New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-16
4 STRONG MINDED SQUIRREL.

ZIP HAS POSITIVE orr. IONS ABOUT PEOPLE AND
THINGS
~, tho so,irrel was one ~ the curiosites OF
Round Lake last season. He was a tame squirrel
who had spent two years OF unhappy existence !"
a cage clawing at the wires 10 get out sunni
squirrels set up housekeeping In cage IN COM
narrative happiness. but Zip not OF this dis
positon Whether II was due TO cage-lfe or MS
natural temper. 1t is impossible to tell but ne Is
the crossest and most opinionated squirrel on the
Association grounds. He never failed 10 express
his opinion OF persons. whom he detested' oy an
omlnous growl. which he accented with MS teeth
II. has been a menace all summer to respectable
,nishle-,p.d ladies in black. owing 70 the preJu-
dice he entertained against the mother-in-iaw oil
bis former mistress That excellent lady mad
whinped him for tearing lace curtains lie never
forgave hr He never forgot. He never 1887 an
opportunity TO wreak his vengeance After MS
arrival on the grounds his objection 10 TINS woman
seemed 10 extend 10 all women OF the same gen
eral appearance. He would walk up TO one OF
these objects OF his aversion. take nut from the
! Kindly fingers with A grunt OF iisapprova. and fix
mis- teeth In their hands
He liked young women and men. ana mas speh.
n large part OF his time climbing up the legs anu
over the shoulders OF the students Of the Ministers
Institute TO take nuts from their hands. lie was
incapacItated by his former cage-lfe from making
those long leaps In which wild squirrels delight
His utmost EFFORT was short jump. At first he
climbed the pine trees in gInserly way as II MS
feet had not vet become accustomed TO the rough
bark by degrees he acquired most OF the ways
OF wild squirrels. 1t was amusing TO watch MS
Intellectual attempts at first TO hang on tree by
his hind legs. trick which he finally learned ana
in which he seemed To take special pride
His confidence In his ability to deal with
| ordinary human nature was unbounded Inc
first week OF hts residence on the grounds he slept
| in one OF the cottages. coming and going very
/ much as II the inmates were innkeepers. flnally
he established himself In one Of the pine trees al
night and made the association office his home by
dav He found the kindly superintendent. Mr.
Rogers always supplied with nuts and he could
not to be lured away into the cottage where sup
plies were more uncertain. except by the special
inducements little sugar or andy however Was
sufficient He was so fond OF sugar that he has
been known 10 rob the wooden sugar-paiis IN the
pantry OF cottage where he visited lie di not
| pnaw into the pail. vulgar rat would have
done. but he Dfted OF the in a most ingen-
ing It up with his teeth all sides then he turned
around and with sharp blow OF his hind legs ne
food were given TO him in the cottages he gener-
ally established himself in one corner ana felt him
| self called to defend vigorously what had been
! generously given him. He was let alone on these
| occasions a. he had an unpleasant way OF making
| FOR the ankles OF any one VINO passed In ms I'M
| mediate vicinity.
one act OF Kindness Is recorded OF him or was i
! simply desire to rebuke the stupidity OF man
| A laundering boy against the regulations. had left
n night trap for skunks the ground in daytime and
zp by hs mcoHs and calls IN
INK some gentlemen to the spot, and showed his
|
| little lame. but not seriously crippled
one thing seemed to enrage ZIP and led TO the
presumption that he secretly cherished socialistic
theories. He became infatuated II he saw any one
| with handful OF nuts. single nut he ordinarily
| received passvey. but present him with handful:
and he promptly Furnished the monopolist who had
| held them with his teeth.
| He also dcspsed the camera fend. ON one oc-
cason. after number OF unsuccessful attempts to
| take his picture. he seemed finally 10 comprehend
| that the camera directed against himself With
| out hesitation he made dart for the instrument
| and bit the operator. Like many human beings. he
| probably looked with distrust and disapproval on
| anything he did not understand.