Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28

then presented to her conSort, Frank, q
splendid beast about eight years of age
Having been born in captivity, too. he de-
veloped a marked affection for Rose, and
the pair were happy in their new COM
partnership.
The Father is Well.
Though deprived of the society of his
mate and his young sons and daughters
these are as yet vague and uncertain terms
Papa Lion is managing to pass his days
in comfort and dignity. He occupies the
cage just east Of the large double apart
ment that was recently assigned to Rose
in anticip ttion of the event of Wednesday
night. One-half of this cage is boarded up
tightly in front, SO as to give the mother
the seclusion and retirement from society
that her new relations to the rest of ex-
isterce demand. The father has suddenly
assumed fine large air of Importance
and dignity, a sudden pluming of his pride,
as 1t were. aR6 he looks knowingly out of
the corner of his eye at Supt. Blackburn,
as that official passes by, and growls with
quite the manner of one who says:
"A little more consideration, IL you
please for the head of a family. little
more meat at dinner, too, If it Is all the
same to you. for 1 have an additional re-
sponsibility to carry and / must be well
considered"
Rose is Proud and Happy.
Meanwhile Rose is very proud and fond
of the youngsters, which lie cuddled to-
gether in the bcx cage, in the straw that
has been spread over the floor. They are
about the size of half-grown cats, though
much fatter and heavier, and they are out
of all proportion to their enormous mother.
When she takes one in her mouth to drag
1t cut of sight of keeper. looking through
the door of the boXed-in cage. which Is ONLY
opened occasionally, the idea of relation
ship between the enormous cat and the tiny
bunch of fat and fur in her tender jaws
seems absurd. 1t Is almost as though
Newfoundland dog were to lift small rat.
The whelps are lively and hungry, and
Rose is more or less constantly engaged in
supplying them with refreshment from the
copious source so generously provided by
nature. They have good lungs, and at
times can be heard arguing about matters
of precedence at the maternal founts and
other such items of infantile Importance.
Their cry is like that of very small child
with the Snufles, or young puppy with
its head in a bag and sand in its mouth.
These comparisons may he surprising, but
they are trustworthy. At a distance of
few feet the conversation Of these four
young felihes is really like nothing so
much as the sound of a man shoveling oyS-
ter shells into a cart
No Names Chosen.
There have been no steps taken as yet to-
ward the christening of these little ones.
Certain essential preliminaries have not yet
been observed, and cannot be until Mr..
Blackburn has had better opportunity to
interview the youngsters, and ascertain
their natural preferences, free from inter-
ruption or suggestion on the part of Rose,
who has the reputation of being an ex-
tremely nervous and cranky young mother.
But meanwhile a choice collection of pos
stble titles for the cubs is being made, I'M
der two general heads One list contains
such names as Nero. George, Napoleon. Co
lumbus, Corbett, Sandow, Alexander and
Adam, and the other includes GwendoIyn,
Gladys, Susan, Joan dare, Molly Stark,
Genevieve, Maggie Cline and Isabella. 9th
ers are being constantly suggested, but
they are not available as yet, owing to the
peculiar disadvantages under which Mr..
Blackburn and DR.. Baker are laboring,
trials such as seldom confront godfathers in
human society.
Will Try to Raise the WheIps.
1t is the hope Of these officials to raise the
entire litter and to put the little family on
basis of profit to the Zoo. There are
enough lions there now, except, perhaps,
in the feminine department., and If all the
newcomers should turn out to be little boys
they may, after having been brought to
sufficient years and strength, be traded off