun. Continued efforts In the after
noon met with no better success, and
they were about to unjoint their poles
and 60 home when Mr.. Forson's line
Strengthened out The fisherman
hauled in a black bass less than six
inches long but plump and vigorous. The
Little fellow had been hooked through
the nose, and did not appear to be much
hurt
Mr. Forson took him Of the hook
very gently. Then he filed the pail
with water and put the fish into it.
lie shook himself for a moment and
then darted about with great rapidly.
Having discovered the boundaries of
Ei3 pFiyon be took things more easily
end moved about gently and lazily.
I'll keep him. said Mr.. Forson,
i,.aaghtfully, and put him with the
carp. He ought to get along pretty
sch with them.
ia5 the bass was carried to Greystone
i.zlsl put into pool Of clear water. A
III Of palms and varied subtropical
riants grow upon petrified logs piled
~ artistic confusion over the pool The
basin. which is in one OF the green
lloaaes. 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 pet
ritiea logs, which came from north
western New York, look like big
chunks Of brown pumice stone. They
have been 50 arranged that while they
throw deep shadows into the water
they do not prevent free circulation
Of air. The water Is hidden by them
n places and only appears in the shape
Of little pools between the logs.
The greenhouse, in which the bass
found new home. IS the center one Of
a number devoted to tropical and sub
tropical plants. Enormous palms. FERNS
cactis and strange Towering plants I'll
every available space. The rays of the
sun, which find their way through the
glass roof over the basin, are trans
FORMED into many colors before they
4llf.r Al :
pancs Of glass at that point. On the
hottest days the greenhouse is only
warm, and on the coolest the tempera-
tare Is comfortable. There are no such
extremes ~ heat and cold as the bass
was accustomed TO in his former home,
but he has thriyed, nevertheless.
When be was first dropped into the
basin he found the water occupied by
three German carp and sunfsh.S The
carp lasted only a short time. He must
haze swallowed them whole, for not
even a bone or tail could be found by
Mr. Forson when be came 10 look for
the nnfortuhates. The sunfish sur
rtvcd lis sharp exterior bones have
thus1far saved him, but the bass leads
him q sad life.
or some time after he began his
new life the bass was very Shy. A
mere glimpse Of his nose, peeping ont
q the shadows cast BY the logs, was
all thatMouid be seen. But Mr.. Forson
was patient He had once trained some
goldfish 70 snap worms out Of his fin
gers, md he did not despair Of conquer
ing the bass, The latter showed a great
deal Of intelligence. mixed with spirit
Of mischievousness After his fear 81