New-York tribune., 1895-08-11
STEALING YOUNG BEARS.
A LONE FIsHERMANS EXPERIENCE WITH AN
URsINE FAMILY AND SOME MORAL
REFLECTIONS THEREON.

URsINE FAMILY AND SOME MORAL
REFLECTIONS THEREON.
Tho habits OF the American bear have long been
carefully studied and found TO be generally objec-
tionable For instance. its habit of sleeping all
winter Is quite absurd. No animal needs 50 much
rest as that all at once. and even II 1t did 1t ought
10 be ashamed to take II on account Of its evil ex-
annie 10 other animals Then, there Is its habit OF
sucking It's paw 1t puts its paw In It's mouth late
In November and does not take 1t out TIL early IN
the ensuing spring. The most hardened naturalist
will not TO assert that that Is healthy or
respectable habit. That 1t Is "A vicious and immoral
one is shown by its effect the animal itself. When
It first inserts It's pangrade member into its mouth
and curls up for its six months nap 1t is plump
and well l-c0nditioncd bear, even waddling ana PIN
guild one showing the effects OF liberal diet ana
healthy assimilation; when II wakes up IT is thin
a. a soda cracker and so weak that it can hardly
crawl out OF It's hole II it had been around during
the winter Ike the other animals and taken whole
some exercise would out OF Its dormitory al
most az robust as II went In. Then there IL its
habit OF carrying Off pigs. While the FARMER Is
asleep II visits the styc and tucks one pig under
one forearm and another under the other ana thus
hardened makes It's way to Its forest lair the pigs
screaming pteously all the way with no moral effect
OIL the bear whatever No one has ever pretended
10 Justify this sort OF conduct on the part OF the
beast and many OF It's other customs are equally
censurabe.
New studies OF It's habits constantly being
made. some Of them. pursued while the student is
pursued by the animal. being thus extremely accu-
rate and realistic In their conclusions. one OF these
IL described by trout fisherman OF otter Run a
tributary OF Pine Greek, Camnel In this state
lie occupied In fishing In the former estuary.
and while 80 engaged got a bite which his disci-
plined experience Immediately Identified as Dig
one He therefore at once proceeded. according TO
local custom. 10 hang the nsh in the t0pmost
branches OF "A neghboring tree. While preparing 10
recover II by climbing the tree, another local Gus
tom, he heard low grow proceeding from the
undcrbrush nearby Listening again he heard two
growls. The first one proceeded from young cuD
which It's ursne mother had reposlted there, the
second one proceeded from another. Both were on
deck and ready for business but they of tender
age and the fisherman, leaving his suspended trout
amid the boughs. had little difficulty In placing one
OF the cubs under hts arm and starting for home.
There was narrow-gauge railroad nearby with
platform car and steep down grade and the captor
thought II ne could reach II without being dscov
cred and pursued by the maternal bear his escape
sured. But that bereaved animal prematurely
aroused and almost upon him when ne remen-
barcI that he had in his pocket n handful OF sat
ana pepper with which he had Intended TO sauce
his frugal brooks1e rcpast OF onlons Without paus-
ing In his flight he threw these mingled condiments
directly into the eyes OF the pursuing bear Imposing
upon The animal considerable confusion and delay
and just enabling him 10 reach the refuge Of his
rolling stock. which At started down the
HILL fisherman. cub tront-basket uneonsumed onions