Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-04
MORNING AT THE ZOO
How the Wild Animals ATe TtndelIy
Cared For.
THE ELEPHANTS MORNING BATH.
A Season OF Enjoyment--Jealous Of
the Rhinoceros and Domestic
Troubles of the Hippopotamus-
The Artful Monkey.
,,.,..o.norderc. OF the Dlspntch.)

(Correspondence OF the DisnntcnD
NEW YORK. August 3.-The stranger
who makes an occasional visit TO the
metropolis probably knows more about
the Zoo in Central Park than do many
OF the residents Of New York. This Is the
season OF the year when the city Is niied
with visitors from the South, West, and
New England. and one OF the first places
they 40 is to that particular section OF
the mark given up to the animals.
But the most OF them go at the hour
when the park Is filed with people.
and that is not the time to see the col
lection In its most interesting phase
Early in the morning, before half OF
the town Is awake. is the hour to see
the show. Then is tho time when some
thing can be learned about the extreme
care taken OF the great beasts which
seem 20 need Il so little. Yet the most
feroclous and terrible OF them receive
the tender attention that is lavished by
mother upon q child.
IL the man, or woman, or better yet
the child. will set up in time 10 be at
the zoo about o'clock in the morning
some odd sights can be seen. The big
houses on the other side OF Fifth ave-
nue., the great palaces OF the Gould.
Astor. Mills. Imam. Gerry families, ana
further away the vast pile of Masonry
in which Cornelius Vanderbilt lives,
will all be shut tight as a drum, and
everything about them as quiet as the
country. church-yard.
But this stiffness only accentuates the
activity and the hustle about the animals.
These hot days they are in their summer
quarters. where they can get the benefit
of the breezcs blowing through the park.
and where those from the equatorial re-
gions are probably reminded OF the
balmy air Of early morning in the
tropics.
WHEN THE ELEPHANTS SMILE.
1t n worth the trip alone to watch
the hilarious capsrs Of the elephants
who, I'm their large way, enjoy the morn
ing immensely They summer out I'm the
large green just back OF their winter
homes. and about the first thing their
keepers do IL TO turn a hose on them
One elephant is drenched at time. while
the other looks on with impatient envy
The look OF solid satisfaction and keen
enjoyment which permeates the counte-
nance of the elephant being sprinked
would make a fortune for some painter
II he could successfully transfer it TO
canvas
After HIS great body has been thorough
ly drenched the keeper yells Next" and
the other elephant knows that his happi-
ness Isl near at hand. While the hose Is
being turned upon him the first elephant
gracefully disposes himself at fell length
upon the soft grass preparatory to the
most enjoyable part OF the morning pro-
gramme. A second keeper armed with
a broom with brlstles so stif that they
would tear the flesh from the bones OF
man, then begins TO sweep the elephant
off. When the broom gets In the neigh
borhood Of the elephants ear the sensa-
ten is evidently a delightful one. as his
physiognomy relaxes until II becomes as
near TO a broad grin as the elephant Is
capable of.
THAT fellow would lie here for the
whole day II | would keep on tickling his
ear with this broom" says the keeper.
and ne evidently spoke the truth. When
the bath Of the second elephant was con-
cluded the first elephant reluctantly got
upon his feet and then looked -oberly at
| his companion, who was then IN the en-
| joyment of the sweep off.
THE SIGHTED RHINOCEROS.
All this time the rhlnoceros, who has a
big stall in the elephant-house, looked out
| sadly upon the happy scene on the grass.
| He Is too fierce 10 be trusted In the open
air. and he is kept inside all the year
round. The keepers, however. carried the